The Watershed Association

BSEACD & HTGCD Neighborhood Site Visits
2019-11-07, 2019-11-05, 2019-10-31, 2019-10-29
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.

Protect Our Blanco: Membership Event
2019-10-20 16:00 - 18:00 (America/Chicago) | Gem of the Hills, 2233 US-281,, Blanco, TX

Bluegrass and Beer - Keep Sewage out of Barton Creek
2019-10-11 18:00 - 21:00 | jester king brewery, 13187 FITZHUGH RD, Austin, TX
Come to Bluegrass and Beer to listen to bluegrass music and learn more about how sewage pollution is threatening Long Branch, Barton Creek, and waterways across the Hill Country. The informational program about the sewage pollution problem and ways to get involved will start at 7 PM. Throughout the event, beer and food is available for purchase.
We invite those that want to learn more, want to know how to get involved, or just wanting to have a fun Friday night to join us! Let’s work together to protect our Central Texas creeks.
All pours of Petit Prince beer will benefit Save Barton Creek Association’s (SBCA) work against sewage pollution! Additional donations are accepted and donations can be made prior to the event through our Go Fund Me page www.gofundme.com/f/keep-sewage-out-of-barton-creek.
A special thanks to the Texas Brewshed Alliance and Jester King Brewery for organizing this event with us.
More about the Campaign:
A wastewater discharge permit has been filed, seeking permission to dump sewage effluent into the Long Branch tributary of Barton Creek. This would cause algae blooms, risks to aquatic life, and potential danger to recreational users downstream. There has never been a discharge of wastewater effluent in the contributing zone of the sensitive Edwards Aquifer. One individual’s profit motive shouldn’t be allowed to ruin the creek for the miles of downstream users.
Unfortunately this pollution threat is not limited to this single permit. Our friends are fighting similar threats into waterways region-wide including in the Blanco River and Honey Creek.
That’s why SBCA and others formed the No Dumping Sewage campaign prevent the direct discharge of sewage into our creeks and advocate for better wastewater management. This campaign is a group effort with several other organizations including Wimberley Valley Watershed Alliance, Clean Water Action, and Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance. Learn more: https://nodumpingsewage.org
We hope to see you at the event and thank you for your support.

Fall San Marcos River Cleanup
2019-10-04 08:30 - 11:30

6th Annual Hydro Geo Workshop
2019-10-04 08:00 - 2019-10-06 17:00 | Cave Without A Name, Boerne, Texas
Spend the weekend in real-world field settings, gaining valuable hands-on experience!
The Texas Hydro-Geo Workshop is centered on the collection, processing, analysis and evaluation of hydrologic and geologic field data. It serves as an excellent introduction for aspiring geology, hydrology, and environmental science students, as well as a refresher for seasoned professionals.
The Workshop was created to bring students and professionals together in a field setting for a hands-on learning experience. This is a special opportunity to work with leading researchers and practitioners from across the state and nation. Participants have the opportunity to explore many different techniques for collecting data from soil, rock, and water media. This includes drilling rigs, surface and borehole geophysics, stream gauging, water quality instruments and more.
Participants can select from the various modules depending upon availability. Please note that participation may be limited in some modules for safety reasons, to maintain a high participant/coordinator ratio, or for resource protection.
The Workshop will take place at and around Cave Without a Name near Boerne, Texas. Most activities will be centered at the campsite and pavilion.
Visit their website for more information & registration: http://hydrogeoworkshop.org/index.php

Caring for Your Land – Incentives for Stewardship and Conservation
2019-10-04 | Gem of the Hills, 2233 US-281,, Blanco, TX
Hosted by the Hill Country Conservancy and the partners of the Texas Hill Country Conservation Network. Presented by the Regional Conservation Partnership Program.
October 4th, 9:30 – 1:30 (lunch provided) at Gem of the Hills, Blanco TX
Register (Free) & More info: https://www.texas-wildlife.org/resources/events/caring-for-your-land

Hill Country Leadership Summit
2019-09-26
Come join the Hill Country Alliance for our 2019 Leadership Summit on Thursday, September 26th at Camp Lucy in Dripping Springs, TX. Get your tickets today – our special early bird registration price of $85 is only available through Wednesday, July 31st!

Fall Native Plant Sale
2019-09-21 09:00 - 13:00
Fall Plant Sale- Hays County Master Gardeners
September 21, 9 am-1pm, San Marcos Details

Water's Of Central Texas Beer Tasting
2019-09-20 18:00 - 21:00 | Craft Pride, 61 Rainey St,, Austin, 78701
Great beer begins with clean water! Come taste how your water affects your beer.
For this event 3 of your favorite brewers, Real Ale, Vista Brewing and Black Star Coop have all brewed an American Lager with the same recipe and 3 different water sources: Austin City Water, Trinity Aquifer Water and rainwater.
Thank you to Texas Yeast Labs and Yakima Hops for their generous sponsorship!
Come enjoy some delicious one of a kind craft beers for a good cause.
Real Ale Brewing Company, Vista Brewing, and Black Star Co-op Pub & Brewery will all be donating $1 from each pint of their variant to support the Texas Brewshed Alliance, which promotes and empowers watershed conservation statewide. Craft Pride has generously offered to match these donations, so $2 from each pint sold will go directly to the Texas Brewshed Alliance fundraising efforts.
6PM – 9PM at Craft Pride in Austin

Austin Underground Beer Release at Black Star COOP
2019-09-19 16:00 - 23:00 | black star coop, Austin
Come taste the Austin Water version of the “Waters of Central Texas” multi-brewery cause brew with our favorite Austin Brewpub, Black Star Coop.
In collaboration with the The Texas Brewshed Alliance, they have brewed another water focused beer alongside Real Ale Brewing Company in Blanco, TX and Vista Brewing in Driftwood, TX. Each brewery used the same American lager recipe and ingredients, with water being the only changed variable. Highlighting the differences in each location’s water source, what we got was a subtle, drinkable lager perfect for the end of Summer. 5.0%ABV 11IBU

One Water Summit
2019-09-18 - 2019-09-20 | JW Marriot, Austin
Join hundreds of top water leaders in Austin for One Water Summit 2019. It is the premier national conference focused on sustainable, integrated, and inclusive approaches to managing water, our most precious natural resource. With inspiring plenary sessions, skills-building institutes, interactive workshops, mobile tours, and unparalleled networking opportunities, One Water Summit 2019 is not to be missed.

Check out the One Water Summit 2019 Site here.

Check out the agenda for One Water Summit 2019 here.

Check out the Delegations Guide here.

Benefit for Comal County Conservation Alliance
2019-09-17 16:00 - 20:00 | Gruene Grove
Our sister organization in New Braunfels is hosting a fun event at the Gruene Grove which is a lovely patio bar behind the red brick antique shop, 2 doors to the left from Gruene Hall. This event is from 4-8pm on Tuesday the 17th. The purpose of this organization is very similar to ours in that it strives to help keep the Comal Springs flowing. There will be lots of delicious food, silent auction items, music and drinks! Go check it out! This is free to the public so anyone is welcome!

Hays County Preparedness Fair
2019-09-14 10:00 - 16:00 | HCISD Performing Arts Center, Koehlers Crossing, Kyle
HAYS COUNTY PREPAREDNESS FAIR: Hold Sept 14 from 10 to 4 at HCISD Performing Arts Center in Kyle, off Kohler’s Crossing. All first responders in the county will be represented and vendors with preparedness items on site. Live music and raffle items benefit the BR3T, the long term disaster recovery organization for Blanco, Hays, Caldwell and Guadalupe counties. Some presentations will be: Active Shooter Events, Standard Response Protocol, Take 10 CPR, Wildfire Mitigation and Stop the Bleed.

Hill Country Nights
2019-09-13 | moody theatre
The Hill Country’s party of the year is back!…
So, dust off your boots, grab your partner, and join us for a Hill Country good time!
For the lucky 13th annual Hill Country Nights, Hill Country Conservancy brings you the fastest rising stars in Texas—The Texas Gentlemen! With music that touches on blues, soul, folk, country, rock and gospel you will not want to miss the real, raw, and righteous sound of The Texas Gentlemen playing for you live.

Along with the stellar billing, you’ll enjoy a mouth-watering barbecue spread fromThe Salt Lick, dazzling live and silent auction items, and refreshing cocktails, all in support of keeping the Hill Country here forever.

Don’t miss Hill Country Nights at Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theater onSeptember 13, 2019. This is a FUN party, so get your tickets now while they last! To sponsor the event or to buy a table, click here.

River of Innocence Screening
2019-09-12 20:00 - 21:30 | Aquabrew, San Marcos
The showing of a great movie about the San Marcos River, River of Innocence will be at Aquabrew on September 12th.

Wild and Scenic Film Festival
2019-08-29 18:00 - 21:30 | Star Cinema Grill, 1495 Lake Plaza Drive, Spring, Texas
5th Annual Wild and Scenic Film Festival

Join us: Thursday, August 29 from 6 – 9:30 pm at Star Cinema Grill in Springwoods Village
Wild and Scenic Film Festival, a festival by activists for activists, leaves you feeling inspired and motivated to make a difference in your community and the world. Here you can experience the adrenaline of kayaking wild rivers, climbing the highest peaks and trekking across the globe with adventure films from around the world. You’ll witness how individuals and communities across the globe are taking action.
Our selected films will cover a variety of environmental topics and offer spectacular scenery, breathtaking journeys, and stories of human connections.
We hope the evening will inspire you to join BLC in our mission to preserve land along streams for flood control, clean water, and wildlife.
*Deadline for refunds – Tuesday, August 27

Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District Meeting
2019-08-27 18:00 - 20:00 | Sunset Canyon Baptist Church, 4000 East 290, Dripping Springs, TX, 78620, United States
At this HTGCD meeting, the Board will be reviewing and voting on adopting the newly proposed Jacob’s Well Groundwater Management Zone. We encourage everyone in attendance to support this new measure to help ensure that Jacob’s Well can continue to flow year-round.
For more information about the JWGMZ, please visit this link.

LATEST AND GREATEST FERAL HOG UPDATES WEBINAR
2019-08-27 15:00 - 15:30
About: Hear the latest updates on feral hog regulations, management measures, and resources.
Date and Time: August 27, 3:00-3:30pm
Host: Josh Helcel – AgriLife Extension associate with the Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute
Webinar Link:
https://txstate.zoom.us/j/7417959635

Free Workshop: Top Laws TX Landowners need to know
2019-08-26 09:00 - 15:00
https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/productListingDetails/2828

Agricultural law is an important topic for Texas landowners. This program will provide attendees with information on a broad number of common issues facing landowners from water law to eminent domain, special use tax valuation to landowner liability, fence law to key estate planning documents, and more.
All attendees will receive a copy of the “Owning Your Piece of Texas: Top Laws Texas Landowners Need to Know” handbook. Speakers will include attorneys Tiffany Dowell Lashmet, Extension Ag Law Specialist with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and Stephanie Bradley Fryer, Owner of Stephanie Bradley Fryer, PLLC.
Lunch will be provided by Ag Workers Insurance.

TCEQ Public Meeting for Honey Creek
2019-08-20 19:00 - 20:30 | Bulverde Elementary School, 1715 East Ammann Road, Bulverde, texas
From our friends at GEAA:
A public meeting will be held on the permit application of Silesia Properties to discharge 500,000 gallons/day into Honey Creek (Permit No. WQ0015688001). As you may recall, the discharge point is upstream of Honey Creek State Natural Area and Guadalupe State Park.
The Public Meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 20,2019 at 7:00 p.m. at Rahe Bulverde Elementary School, 1715 East Ammann Road, Bulverde, Texas 78163
To prepare for the TCEQ Public Meeting, GEAA will host a strategy meeting to prepare for the TCEQ meeting one evening in early August. Please stay tuned for details. We will send out an e-mail announcing this meeting or, you can check our Save Honey Creek FaceBook page.
Deadline for submitting comments is August 20, 2019. You may submit written comments on-line at www14.tceq.texas.gov/epic/eComment/ (click here). To submit comments on-line refer to Permit No. WQ0015688001.
or you can mail comments to: Office of the Chief Clerk, TCEQ, Mail Code MC-105, PO Box 13087, Austin, Texas 78711-3087
WVWA and our partners at GEAA strongly object to direct discharge of sewage effluent into Honey Creek due to the high potential of negative impacts to this crystal clear water. We look forward to working with all of you to stop this travesty and hope to see you at the upcoming strategy meeting and on August 20th.
Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy our Hill Country waterways this July secure in the knowledge that we are doing all we can to keep them as beautiful and clean as they are today.

FREE Webinar: The Devil's River - Saving one of the last great Texas rivers.
2019-08-20 18:30 - 19:30
The next Texas Waters Webinar is under one week away! The webinar will be held Tuesday, August 20th from 6:30pm-7:30pm. Sarah’s webinar will discuss Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s effort to protect the Devils River, which includes working with numerous partners to employ holistic stewardship of the river including conducting and funding biological and hydrologic research, working with landowners to promote healthy watershed practices, and managing recreation to reduce impacts. This webinar will touch on Chapter 5 & 8 of the Texas Waters: Exploring Water and Watersheds curriculum.

If you would like to register to attend the live webinar, you can click here or anywhere on the banner image above. If you are unable to attend the live presentation, the recorded webinar and associated PowerPoint will be available for download from the Texas Waters Specialist page a few days after the event.

Please feel free to email me if you have any questions.
Melissa Alderson
Conservation Education Manager
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department HQ
Office: (512) 389-8060; Cell: (512) 217-5366
TPWD – Education

Texas Groundwater Summit
2019-08-20 - 2019-08-22 | Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort, 9800 Hyatt Resort Dr., San Antonio, TX, 78251, United States
Student Scholarships

Studying groundwater? Interested in learning more and connecting with professionals in the field? Apply for a scholarship to attend the 2019 Texas Groundwater Summit. Students are also encouraged to submit your research for inclusion in our Student Poster Session. More information is available here.
Interested? Please contact Beth Hood at beth@texasgroundwater.org.

Register Now
Early Bird registration for the 2019 Texas Groundwater Summit closes April 30. Register now.

Sponsors

Show your commitment to groundwater policy, emerging management trends, education, and research by becoming a sponsor of the 2019 Texas Groundwater Summit.
If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please contact Beth Hood at beth@texasgroundwater.org. Learn more about sponsorship packages here.

Exhibitors

Join your colleagues from GCDs, engineering firms, state agencies, and database solution providers, and connect with over 350 conference attendees when you become an exhibitor at the 2019 Texas Groundwater Summit. Secure your booth here.

Hotel Room Block

The Texas Groundwater Summit is back at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort in San Antonio. Secure a room at our discounted rate of $140/night here. The room block closes July 31.

NEEDMORE Follow Up Meeting with TESPA
2019-08-19 18:00 - 20:00 | TX, United States
NEEDMORE POST MORTEM
and the FIGHT AHEAD!

How did we get here? And what are we going to do about it?
That’s the essence of the Trinity Groundwater Protection Planning Meeting set for next Monday. Jim Blackburn, TESPA attorney and board president, will provide an insightful look back, and then map our way forward with your help and support.Your attendance is crucial and valuable. Please plan to attend.

DATE: August 19
TIME: 6 to 8pm
PLACE: St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 6000 FM 3237, Wimberley, TX
HOST: TESPAOn Aug 19 you will also learn about the District’s (BSEACD) periodic well-monitoring program and how you can be part of it.

Conservation Easement Workshop
2019-08-16 13:30 - 17:00 | Cibolo Nature Center Auditorium

Managing Our Stormwater - A FREE Green Infrastructure Workshop
2019-08-13 13:00 - 16:00 | one texas center, 505 Barton Springs Rd, Room 325, Austin, Texas
Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service and City of Austin Watershed Protection are hosting a free half‐day workshop on Green Infrastructure, nature based techniques to clean and conserve stormwater.
Tuesday, August 13, 2019
1pm – 4pm
One Texas Center
505 Barton Springs Rd, Room 325
Austin, TX 78704
Speakers will focus on the why and how of green infrastructure practices using case studies from Texas.
Register for the workshop at GIFT-TCWP.eventbrite.com

Final Hearing for the Needmore Water, LLC Permit
2019-07-29 16:00 - 18:00 | buda city hall, 405 Loop St., Buda, TX, 78610
Read the notice here.
The BSEACD Board will hear public comments on Needmore’s proposed permit. Comments must not be repetitive and must be limited to three minutes per person. TESPA is encouraging landowners who will be affected by the permit, or who are concerned about over production of groundwater resources in Hays County, to attend the hearing and make comments. For more information about the proposed permit, read this flyer or visit the Needmore page on our website.
Together, the Electro Purification and Needmore proposed permits will cause significant drawdown in the Middle Trinity Aquifer. The cones of depression associated with these two permit requests actually overlap, and if BSEACD grants both permits, pumping will exceed the modeled available groundwater. Now, more than ever, we need to fight to protect our groundwater resources from over pumping!

Know Your Plants: Native plant identification for common grasses, ﻿forbs & wildflowers
2019-07-17 08:00 - 17:00
Native vegetation is much more than aesthetics and can provide habitat, food, and shelter for wildlife. We will discuss an overview of the native plant families of Central Texas and some common members of each, as well as some of the flora-fauna mutualistic benefits created.
Registration: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Mlse6yRWSeig022pshM7Kg
