Drought Update: January 2026
Photo of a dry Barton Creek | January 2025 District’s Current Drought Status: Stage 3 Exceptional Drought January delivered a true weather roller coaster. The month opened with three record-high temperatures in the first week, only to swing in the opposite direction by the end of the month. During the final week, an Arctic cold […]
Message from the General Manager: February 2026
As we start a new year, I’d like to introduce myself as the new General Manager of the Barton Springs-Edwards Aquifer Conservation District. Many of you know me from my long tenure as the (former) General Manager of the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District in western Hays County; or if you’ve been in the area long enough, you may be riding one of the many thousands of bicycles my […]
How ‘Water Quality Protection Lands’ Safeguard Our Aquifer
Volunteers collecting seeds on a section of the Austin Water’s Water Quality Protection Lands | October 2025 People associate clean air and water with broad expanses of natural landscape for a reason. Clean water and air begin on clean land. Undisturbed, healthy landscapes provide many of the properties that we rely on for clean air […]
District Nears First Ever ‘Stage 4 Emergency Response Period’ Declaration
Photo of a dry Sculpture Falls on Barton Creek. This is one of the many creeks in the area that, when flowing, provide recharge to the Barton Springs segment of the Edwards Aquifer. The Barton Springs–Edwards Aquifer Conservation District (District) warns well owners that groundwater conditions within the District are approaching historic low levels. If […]
Request for Statement of Interest and Qualifications: Groundwater Modeling Services
The Barton Springs-Edwards Aquifer Conservation District (District) is soliciting statements of interest and qualifications for assisting the District in submitting a grant application to the Texas Water Development Board’s (TWDB) Groundwater Research, Science, and Data Collection Grant for Fiscal Year 2026. The grant application will propose to create a local numerical groundwater model that can simulate water levels, springflow, pumping, and groundwater flow. The area of interest of the model is all of Hays County […]
Drought Update: December 2025
2025 RecapWhile 2025 did not surpass Austin’s record for the hottest year, it still ranked among the city’s top five with an average temperature of 71.9°F. The hottest year on record remains 2024, with an average temperature of 72.7°F, followed by 2023 at 71.2°F. Total rainfall for the year measured 29.2 inches based on combined […]
Drought Update: November 2025
The District entered Stage 3 Exceptional Drought (previously known as Stage IV Exceptional Drought) on October 1, 2025—only the second time we’ve made such a declaration. Now, we are approaching the threshold for Stage 4 Emergency Response Period (ERP), which could be implemented in early 2026 if dry trends continue. These conditions reflect a combination […]
Well Owner Spotlight: City of Buda
A permittee of the District since we first began issuing permits in 1988, the City of Buda has established a reputation for thoughtful, long-term water management. Through investments in modern technology, proactive planning, and infrastructure designed for drought resilience, the City continues to safeguard local water resources while supporting a rapidly growing community. Smart Meters In […]
District Well Owners Win “Rain Catcher of the Year”
You may remember our first Well Owner Spotlight article highlighting the impressive water conservation efforts of Victoria and Travis Cox in Driftwood, Texas. Now they’ve received well earned recognition from the state. The Texas Water Development Board announced that the Coxes are one of their 2025 Rain Catchers of the Year. They were the recipients […]
“Tracing a Raindrop Through Barton Springs” by Texas Highways
This article explores the deep connection between Barton Springs and the waters that sustain it, highlighting the spring’s significance to both the community and local wildlife. Follow the journey of water as it falls onto the recharge zone, travels through the karst landscape beneath our feet, and ultimately emerges at Barton Springs. Read the full […]