BBBig Bend Conservation Alliance
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About Big Bend Conservation Alliance
In Far West Texas, conservation can look like students collecting water samples from the Rio Grande, families tending public gardens, or a town switching to lighting that keeps more of the night sky visible. Big Bend Conservation Alliance brings residents, educators, municipalities, Indigenous communities, and regional partners into practical work that protects land, water, dark skies, and culture. A gift supports projects that reach from classroom hydroponic farms to groundwater research and the preservation of Indigenous history.
Big Bend Conservation Alliance works across the rural Big Bend region, where environmental protection and cultural preservation are closely connected to community participation. Its projects give people tangible ways to take part, from planting trees and monitoring water to supporting Indigenous cultural sites and creating space for local history.
Programs
The concrete work this nonprofit runs. Each program may later become a fundable project.
Serious Starlight
Assists homeowners and municipalities in adopting night-sky-friendly lighting, including fixtures that direct light toward the ground. The program includes municipal and residential assistance.
Lights Out Texas
Serves as the regional coordinator for Lights Out Texas in the Big Bend, encouraging residents to dim or turn off non-essential lights during bird migration and offering Bird Care Packages through area libraries.
Big Bend River Rangers
Engages students in environmental science and outdoor activities. Students hear from guest speakers and take field trips to monitor water quality in the Rio Grande and other locations.
Vertical Farming for Big Bend Classrooms
Provides Flex Farm indoor hydroponic systems and curriculum to students in Alpine, Fort Davis, Marfa, Presidio, and Terlingua schools.
Presidio Planters
Creates small gardens in public spaces and schools in Presidio, with workshops and activities for students, families, and elders.
Texas Tribal Buffalo Project Garden
Creates a garden at the Presidio Activity Center with three garden beds, three fig trees, drip irrigation, and signage in Lipan Apache, Spanish, and English.
Tree Planting in the Big Bend
Works with community partners to plant trees throughout the region, with bilingual education materials for ongoing tree care.
Creating Space for Birds and People at BJ Bishop Wetlands
Enhances the BJ Bishop Wetlands through a pollinator garden, bird blind, and public engagement programs.
Partnering with Groundwater Districts for Data Sharing and Aquifer Health
Works with groundwater conservation districts to develop shared data management and data-sharing tools for monitoring aquifer health.
Balmorhea Springs Water Study
Partnered with Southwest Research Institute on a three-year study of the connectivity, water sources, and discharge conditions of the San Solomon Springs system.
Supporting Cementerio del Barrio de los Lipanes
Partners with the Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas and family descendants to protect and preserve the sacred cemetery, prevent erosion, create space for reflection, and teach Indigenous history.
30 Acres: Marfa Grasslands
Partnered with the Judd Foundation on community planning for a publicly accessible recreational and educational trail through restored Marfa grassland, including educational signage with Indigenous perspectives.
Meet the Jumano Nation at Marfa Lights Festival
Partners with the Jumano Nation of Texas at the annual Marfa Lights Festival to facilitate dialogue about Jumano history, culture, and family connections.
Honor Buffalo Rock
Partners with The People of La Junta for Preservation to support the original Cibolo Rock name and a Texas Historical Commission subject marker describing the landmark's Indigenous and regional history.
Neighborhood Coordinators
Recruits and supports local residents to lead community participation, organize meetings and outreach, gather feedback, and coordinate volunteers for the Everything's Connected in Presidio initiative.
Community environmental protection programs
Partners with community members on environmental protection related to water, dark skies, land, and culture.
About this work
Mission
Big Bend Conservation Alliance engages communities in the protection of land, dark skies, water, and culture in the Far West Texas region.
Who they serve
Residents, homeowners, municipalities, students, families, elders, educators, Indigenous communities and descendants, and community partners throughout the Big Bend and Far West Texas region.
Their impact
- The EPA awarded Big Bend Conservation Alliance and the City of Presidio a $12.7 million Community Change Grant for the Everything's Connected in Presidio project.
- Each Flex Farm in the classroom program is described as producing more than 394 pounds of produce annually, with more than 25 pounds produced during each four-week growing cycle.
- A $48,000 WaterSMART Applied Science Grant supports the shared groundwater data platform developed with three local groundwater conservation districts.
How your donation helps
- Night-sky-friendly lighting assistance for qualifying homeowners and municipalities.
- Protection and preservation work at Cementerio del Barrio de los Lipanes.
- Student environmental education, field trips, and Rio Grande water-quality monitoring through Big Bend River Rangers.
- Hydroponic Flex Farms and related classroom education in Big Bend schools.
- Tree planting and bilingual tree-care education throughout the region.
- Gardens, pollinator habitat, bird blinds, and public engagement at regional community and wetland sites.
- Groundwater data-sharing tools and aquifer health research.
- Community engagement, neighborhood coordination, and green infrastructure in Presidio.
Need help?
How someone in need can access Big Bend Conservation Alliance’s services.
Residents can contact Big Bend Conservation Alliance at 432-558-8328 or info@bigbendconservationalliance.org. Homeowners and municipalities can inquire about Serious Starlight lighting assistance, residents can contact the organization or a neighborhood captain about tree care, and community members can participate through local meetings, workshops, and project activities.
Stories
The people behind the work.
In their words
"This reburial is a profound act of love and responsibility." Melanie Hernandez, People of La Junta for Preservation.
"Aquifers don't recognize political boundaries." Summer Webb, General Manager of Brewster and Culberson County Groundwater Conservation Districts.
"Cibolo Rock" is a place name that will honor the Indigenous peoples and the cibolo herds of La Junta.
In the news
Recent independent coverage of this organization.
- Big Bend Conservation Alliance kicks off free gardening workshop series in Presidiobigbendsentinel.com
- Grant awarded to Big Bend Conservation Alliance and local groundwater districtsbigbendsentinel.com
- Big Bend Conservation Alliance program teaches youth about hydroponic gardeningbigbendsentinel.com
- Judd Foundation, Big Bend Conservation Alliance to partner on native grassland trail for Marfabigbendsentinel.com
Grant support
$225,093 from 8 funders · through 2024 (IRS 990 records).
- PERMIAN BASIN AREA FOUNDATION — $36,000 (2024)Environmental
- APACHE FOUNDATION — $8,880 (2024)To engage communities in the protection of land dark skies water and culture in the Far West Texas Region.
- PERMIAN BASIN AREA FOUNDATION — $60,000 (2023)Environmental
- American Electric Power Foundation — $5,000 (2023)Marfa Harvest / Cosecha Marfa
- JAMES A BUDDY DAVIDSON — $5,000 (2023)RIVER RANGER PROGRAM
- APACHE FOUNDATION — $4,499 (2023)To preserve the natural and cultural resources of Texass greater Big Bent region through research advocacy and education.
- THE HORIZON FOUNDATION — $30,000 (2022)CHARITABLE OPERATIONS
- PERMIAN BASIN AREA FOUNDATION — $20,000 (2022)Environmental
Ways to help
Concrete needs and volunteer roles Big Bend Conservation Alliance has shared.
Current needs
- Neighborhood Coordinators who are local residents of the neighborhoods or colonias they represent.
- Community members to participate in meetings, outreach activities, feedback gathering, and volunteer coordination.
- Residents who qualify for and want to participate in the residential night-sky lighting incentive program.
- Community support for tree planting, garden care, bird habitat projects, and environmental education.
Volunteer opportunities
- Serve as a Neighborhood Coordinator for the Everything's Connected in Presidio initiative.
- Participate in community meetings, listening sessions, outreach activities, and volunteer coordination.
- Help care for community gardens and tree plantings.
- Support student and community activities connected to river monitoring, bird habitat, gardening, and dark-sky education.
- Participate in Lights Out Texas by turning off or dimming non-essential nighttime lighting and supporting birds with food and water.
Recognition & press
Awards & recognition
- A $12.7 million EPA Community Change Grant for Everything's Connected in Presidio, described as the largest grant awarded to a nonprofit organization in the region's history.
- A WaterSMART Applied Science Grant from the Federal Bureau of Reclamation for groundwater data sharing.
- A Great Texas Birding Classic Conservation Grant for the BJ Bishop Wetlands project.
- A Texas Parks and Wildlife Community Outdoor Outreach Program Grant supporting the 2023-2024 Big Bend River Rangers school year.
- A Texas Historical Commission subject marker application for Cibolo Rock was approved in 2024.
In the media
- Texas Monthly, coverage of the effort to preserve Cementerio del Barrio de los Lipanes in Presidio.
- Marfa Public Radio, coverage of the Lipan Apache cemetery preservation and land transfer.
- Big Bend Sentinel, coverage of the Lipan Apache cemetery preservation project and historical marker.
- CNN, coverage of the Lipan Apache Tribe receiving its sacred burial ground back.
- Texas Standard, coverage of the return of cemetery land to the Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas.
- Marfa Public Radio, coverage of the completed effort to preserve the Indigenous cemetery in Presidio.
- Big Bend Sentinel, coverage of Big Bend River Rangers student water-quality monitoring and program expansion.
- Big Bend Sentinel, coverage of the vertical farming program in Big Bend classrooms.
- Big Bend Sentinel, coverage of the Presidio Planters gardening workshops and community gardens.
- Big Bend Sentinel, coverage of the tree planting program in the Big Bend.
- Big Bend Sentinel, coverage of the WaterSMART grant awarded to Big Bend Conservation Alliance and local groundwater districts.
- Big Bend Sentinel, coverage of the partnership with the Judd Foundation on a native grassland trail for Marfa.
- Big Bend Sentinel and Marfa Public Radio, coverage of the Cibolo Rock naming and historical marker effort.
Press & mentions
Partners & funders
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this nonprofit and how its work happens.
How does the Serious Starlight lighting program work?
Serious Starlight helps qualifying homeowners and municipalities replace noncompliant lighting with dark-sky-friendly fixtures that direct light toward the ground. For qualifying residential fixtures, Big Bend Conservation Alliance works with AEP on the replacement and pays AEP directly, so participating residents have no out-of-pocket expense.
What do students do in the Big Bend River Rangers program?
Students hear from environmental science guest speakers, take outdoor field trips, and collect water samples from the Rio Grande and other Big Bend locations. The program has expanded to high schools in Presidio, Marfa, Alpine, and Terlingua.
How do the classroom Flex Farms operate?
Students care for indoor hydroponic systems by balancing water pH, adding nutrients, sprouting seeds, transferring plants to the Flex Farm, and installing the UV light. The produce may be used in culinary classes, donated to food pantries, or sold at farmers markets.
How can a local resident participate in Everything's Connected in Presidio?
Residents can join community meetings, listening sessions, outreach activities, feedback gathering, and volunteer coordination. They may also apply to serve as paid, part-time Neighborhood Coordinators for their neighborhoods or colonias.
What does the Cementerio del Barrio de los Lipanes project involve?
Big Bend Conservation Alliance works with the Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas and family descendants to protect the sacred cemetery, prevent erosion of the burial mound, create spaces for gathering and reflection, and teach about Indigenous history.
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