We are thrilled to announce a historic milestone for watershed protection in our region. Earlier this year, the Hays County Commissioners unanimously formed an interlocal agreement with the cities of Wimberley and Woodcreek, The Watershed Association, and the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment.

Jonas Rosenthal, the newly appointed Watershed Coordinator for Hays County Parks & Natural Resources, will be managing the implementation of the Interlocal Agreement and The Watershed Protection Plan. This three-year pilot program will fund the Clean Rivers Program water quality monitoring for Cypress Creek and the Blanco River and implement the Blanco Cypress Watershed Protection Plan.

This groundbreaking collaboration, under the guidance of Jonas Rosenthal, marks the first of its kind in Hays County, bringing together diverse stakeholders to share ownership and management and to set collective, long-term goals for the region. We are particularly excited about this collaborative agreement as it promotes community buy-in, pools resources, and skills, and fosters a balanced, holistic approach that will model collaborative watershed management for other communities across the region and beyond.

This agreement recognizes that water transcends jurisdictional boundaries, and it represents a collective effort where everyone contributes, ensuring that no single entity carries the entire responsibility for the management and stewardship of our land and water. This collaborative approach allows us to effectively address the complex challenges of watershed protection and promote sustainable practices for our shared resources.

Trinity Edwards Springs Protection Association (TESPA) is fighting to protect Texas’ precious groundwater from corporate overreach. TESPA has filed a motion to intervene in the federal case Aqua Texas Inc. vs. Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District, aiming to defend private property rights and Texas’ groundwater protection laws.

Aqua Texas, after over-pumping 150 million gallons beyond its permit during extreme drought, is suing to bypass state groundwater regulations. If successful, this could dismantle Texas’ water protection laws and lead to unchecked groundwater depletion.

TESPA’s president, Jim Blackburn, warns this lawsuit could endanger groundwater across Texas, including the Wimberley Valley’s Jacob’s Well.

The University of Texas' Home2Texas internship program is making waves across the state, offering first-year students the chance to give back to their home communities while gaining valuable professional experience. This summer, 68 students were chosen from over 600 applicants, reflecting the program's growing reputation.

Krystal Aleesia Cortez's internship with the Watershed Association in Wimberley highlights the program's environmental focus. Under Executive Director David Baker, Cortez analyzed 20 years of water quality data and collaborated with experts, producing a report that will guide future conservation efforts.

In local government, Autumn Morris worked with Bell County Commissioner Louis Minor, learning about disaster declarations and infrastructure, while Victoria P gained hands-on tourism experience at Destination Dripping Springs, contributing to creative marketing initiatives.

Interns also worked in fields such as healthcare, tech, and economic development, applying academic knowledge to real-world challenges. With increasing demand, Home2Texas seeks support to expand, connecting students with meaningful opportunities and strengthening community ties across Texas.

Project Bedrock is thrilled to announce The Watershed Association as its new sponsor. Founded by Elizabeth McGreevy in 2022, Project Bedrock promotes a better way to manage the limestone lands of Texas karst country. 

"For almost 100 years we’ve been removing mountain cedars (junipers) to obtain short-term results but this often leads to more problems over time. Project Bedrock explains that this region, defined mostly by the Edwards Plateau, needs nature-based solutions. This region has unique needs that require solutions that keep the soil covered in order to slow the rain and produce longer-lasting results.

Up until this point, The Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance (GEAA) has served as the founding sponsor of Project Bedrock. After months of deliberation and consideration, we decided that our short-term goals would be better served by continuing to work with a nonprofit sponsor versus becoming our own 501(c)(3). We decided that we needed a sponsor with stronger rural ties and the potential to accommodate our growing and specific needs. We are very excited to partner with the Watershed Association as we recognize the strong alignment and shared missions." 

(Founder of Project Bedrock, Elizabeth McGreevy)

This initiative, based on research over the last decade, revealed mountain cedars are acting as ecosystem engineers to regenerate and sustain Texas karst country, not actually causing it harm. Project Bedrock works tirelessly to teach how to work with mountain cedars and other nature-based solutions to enhance these fragile lands because healthy soil is the answer to our problems and mountain cedars are part of the solution.

Project Bedrock’s Work

Our work involves public outreach, knowledge gathering, networking, and guiding. We provide public outreach through presentations, workshops, social media, and our website. Knowledge gathering focuses on karst country research around the world, various strategies and results of woody brush management, permaculture, and regenerative agriculture, and how-to and success stories. Slowly but surely we are adding this information to our online karst country library. Another segment of our work involves meeting people and businesses that practice and/or support nature-based solutions in Texas Karst country. Once vetted, we add their information to our working partner network to support their work and to provide resources for landowners. Our final line of work is guiding. Specifically, we are working to obtain funding to develop and produce a decision-making tool to teach Texas karst country landowners a better way to manage their karst country and mountain cedars. We hope to begin working on this guide shortly after the new year.

A Watershed Moment

The synergy between The Watershed Association and Project Bedrock is apparent. Our grassroots approach and intimate knowledge of karst geology and ecology, mountain cedars, and nature-based solutions perfectly complement the Watershed Association's broader expertise and resources. Together, we will create greater positive change to benefit our Texas karst country rivers, streams, and wildlife.

Texas Watershed Steward Workshop

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