Hill Country Living

This page is devoted to frequently asked questions that come from new and existing residents of our neighborhood. If you have ideas for things to add, please send them to any of the Board members.

Why are those Cattle grazing all over RMR?

The River Mountain Ranch Property Owners Association (RMRPOA) has a cattle grazing arrangement with Texas Water Brand Cattle Company (TWBCC), LLC, who took over the cattle/grazing operations from Bob Mayo (the original developer of RMR and cattle leaseholder) within RMR and the surrounding adjacent developments including Foxhole, White Wings, River Creek, Red Hawk Estates, Riverbend, and various tracts in the Lone Man Creek area. The cattle have grazing rights throughout RMR on those properties (approximately 1500 of the 2200 acres of RMR) that are unfenced and meet the requirements for an Agricultural Exemption as established by the Hays County Appraisal District. Please contact the Appraisal District if you have any questions at 512-268-2522. http://www.hayscad.com.

AG Leases or Cattle questions? Who to call if you have any questions or concerns.

If anyone has information or questions concerning the cattle, grazing leases or just general information that would be helpful such as downed perimeter fences, injured cattle, etc., please feel free to contact the Texas Water Brand Cattle Company, LLC, through Wayne McQuaid or Tonya McQuaid at 847-1215 or on Wayne's cell at 512-557-6259.

Can I use the manure that those nice cows leave in my yard for fertilizer?

No!!!! They roam our neighborhood munching away on the range grass (basically a weed) and weeds. If you use those lovely cow pies they leave in your flower garden, it will quickly be overrun with weeds!

However, one resident has used cow manure for fertilizer and it works great if used correctly. First you take the very old cow pies and put them in a large bucket of water. This should sit for about a week or more. Then you pour off the liquid (Called Texas Tea) and used it to water and fertilize your tomatoes. Wow, does it work well and no weeds either!

Animal Control is the animal owner's responsibility!!

The RMRPOA Board is routinely called regarding pets roaming the neighborhood. Please note that our covenants state "Any and all animals, including household pets, require appropriate fencing to confine them to their lot." Furthermore, Hay County law stipulates "Dogs are to be restrained by a leash or fence, unless the owner is on the property and is able to verbally command the animal to stay on his/her property. If the animal is found unrestrained, Hays County Animal Control can either issue a citation to the owner (if the owner is known) or impound the animal at PAWS Animal Shelter in Kyle, Texas."

If you walk your dog, please keep it on a leash. If you find a dog running loose, or being a nuisance, please do not call the Board. Hays County has an animal control office:

Hays County Animal Control (part of the County Sheriff’s Department)

tel: 512/393-7837
fax: 512/393-7836

If you have a serious incident (if you are attacked by a dog for instance) and you call the Sheriff's office, requesting that a citation be issued to the owner (if known) will expedite the process of getting restitution from the owner.

Further information regarding Hays County animal control laws can be found at this link: http://www.sheriff.co.hays.tx.us/.

Aerobic Septic Systems: Do's and Don'ts

The following information was taken from an article that was in the Oct 2003 issue of Hometown News & Views. The title was "Aerobic Septic Systems - Don't Do and Do Do," by Steven White of American Aerobic Management Systems (AAMS). For more information, you can reach him at 847-0757.

"The toilet and your drains are not trashcans. Everything you flush eventually has to be dealt with. The idea is for the bacteria to break it all down and disperse something useful onto your lawn."

• "If it is not biodegradable it cannot be broken down. Do not allow any inorganic materials such as plastics, feminine hygiene products, cigarette butts, and Q-tips. Do not pour grease, coffee grounds, cooking oil, paint or chemicals that are designed to kill bacteria."

• "Garbage disposal use should be kept at a minimum because undigested food is very slow to degrade. Water softener backwash should be reouted away from the system. Disinfectants such as Pine-Sol, Lysol and bleach may be some o fthe best cleaners around, but they will also clean out the beneficial bacteria in your septic system and that is not good. So be frugal with these products."

• "Most residential systems are designed to treat 500 gallons per day. That means over a 24 hour period, not just the daylight hours. If you introduce too much water into the system the aerobic tank will not have time to treat the effluent completely and partially treated water will pass to the pump tank, which will be dispersed over your yard with an unpleasant odor."

• "Make sure you don't have any leaky toilets or faucets. Spread your laundry loads throughout the week. Liquid detergent is preferred over powdered. Fabric softener sheets are preferred over liquid types. Non-chlorinated biodegradable cleaners are preferred over antibacterial types. There is no need for additives like Rid-X. Most manufacturers advise against them."

Dealing with the Silkworms

You may have other solutions, but one that seems to work is a product called "BT". It's available at several places including home stores such as Home Depot and Lowes.

One resident offered the following to deal with the worms:

"Another solution that has been offered instead of spraying is to release Trichogramma wasps in January or February. These tiny, non-stinging, non-invasive wasps parasitize the eggs of the oak tree pest BEFORE they turn into "The Worm." Information on the worms and solutions can be found at the following links:

Regarding BT (from the Natural Gardner)
http://naturalgardeneraustin.com/information/tips/april.html

From Real Green Lawns http://www.realgreenlawns.com/austin_tx_texas/oakworms.htm

From the Texas Agricultural Extension at Texas A& M University
http://insects.tamu.edu/extension/bulletins/uc/uc-021.html

Deer Poaching in RMR

Did you know that we have illegal hunters (poachers) killing our deer
here in River Mountain Ranch? Yes, and they are hunting them primarily between nightfall and 5:00 A.M.!

Here in Texas our deer hunting seasons (rifle hunting, black powder deer hunting, and bow hunting seasons) are during the colder months. In River Mountain Ranch deer hunting is allowed only on those tracts of land larger than 79 acres during the state hunting seasons. No firearms are allowed to be discharged at any time here in RMR (except on the 80 acres tracts and during hunting seasons).

Your property owners' board asks that you be alert and make every effort to identify these poachers and their equipment (usually trucks moving during night and very early morning hours).

Please be aware of these criminal acts and try to get vehicle license
numbers as well as descriptions of the vehicle and the operators. PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO APPREHEND THEM, HOWEVER,
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INJURED DOING SO! After seeing a suspicious vehicle, your Texas Parks and Wildlife, Enforcement Division asks that you immediately contact your area game warden.
His name is James Michael and his phone numbers are:

1-800-792-GAME / (1-800-792-4263)
512-468-6211 (mobile)

These law breakers must be stopped and your help is needed.

Emergency Access to/from RMR

As everyone knows, we have a very steep drive into our neighborhood. Occasionally we have large trucks break down and completely block River Mountain Road towards the bottom of the hill. When this occurs, please call the Hays County Sheriff's office and they can open one of three available routes through:

1. White Wings
2. The access immediately to the right of the cattle guard at the inner main entrance
3. The Morales' property

Please note that this issue is currently being worked by the Board.

Information for Owner's of Private Water Wells

If you have questions about your well, this may provide the answers:
http://www.wellowner.org/

Lyme Disease

Some of our residents have been diagnosed with Lyme Disease. As word gets around, folks have expressed curiosity about what it is. Lots of info on this topic can be found at: http://www.texaslyme.org/.

Concrete spills on RMR roads!

Our roads in River Mountain Ranch, particularly River Mountain Road, have experienced an increased number of concrete spills from readymix trucks during the last few years. These spills, if not cleaned up immediately will damage the road surfaces and cost a significant amount of money (taken from our road budget) to repair.

We ask that anyone observing concrete spillage from one of these trucks please observe and record the following:

1) Name of Readymix Supplier (on side of truck)

2) The truck's "number" and/or the Texas Liscense Plate Number

3) Approximate time of spillage (day, date, time)

4) If possible, note where the truck was heading to, i.e. address of construction site within River Mountain Ranch

5) And, importantly, where spill occurred (name of road, approximate location)

We realize this is a lot of information to process and record but items #1, #2, and #5 are very important. Item #1 is the most important. As soon as you can reach a phone, call our Roads Chair, Dick Dzyziek, at 512-847-9795; if you leave a message, please give your name clearly, along with your phone number. If his phone is unavailable then call any other RMR board member and ask them to relay the information to Dick as soon as possible.

The RMRPOA has written letters to most of the suppliers of readymix operating within RMR and some are better than others in responding (regarding spills and speeding) in a positive manner. Most will work with us if we can let them know specific truck data. They can not prevent all spills, but if we can advise them of which drivers are having problems, then they (readymix suppliers) can reduce the spills to a minimum. We appreciate your help in our efforts to maintain and protect our roads!"