A conservation easement is a written, legal agreement between a property owner and a “holder” of the conservation easement, under which a landowner voluntarily restricts certain uses of the property in order to protect its natural, productive, or cultural features. The holder of the conservation easement must be a governmental entity or a qualified conservation organization (land trust). The landowner conveys the easement to the holder similar to the conveyance of a deed, and the easement is recorded in land and title records at the county courthouse. The landowner retains legal title to the property and determines the types of land uses to continue, as well as those to restrict.

As part of the arrangement, the landowner grants the holder of the conservation easement the right to periodically assess the condition of the property to ensure that it is being maintained according to the terms of the legal agreement. A landowner who grants a conversation easement retains ownership of the land, while agreeing to abide by the terms of the conservation easement. Once in place, the conservation easement is legally binding on all future owners of the land.

A core value of Great Springs Project is respect for land and landowners. We encourage our partner communities along the corridor to engage with willing landowners who participate in this process on a voluntary basis. We do not endorse the use of eminent domain, except for rare cases in which it is preferred by the landowner. While GSP can facilitate connections between landowners and other stakeholders, we envision most actual land-related transactions to occur between landowners, land trusts, and local community trail operators and managers. 
 
More specific landowner concerns for this type of project can include privacy, trespassing, protection of livestock, and liability. These are all valid concerns. In other similar trail projects, these concerns have been addressed through a combination of written agreements; an understanding of recreational use statutes that help protect landowners from liability; and most importantly through careful design of the trail, trail alignment, vegetative screening, buffers, and fencing. Participating landowners should drive these types of site-level trail alignment and design decisions.

In 2023, GSP is launching the next phase of implementation: direct door-to-door landowner engagement. With more than 95% of land in Texas privately owned, landowners play a vital role in the state’s conservation and connectivity future. GSP will initiate engaging discussions with key landowners in our region regarding the environmental, ecological, economic, and health benefits of our land conservation and connectivity mission. Guided by a core value of respect for private land and landowners as willing partners, we will provide information about the many ways landowners can benefit by partnering with Great Springs Project and how their concerns can be addressed to create a healthier, connected, and sustainable environment.

When available, we encourage you to participate in GSP public surveys, webinars, and events, and by helping us spread the word about these engagement opportunities via social media and word of mouth. There will also be opportunities in the coming months and years when voicing your support for the project with your elected officials will be welcomed and encouraged.

If you have other ideas about how you can help, or if you represent an organization, business, or landowner that is interested in becoming a project partner, please contact us at info@greatspringsproject.org

Austin, TX 
Buda, TX 
Kyle, TX 
San Marcos, TX 
San Antonio, TX