Statewide Advocacy Looking Toward 2015 Legislative Session  Election over…now dust settles. New Committee leadership selection, committee assignments will occur between now and January.  New Reports/Data from TPL and IRNR-TALT (Land Trends land loss…calculations of how much $ needed for TFRLCP to make “a difference”)  Economy doing pretty good…. Thanks to Oil and Gas  May have a shot at funding TFRLCP…and we plan to make the case Need ALL Land Trusts Involved!!!

Statewide Advocacy Timeline and Strategy  DECEMBER “To Do”: Key State Senate/House Staff Education; each land trust commits to doing outreach  WHO: chief of staff or policy director  WHERE: at local state senator’s district office.  WHAT: in person meeting (at a minimum) or conservation lands site visit (if possible)  URBAN SENATE OUTREACH is KEY  Determine Senator from one of your projects and go talk to them about it and BRING YOUR LANDOWNER! They are THE best advocate.  JANUARY: Session begins; Targeted outreach to House committee members and their staff as well as key Senate committee members and their staff in AUSTIN or at home in DISTRICT OFFICES  Key House Committees: Natural Resources, Agriculture, Appropriations  Key Senate Committees: Finance Natural Resource/Ag  2015 Land Trust Lobby Day: Set for late March or early April; MAKING AN ASK for $$ TO TFRLCP

Statewide Advocacy Key Outreach Messages Goal: Make the case for funding TFRLCP  Land Conservation as a viable, cost-effective strategy  Private lands conservation is THE KEY strategy for water resource protection in Texas (95% privately owned lands)  Working in partnership with private landowners is essential  $$ needed in TFRLCP annually to counteract the rapid rates of land conversion and SAFEGUARD our water supply  How much needed to “make an impact“  Land Conservation = Water Security Background Happenings: -Oct 1 Summit at TX Capitol started conversation at Leg: #NoLandNoWater ( - Andy Sansom leading discussion with TWDB and other Green Groups relating to state water challenges and how conservation might play a role -Land Trust Lobby Day will be scheduled in February

Statewide Advocacy Outreach Tools New Map from IRNR (ready soon) Datasets to be incorporated into their map are: NRCS prime soils TWDB drinking water sources TNC’s priority lands (which includes water) Texas land trust – conserved lands And more  New Texas Land Trends Data  Linking conserved lands to drinking water sources for major cities  Use data/new reports from TPL/ TAMU IRNR/ TALT (coming soon)  Your landowners and stories!!!  Bring photos if you cannot do site visits!