The Watershed Association is proud to announce a historic milestone in our mission to protect the heart of the Texas Hill Country: the official opening of the Karst Canyon Preserve. Representing years of dedicated advocacy and community support, this 175-acre acquisition effectively doubles the footprint of the protected lands within the Jacob’s Well Natural Area.

While this acquisition expands the natural area and conserves acres from development, it also permanently safeguards critical recharge within the Jacob’s Well Groundwater Management Zone to protect the critically threatened Trinity Aquifer that sustains our region.

Often described as a "sacred place," Karst Canyon serves as a natural cathedral of geological wonders. The land is home to over 118 documented karst limestone features, including an intricate network of caves, sinkholes, and fractures. These features act as nature’s funnel, facilitating a spectacular rainfall recharge rate of 30%, nearly ten times the average recharge rate across our region. By preserving this critical recharge zone, we are directly ensuring the long-term viability of the springs that feed Cypress Creek and the local water supply.

Beyond its hydrological importance, the preserve is a sanctuary for biodiversity. It protects more than 100 acres of pristine habitat for the endangered golden-cheeked warbler. Within ancient live oak and juniper forests, the community has secured a future where rare species can thrive undisturbed.

Over a hundred community members gathered at the ribbon-cutting for the preserve on March 27th to celebrate the opening of the preserve to the public. The acquisition truly marks a milestone for the community and the dedicated efforts of the Watershed Association, Hays County, and many local stakeholders over the last decade to make the acquisition possible.

Every year, the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (GBRA) hosts a gathering of the organizations and individuals tasked with gathering stream data for the Coordinated Monitoring of the Texas Clean Rivers Program, a far-reaching basin-wide effort to track the health of the entire Guadalupe River Watershed. This is a far-reaching, regionally coordinated effort to monitor the health of our waterways that the Watershed Association has been a part of for 23 years.

Our early years of conducting citizen science on the back of grocery lists have grown into a collaboration with the Meadows Center for the Environment at Texas State University, and a multi-city and county Interlocal Agreement called the Blanco-Cypress Watershed Protection Plan. At this meeting, watershed coordinators from across the region share their data from the last year, and we have an opportunity to work out some of our challenges in real time, as well as get a feel for what other organizations are focused on and adjust accordingly. 

Here are a few key takeaways from this year’s meeting:

1) GBRA has begun the process of updating their labs to test for phosphorus at even more precise amounts. This is an exciting development for the protection of the pristine streams in the Texas Hill Country. The TCEQ lowest standard of .02 is already not attainable for most water quality labs to test for, but GBRA is now opting to test all the way down to .01 - a level closer to what science shows will preserve the quality of these waterways for fish and wildlife. Since initiating this practice, GBRA has already learned that its testing criteria are creating more accuracy across the board.

2) The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality representatives spoke about how Cypress Creek may need to be recategorized to have LOWER quality standards, due to the consistent declines in stream quality and the low flow conditions. In doing so, rather than qualify as an exceptional spring-fed creek* with unique ecosystems worth protecting, it would be managed as a creek already at risk and therefore not sustaining the life that it once did.

(*Exceptional aquatic life use –  This standard characterizes a condition of the river that includes outstanding natural habitat characteristics, exceptional or unusual assemblage of species, abundant sensitive species, exceptionally high diversity, exceptionally high species richness, and a balanced trophic structure.)

The Watershed Association was asked what anecdotal and scientific evidence we have about creek health. Our answer was clear: overpumping the aquifer during drought. The threat to Cypress Creek's flow is the same as the threat to Jacob's Well, high volume production wells in the recharge zone of the aquifer are operating out of compliance with drought curtailments and without adequate oversight, the unchecked pumping of specific wells and generally across the watershed and over 44 inches of rainfall deficit has steadily drawn down the pressurized system that feeds Jacob’s Well and sustains our spring flow to Cypress Creek and the economy tied to that flow. 

The Watershed Association maintains that a downgrade in the classification - effectively lowering the protective standards would be the policy equivalent of giving up. The degradation is not a natural shift; it is the direct result of unchecked groundwater pumping from the aquifer that feeds Jacob's Well, and we will continue to advocate for restoring flow rather than lowering the bar.

3) Our team updated the group on the success of the Blanco Cypress Watershed Protection Plan, and demonstrated how our community has shown up consistently across boundaries to workshop best practices and sustain our spring-fed way of life. Many great connections were made with regional scientists and program managers, and after 23 years of dedicated work in this watershed, we are proud to be a part of a truly collaborative project gathering data and making an ongoing impact across the region.

Every month, a small group of dedicated volunteers walks down to Cypress Creek and the Blanco River carrying sampling bottles. Their mission is simple but vital: measure bacteria levels and track the health of the waters that define life in Wimberley.


On April 6, 2026, volunteers with the Wimberley Water Advisory Group (WAG) collected water samples from monitoring sites along Cypress Creek and the Blanco River.


At the time of sampling:


• Jacob’s Well flow: 0.4 cubic feet per second
• Blanco River flow at Fischer Store Road: 3.3 cubic feet per second


Results from the laboratory analysis showed generally low E. coli concentrations 
across most monitoring sites, indicating good water quality for early spring conditions.

Two sites recorded NR (no reading) due to sampling limitations. Most results remain well below EPA concern levels, although the 119 colonies detected below the Square bridge illustrate how bacteria levels can increase downstream, where recreation activity, wildlife, pets, and runoff are more concentrated.

The 13th Annual Earth Day San Marcos Festival is returning to Spring Lake this Saturday, April 18th! This year’s theme, “One Heart, Many Waters,” highlights the powerful connections between our community, our water, and the ecosystems that sustain us.


This free, family-friendly event offers a day of celebration, discovery, and connection at the headwaters of the San Marcos River. Enjoy hands-on activities, live performances, demonstrations, and interactive experiences, and connect with eco-focused exhibitors, local organizations, and vendors.


We can't wait to see you there!

Activating Stewardship: Strategies for the Future 

As drought continues to reshape life across Texas, conversations about water conservation, resilience, and shared responsibility are more important than ever. This session invites our community into an engaging conversation about incorporating rainwater harvesting, One Water principles, and the evolving strategies to help households and regions adapt during times of record drought.


A statewide rainwater harvesting study will be presented, including how different zip codes influence collection potential and long-term water security. An interactive water calculator will be shared to aid in the discussion of household water use during drought.


Watershed planning, community-scale conservation, and the human side of water stewardship will be presented by emerging professionals developing new approaches to stakeholder engagement.


The extended session will conclude with an optional glass-bottom boat tour or a guided walk through the Spring Lake wetlands. Spaces for the tour are limited; please register for the event in advance!

Keynote Speakers

Dr. Robert Mace, Executive Director, Meadows Center for Water & the Environment, Jenna Walker, M.A. Geo, Director of Watershed Studies, Meadows Center for Water & the Environment, and Desiree Jackson, M.S.Science & Stakeholder Engagement Specialist, Meadows Center for Water & the Environment 


**Parking is limited; carpooling is encouraged**

$3 day permits are available at the on-site pay station (Lot number is R30) or online here:

https://www.meadowscenter.txst.edu/about/contact-us.html

Join us for Volunteer Days on the first Friday of Every Month!


Most workdays focus on ongoing habitat restoration efforts, including removing invasive plants, girdling invasive trees, trimming invasives away from native vegetation, and planting native seeds.

Please come prepared for a bit of adventure! We’ll be hiking through thick brush!

Volunteer Requirements

• Must be 18 years or older
• Comfortable with physical activity and lifting 10+ pounds
• Ready to get a little dirty

What to Bring:

• Comfortable clothing, long pants, and sturdy shoes
• Work gloves (extras available)
• Water bottle

Be sure to keep an eye on the weather, and feel free to share this invitation with anyone who may be interested! Together, we can help protect and restore the natural beauty of Cypress Creek.

Stay Connected!