Water Resource Planning
The Texas Hill Country is known for pristine springs, creeks, lakes and rivers. Urbanizing trends in this region are altering the landscapes along these waterways and creating polluted storm-water runoff, also known as nonpoint source (NPS) pollution. NPS pollution can result in degraded water quality, siltation of creeks, algae blooms and altered fish and wildlife habitats.
In some areas, riparian lands — the banks of rivers and streams — are protected by regulations. Vegetative buffers and silt control structures must be provided where riparian land is disturbed. Enforcement of these regulations, however, is often difficult. Citizens of the Hill Country can help by monitoring construction activities and observing any waterway banks for signs of pollution.
In 2008-2009 HCA partnered with Schreiner University, Texas Tech University and Texas Public Radio to present the Texas Water Issues Symposia Series. The four part series highlighted Texas water issues including aquifer, river and bay sustainability, the science and policy of water issues and the role of conservation and education. Each forum was recorded by Texas Public Radio. Click here for details and to listen.
See our resources on Direct Discharge threats in the Hill Country
Recent News
March 8, 2010
Drop by Drop: Seven Ways Texas Cities Can Conserve Water
The National Wildlife Federation and the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club released a joint report today recommending seven common-sense water conservation measures. The report reviews 19 cities around the state to see where these measures are in place and concludes that, with some exceptions, most of the cities surveyed are not doing enough to make the most efficient use of existing water supplies. Read more...
February 10, 2010
Edward Aquifer moves towards impervious cover limits in the Hill Country
The board of the Edwards Aquifer Authority on Tuesday moved toward limiting development over the entire recharge zone of the aquifer from Hays to Uvalde counties. Controlling the amount of impervious cover, or the square footage of parking lots and roofs, on top of the recharge zone is a step the authority has contemplated since 2003 to protect water quality. Read full SA Express article here.
January 26, 2010
LCRA wants input for long range water supply planning
Now is the time to let LCRA know your ideas for managing the water in the Highland Lakes. Meetings will be held in Austin, Burnet and El Campo, you can also provide input in writing or take an online survey. Learn more...
November 19, 2009
State environmental agency rejects request to repeal discharge ban
The state environmental office Wednesday denied a request to repeal a ban on the discharge of treated wastewater into the Highland Lakes, which serve as the prime recreation and water supply reservoirs in Central Texas. The decision, made at a meeting of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, ends a public policy discussion that boiled down to water quality versus water quantity. Read full Statesman.com article here.
October 21, 2009
13 Million pounds of toxics discharged into Texas rivers and streams
Industrial facilities dumped 13 million pounds of toxic chemicals into Texas’ waterways in 2007, according to a report released today by Environment Texas: Wasting Our Waterways: Industrial Toxic Pollution and the Unfulfilled Promise of the Clean Water Act. The report also finds that toxic chemicals were discharged in 1,900 waterways across all 50 states. The information detailed in this report was compiled from the Environmental Protection Agency’s database on toxic release inventories. Read full media release here.
Read News on Water Resource Planning and Find Upcoming Events.
Helpful documents:
A summary of the Regional Water Quality Protection Plan
A study on nutrient levels of and harm done to Central Texas Water
The Cyprus Creek Project's Quarterly Newsletter
Liquid Assets: The State of Texas' Water Resources - An in-depth piece on different aspects of Texas water from Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Susan Combs.
Helpful links:
Texas Stream Team, "Caring For Our Waters"
Texas Riparian Association - Encouraging healthy riparian systems within Texas through education, management, research and demonstration.
A description of watersheds from the EPA
The Center for Watershed Protection
The Watershed Forestry Resource Guide
Texas Water Matters - The best most up-to-date resource on all water planning processes taking place in Texas.
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