The Watershed Association

Master Gardeners' Native Plant Sale
2020-10-04 - 2020-10-20
Fall Aster
The Hays County Master Gardeners have been working hard growing beautiful, native plants and trees for you!
Please join them at the 2020 Fall Plant and Tree Sale where you will find plants and trees that will actually thrive here in our hot Texas weather, unlike many of the plants you will find at the big-box stores.
PLANT SALE

FEATURES: Texas native & adapted perennials, succulents, ornamental grasses, including Texas Superstars
DATES: Online Plant Sale starts OCT 4 and runs through OCT 20
WEBSITES: The sale website https://hcmga.square.site will be activated October 4 through October 20. Find a listing of plants offered on our website at http://txmg.org/hays

SALE PROCESS & PRODUCT PICK-UP:

Sales will be via a Square website that allows customers to shop our inventory just like any other online merchant, and then pay for their purchases via credit card
Customers will select date, location and time block for product pick-up

Buda Farmers Market on Sundays, Oct 11 or 18, 10AM – 2PM
Dripping Springs Farmers Market on Wednesdays, Oct 7, 14 or 21, 3 – 6PM

Customers will select time block for pickup at selected FM to limit the number of customers arriving at any one time

PICK-UP LOCATIONS:

Buda Farmers Market: Historic Downtown Buda – 308 South Main Street, Buda TX 78610
Dripping Springs Farmers Market – at The Triangle, intersection of Hwy 12 and Hwy 290 in Dripping Springs, TX 78620

Browse the plant list by clicking the link below to organize and plan your shopping experience!
Plants Being Offered

LWV Candidate Forum: Dripping Springs ISD Board of Trustees
2020-10-01 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Online
The League of Women Voters is proud to be nonpartisan, neither supporting nor opposing political candidates or political parties at any level of government, but always working on vital issues of concern to members and the public. Their mission is Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy.
Sign up now for the Candidate Forums using these links.

September 22 – Wimberley ISD & Woodcreek http://bit.ly/Woodcreek-WISD
September 24 – District Judge, County Court at Law #3, & Tax Assessor Forum http://bit.ly/Judges-TaxAssessor
September 29 – Hays County Commissioner #3 and County Constables Forum http://bit.ly/Commissioner3-Constables
October 1 – Dripping Springs ISD Board of Trustees http://bit.ly/DrippingSpgsISD
October 6 – House District 45 & Hays County Sheriff Candidates Forum http://bit.ly/HD45-Sheriff
October 8 – San Marcos City Council and SM CISD http://bit.ly/SanMarcosCity-SMCISD

You can submit questions/topics to lwvhaysco@gmail.com for candidates and races up to a week before each forum. Please specify which candidate or race they address.
Read all the details here.

LWV Candidate Forum: Hays County Commissioner #3 and County Constables
2020-09-29 19:00 - 20:00 | Online

LWV Candidate Forum: District Judge, County Court at Law #3, & Tax Assessor
2020-09-24 19:00 - 20:00 | Online

HCA Leadership Summit
2020-09-23 - 2020-09-25 | Online
The Hill Country Leadership Summit is the Hill Country Alliance’s premiere annual gathering, and provides an opportunity for learning, networking, and being inspired among our region’s top community leaders, conservation practitioners, and natural resource managers.
While historically a one-day event, this year’s online format allows the Summit to spread out over the course of three days – Wednesday, Sep. 23 from 2-4 PM, Thursday, Sep. 24 from 10-12 PM, and Friday, Sep. 25 from 10-12 PM. This new format will allow an expanded opportunity to tune-in to inspiring and informative talks from local and national environmental resource experts without having to sit on your computer all day!
View HCA’s site for more info and agenda.

LWV: Wimberley ISD & Woodcreek Candidate Forum
2020-09-22 19:00

Blanco City Council Meeting
2020-09-22 18:00 - 20:00
This meeting will be streamed live from the City of Blanco Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/blancocityhall/
Of particular interest is New Business Item #1 related to the No-Discharge Task Force:

Additional info and full agenda: http://www.cityofblanco.com/meetings/536/2020-09-22

HTGCD Board meeting
2020-08-06 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
The Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District will be conducting the August Board of Directors Meeting tonight starting at 6:00 pm. Please see the attached document for the Meeting Agenda and Public Hearing Notice. The meeting will be held via teleconference, details are below.
Agenda includes:

Possible drought declaration
Public Hearing on Rule change

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PARTICIPATION IN BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
Telephone Conference Opens at 5:45 p.m.
Note: If you plan on participating in the meeting during the public comment period please contact the District at 512-858-9253 or at staff3@haysgroundwater.com to register as a speaker. You may also register as a speaker at the beginning of the meeting. Registration as a speaker will require providing (1) first name; (2) last name; (3) email address, and (4) phone number. Any person participating in the meeting must be recognized and identified by the Presiding Officer each time they speak.
Attendees can reach the meeting via telephone at +1 866-899-4679, access code: 871-180-469

Hays County Parks and Open Spaces Advisory Commission Project Discussion
2020-08-06 18:00 - 19:00 | Online
Hays County is hosting two free, public webinars to learn about the Hays County Parks and Open Space Advisory Commission (POSAC) recommendations on projects and a bond package for new parks, trails, open spaces, natural areas, water quality and flood mitigation lands.
The Wimberley Valley Watershed Association proposed 2 projects that would improve protections for groundwater in western Hays County. The presentations and materials are available online:

Colemans Canyon Preserve page
Regional Conservation Fund page

Please join the discussion and support groundwater protection and land conservation in our critical areas! The County requires advance registration to join the Zoom meeting:

POSAC Webinar: Tuesday, Aug 4, 5:30 to 6:30pm
POSAC Webinar: Thursday, Aug 6, 6 to 7 pm

Find out more about the POSAC, table of recommendations and map of proposed projects, and more at the Hays Co. POSAC page.

Healthy Lawns and Healthy Waters Program - Cypress Creek Watershed
2020-08-06 13:00 - 17:00 | Online
The Healthy Lawns and Healthy Waters Program aims to improve and protect surface water quality by enhancing awareness and knowledge of best management practices for residential landscape. At workshops, attendees will learn about the design and installation of residential rainwater harvesting systems and appropriate turf and landscape species based on local conditions.
The free event will be online from 1-5 p.m. August 6. Interested parties should register through the Tx Agrilife page to receive workshop updates, instructions to join the online meeting and materials related to the workshop via email.
Attendees can submit a free soil test prior to or up to one week after the meeting. Drop off locations for soil sample bag and information sheet include:

Blanco County AgriLife Extension office: 101 E. Cypress, Ste. 109, Johnson City
Hays County AgriLife Extension office, 200 Stillwater Road, Wimberley

Soil Testing details: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Soil, Water and Forage Testing Laboratory.

Hays County Parks and Open Space Advisory Commission Projects Discussion
2020-08-04 17:30 - 18:30 | Online
Hays County is hosting two free, public webinars to learn about the Hays County Parks and Open Space Advisory Commission (POSAC) recommendations on projects and a bond package for new parks, trails, open spaces, natural areas, water quality and flood mitigation lands.
The Wimberley Valley Watershed Association proposed 2 projects that would improve protections for groundwater in western Hays County. The presentations and materials are available online:

Colemans Canyon Preserve page
Regional Conservation Fund page

Please join the discussion and support groundwater protection and land conservation in our critical areas! The County requires advance registration to join the Zoom meeting.

POSAC Webinar: Tuesday, Aug 4, 5:30 to 6:30pm
POSAC Webinar: Thursday, Aug 6, 6 to 7 pm

Find out more about the POSAC, list of recommendations and map of proposed projects, and more at the Hays Co. POSAC page.

River Rally 2020
2020-05-15 - 2020-05-18 | Westin Riverwalk, San Antonio, United States
River Rally 2020 Program

What’s in store at River Rally 2020 in San Antonio, Texas? From plenary panels on regenerative agriculture and the history of the San Antonio River, to workshops across nine themes, led by industry leaders from San Antonio River Authority, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas A&M, Texas Water Trade, EPA, NOAA, US Forest Service, Corazón Latino, US Water Alliance, Clean Water Action, WaterNow Alliance, The Nature Conservancy, Trout Unlimited, and more, this year’s Rally is not one to miss.

Sinkhole Conference 2020
2020-04-20 - 2020-04-24
The 16th Sinkhole Conference: Call for Abstracts and Registration
The Multidisciplinary Conference on Sinkholes and the Engineering and Environmental Impacts of Karst, generally called “The Sinkhole Conference,” is the longest-running international conference of its type. Since 1984, engineers, geologists, hydrologists, land managers, biologists, and many others have gathered at these meetings to exchange cutting-edge information on karst and its many benefits and challenges.
The call for abstracts is now open for the 16th Sinkhole Conference. Abstracts may be submitted until 24 July 2019 (new and final deadline), after which will be the time to submit your papers to accompany your abstracts. The papers of past Sinkhole Conferences have made those proceedings highly sought and widely cited. We expect the proceedings of the upcoming meeting will be the best yet.
The 16th Sinkhole Conference will occur on 20-24 April 2020 in fabulous San Juan, Puerto Rico! Puerto Rico offers a tropical karst landscape and a vibrant historical and cultural venue unlike anything seen in rest of the United States. Many people are already talking about attending the conference as part of a vacation, and we are helping to make that possible.
The conference will be held in the lovely Sheraton Old San Juan Hotel, located in the historic heart of the city. Unlike previous conferences, your registration will include your breakfasts and lunches, in addition to the other usual amenities. Also, your discount conference room rates will extend to three days before and after the conference, in case you want to stay longer and enjoy a vacation.
For all of the details on the conference, including information on how to prepare and submit your abstracts, visit http://www.sinkholeconference.com/. Remember, the deadline is 24 July 2019.
The Sinkhole Conference is managed by the National Cave and Karst Research Institute and with tremendous assistance from a diverse team of karst experts from around the country who join us to form the Organizing Committee. On behalf of the 16th Sinkhole Conference Organizing Committee, we look forward to receiving your abstracts and seeing you in San Juan next year!

Online registration: https://support.nckri.org/SinkholeConference2020
Registration by PDF form: http://sinkholeconference.com/sites/sinkholeconference.com/files/2019-04/Sinkhole%20Conference%202020%20Registration%20Form..pdf
Abstract submission information and link: http://sinkholeconference.com/sites/sinkholeconference.com/files/2019-05/Call%20for%20abstracts.pdf

All authors will be notified of acceptance of their abstracts by 31 July 2019. If you have any difficulties or questions about the registration or abstract process, please let me know. Remember that we offer scholarships for students, but they must also send their abstracts by 24 July 2019.
One last important word about the Sinkhole Conference. We’ve heard comments and questions about what people think is the high cost and difficulty to travel to Puerto Rico from the USA. This is very wrong. Puerto Rico is part of the USA! It is easy travel, and the cost of flights is comparable to and cheaper than flying to many US mainland destinations. Also, while some think of it as a resort destination, there is world class karst and serious karst issues like Superfund sites we’ll be visiting, so it stands as major and important meeting to attend.

Hill Country Living Festival + Rainwater Revival
2020-04-04 10:00 - 17:00 | Dripping Springs Ranch Park, 1042 Event Center Dr, Dripping Springs, Texas, 78620
Here’s a sampling of what you’ll find in 2020:

100+ vendors, exhibitors, and demonstration sites
Hill Country Marketplace for artists, artisans, and pop-up shops
Native plant sale from Hays County Master Gardeners
Citizen Science Circle – where science and citizens connect
Interactive Workshops

Build Your Own Rain Barrel (registration required)
Introduction to Bees and Beekeeping (registration required)

Raindrop Stop for Kids – hands-on, nature-based activities
Texas Night Sky Festival exhibits and demonstrations
The Mobile River from Colorado River Alliance
Acoustic music stage
Hill Country wine tasting
Tricked-out travel trailers
The Chicken Farm — and more!

The FESTIVAL is held Rain or Shine
Our event location is inside of the expansive Dripping Springs Ranch Park. All vendor and Marketplace booths are inside with concrete floors. The arena is also inside, but with compact dirt floor – perfect for boot scootin’ and easy walking!

Be a part of it!
Click here to become a vendor.
Click here to become a sponsor.
Click here for a list of last year’s sponsors.
Questions? Email: info@hillcountryalliance.org

Prairie Restoration Workshop
2020-02-29 09:00 - 14:00 | Herff Farm, 33 Herff Road, Boerne, United States
Many grasslands in the Texas Hill Country have been badly degraded by poor stewardship and, and we are in bad shape. Fortunately, there are land restoration strategies that can be applied to increase the diversity and abundance of wildlife on the land. This workshop will cover land stewardship practices, preparation of old fields for restoration, selecting and sourcing native seeds, as well as grants and programs to assist with land restoration.
Presenters: Rufus Stephens, Ben Eldredge.

Register Now

Location: Herff Farm, 33 Herff Road, Boerne

Contact Information:

Laurie Brown

laurie@cibolo.org

830.331.2210

7th Annual Amplify Austin Day
2020-02-29 - 2020-03-01 | Anywhere You Are!
Amplify Austin Day is the Central Texas region’s day of giving. It is a local generosity movement that connects individuals, families, businesses, and foundations with the causes they are passionate about to create real, lasting change for the local nonprofits that address our most pressing needs. On Amplify Austin Day, your gifts have the opportunity to be amplified through matching gifts and challenges, hourly prize incentives, and through the I Live Here I Give Here Amplify Fund, which is distributed to all participating nonprofits. Over the past seven years, Amplify Austin Day has raised more than $57 million for hundreds of local nonprofits. When you join your neighbors in giving back on Amplify Austin Day, you are helping your hometown thrive for decades to come!

Austin Cave Festival
2020-02-22 10:00 - 15:00 | Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center, 4801 La Crosse Ave., Austin, 78739, United States
Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020 (10am-3pm)
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
4801 La Crosse Ave., Austin, TX 78739rr
This free, family-friendly event will feature hands-on activities, cave tours, live music, and more. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore a cave and see how water makes its way to the aquifer and Barton Springs, learn about animals that call Austin’s caves home, try on caving gear, and learn how to protect and conserve Austin’s water resources.
Austin Cave Festival is hosted by the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District, and the City of Austin (Austin Parks and Recreation Department; Austin Water Wildland Conservation Division and Watershed Protection Department).
In addition to caving, there will be lots of indoor and outdoor activities to choose from, so the event will be held rain or shine!

Creating a Land Legacy: Comal County Landowner's Workshop
2020-02-21 09:30 - 15:30 | Anhalt Dance Hall, 2390 Anhalt Rd, Spring Branch, Texas, 78070
Click here to register for this event.

One Water: Cutting Costs & Protecting Our Aquifers
2020-02-14 09:00 - 15:30 | Wimberley Community Center, 14068 Ranch Road 12, Wimberley, TX, 78676, United States
The least expensive water is the water we already have. Communities can build water resilience through creative and thoughtful use of groundwater, surface water, rainwater, storm water, and wastewater. At this event, hear the latest success stories, learn from Texas water experts, and identify new collaborators. There’s not a minute to lose. Please join us.
Your registration is underwritten by the Jacob & Terese Hershey Foundation. Registration is limited, so sign up now to join us.

Explorer's Guide Release Party
2020-02-08 12:00 - 15:00 | Oddwood Ales, Austin, TX, United States
The Explorer’s Guide to the Hill Country Oasis is here, come celebrate with us and pick up your very own copy! Continued thanks to all of our sponsors and contributors, who allow us to provide this resource to the public for FREE!
This print and online (https://explorersguide.org/) resource will help you become the explorer you want to be. It highlights sites that tell the story of our eco-region, a beautiful oasis of land and water! We hope that you will use and share it!
Beer, wine, and food for purchase on site. Food menu consists of thin crust pizza and other delicious Italian fare. Plus, Oddwood Ales has generously agreed to donate $1 from every beer sold to help SBCA fundraise for our efforts and for help in publication of the guide. Yay!
Don’t miss out on this fun event with our friends at Oddwood Ales and the Texas Brewshed Alliance (Wimberley Valley Watershed Association)! Come join us! Agenda to be posted soon.
**If the parking lot is full, feel free to park across the street on Theo, in the neighborhood behind Oddwood Ales on Manorwood Rd. Be careful when crossing Manor on foot!

Cold Ones for Conservation
2020-02-08 11:00 - 16:00 | Real Ale Brewing, 231 San Saba Ct., Blanco, Texas
Come join the Hill Country Alliance for a fun day in Blanco!
During the first quarter of 2020, Real Ale Brewing Company is partnering with the Hill Country Alliance and Blanco County Friends of the Night Sky on a special project: a single batch of their OG Full Moon Pale Rye Ale!
This will be on tap only, and $1 from every pint sold at the Blanco taproom will benefit the Hill Country Alliance. Come out and celebrate with us on Saturday, February 8th to meet the crew, and drink a few cold ones for conservation!
In 2020, HCA, BCFNS, and Real Ale Brewing Company are also working together to install a permanent sky quality meter at the Real Ale brewery. This device will measure the darkness of the night sky every night; the data collected will help all of us measure the impact of new development on our Hill Country night skies and give us an important teaching tool as we work together to minimize that impact. To celebrate, we will have a table with educational materials set up from 11 – 4 and HCA staff will give a brief presentation at 2:00 to unveil the new night sky quality meter.
The event is meant to be informal and FUN! Hill Country Alliance staff will be around to talk about our mission, what we do, and how you can get involved.
Click here for the Facebook event.

San Marcos & Blanco Riverine Flood Mitigations Project: Public Meeting
2020-02-06 18:00 - 19:00 | San Marcos Activity Center, San Marcos, 78666, United States

Blanco: Stop the Pipeline Community Potluck
2020-02-05 18:00 - 20:00 | Arnosky Family Farm, 13977 FM 2325, Blanco, TX, 78606, United States
Join Blanco Stop the Pipeline for their monthly Community Potluck !
⭐️Bring food to share, beverage of choice, folding chairs and enthusiasm to stop the Permian Highway Pipeline.
Remember, it’s NOT a done deal!
6:00 PM – Arnosky Family Farm, 13977 FM 2325, Blanco, Texas 78606

Water Conservation Symposium
2020-01-29 08:00 - 17:00 | ABOR Member Event Center, 4800 Spicewood Springs Road, Austin, TX, 78759, United States
10th Annual Central Texas Water Conservation Symposium
Collaborating for Success: Planning & Programs that get Results
The Central Texas Water Conservation Symposium provides water utilities with the information needed to implement successful water conservation programs, effectively engage customers, and plan for the future. Learn from state and national experts about the latest approaches, what is coming next and best practices for maximum efficiency gains.
Thursday, February 13, 2019
8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
VIEW AGENDA

Wimberley Art & Soul
2020-01-24 08:00 - 2020-01-26 17:00

Wimberley Art and Soul
2020-01-24 - 2020-01-26
You’re invited to be a part of it.

THE THIRD ANNUAL WIMBERLEY ART & SOUL!
Designed to bring visitors to Wimberley during a slow time of year, this combined group of events will be marketed and promoted throughout Texas. Chamber member businesses are invited to provide an event or experience. Last year more than 40 events, hosted by 30 businesses brought visitors from near and far to enjoy the creative community in Wimberley. It will be even bigger in 2020! Wimberley Art & Soul will be promoted by a team of social media experts, the chamber, a website and you!

Want more recognition for your fabulous business? You provide an event or an experience and let our new marketing team help you promote it!
Sponsorships are also available.

Join the 3rd Annual Wimberley Art & Soul! Learn more HERE

BSEACD & HTGCD Neighborhood Site Visits
2019-11-14, 2019-11-12, 2019-11-07, 2019-11-05
Neighborhood Site Visits
Water level tracking is particularly important in Edwards and Trinity wells, because water levels fluctuate substantially during drought and wet periods. When home owners know the depth of their pump, a water level measurement can show how much water is above the level of the pump.
2019 Neighborhood Site Visits
This year’s Neighborhood Site Visit program is brought to you by a collaboration between the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District and the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District.
Participating landowners not only get the opportunity to learn more about their well, but measurements taken during the visits also provide a useful snapshot of water levels in the area and aid in identifying wells that could serve as periodic monitoring sites.
Site visits are free of charge. During visits, staff will take a water level measurement (if possible), measure basic water quality, and share these data with well owners.
The three site visit areas include:
• Oct. 29 & 31: Falconwood, Summer Mt. Ranch, Hugo, RR12 South
• Nov. 5 & 7: Hilliard
• Nov. 12 & 14: Saddleridge
Ready to participate? SIGN UP HERE

Check available dates and sign-up for a slot for your neighborhood.
Before your site visit: Staff will research well records prior to the visit (See tips and tricks to search for well records online). If you do have any well drilling records or pump depth information ready, this would assist staff on the day of your site visit. Reminder emails will be delivered prior to your site visit date. Limited spots are available so, if you must, please cancel, or update your signup promptly.
During the visit: Staff will take a water level measurement (if possible), measure basic field parameters (pH, conductivity, total dissolved solids, etc.) and screen for nitrate/nitrites. All records and results are shared with the participating well owner.
After the visit: Participating well owners will receive a results letter documenting their specific measurements and an overview of area observations.
