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July Watershed News
Topics:
Mid-Year Reflections from David Baker | Deep in the Karst of Texas Education Campaign
Sacred Springs Kite Exhibit Call for Artists | The Future for the Trinity Aquifers
Summer Neighborhood Site Visits | Spring flow increased, Groundwater levels still low.
Mini-BioBlitz at Colemans Canyon | In the Media | Upcoming Events

Mid-Year Reflections from David Baker
What an incredible year thus far! At the Watershed, we’ve navigated a year’s worth of projects just in the first six months of 2021! We are thrilled to share that we have deepened our collaborations and forwarded our programs in the areas of Land Conservation & Restoration, Watershed Protection & Conservation Science, Education & Outreach and Policy & Advocacy. We are expanding impact through One Water Initiatives and are engaged in Parks and Open Space Planning with Hays County to conserve land and water in critical recharge areas.

We are actively restoring land at Coleman’s Canyon through greenfielding and restoration efforts through collaboration with partners. In the early part of this year, we have continued to educate and inform the public through water quality testing and well owner neighborhood site visits. Our education and outreach programs are flourishing as we are launching the Art4Water Sacred Springs Kite Exhibition with a call for artists to participate in a groundbreaking exhibit of art kites honoring the sacred springs of Texas to be flown at the Austin Kite Festival and then hung in an exhibit at the Austin Central Library. Additionally, we are partnering with TESPA to launch the Deep in the Karst of Texas education campaign.
  
We continue to spearhead conservation efforts across the watershed through our work with Protect Our Blanco to ensure no discharge into the Blanco River through the Blanco Water Reclamation Task Force. Through the Water Funders Initiative, we are publishing a monthly Hydro Report and Surface and Groundwater Water Monitoring Data, conducting water quality monitoring through the Texas Clean Rivers Program and Wimberley Water Advisory Group, and promoting water conservation strategies with utilities. We are making great progress with long-term market-based solutions to conserve groundwater with Texas Water Trade.

These projects weave together art, science, stewardship, and policy through collaboration and education. I couldn’t be more proud of our staff, partners, and our community for all the work we have accomplished thus far with our collective efforts. With active, informed, and mission-centered supporters, neighbors, and public officials, it feels like anything is possible!

Enjoy this info-packed edition of the Watershed News and check out our archived newsletters and news posts. Please, share the info with your networks. The more we know, the better we can plan and innovate to protect what we love. We invite you to contribute financially through donations, volunteering, and/or information sharing. Together we can protect and enjoy clean, clear flowing water!

On behalf of the Board and Staff, Thank You!

For the love of water,
David Baker
WVWA Founder and Executive Director
Call for Artists - Sacred Springs Kite Exhibition
The Sacred Springs Kite Exhibition is the inaugural program of Art4Water, an initiative to advocate for environmental protection through the lens of art. The exhibition is a collaboration between Wimberley Valley Watershed Association (WVWA) and Sky Wind World and brings together the art community around our love for Texas’ great springs. For over a quarter century, WVWA has protected and preserved clean, clear flowing water in Jacob’s Well, across the Hill Country, and all over Texas.

Through this exhibition, Art4Water, Sky Wind World, and WVWA will raise awareness of the vital connection of water to life. With the Well as one example, the Sacred Springs Kite Exhibition seeks to float a collection of groundwater icons in the sky.

Art shapes culture, and changes people and communities. Art tells a universally powerful story that communicates the value of water beyond words. The exhibition will be designed to tell the stories of our springs and the value of water. A selection of 20 artworks from among the submissions to this open call for entries will fly as kites in community events and then hang on display in galleries internationally, beginning with the inaugural exhibition at the Austin Central Library in the spring of 2022.
Deep in the Karst of Texas Education Campaign Launched

Karst is at the heart of what makes the Hill Country so beautiful and yet vulnerable. TESPA and WVWA have joined forces for an educational campaign to celebrate and raise awareness about Texas karst, its water resources, and its unique challenges.

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wimberleywatershed.org
What Future Do We Desire for the Trinity Aquifers?

Across the Hill Country, residents and visitors depend on the groundwater stored in the Trinity Aquifers as water supply and to provide baseflow through springs that keep iconic creeks and rivers flowing. Residents have a voice through the...

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wimberleywatershed.org
Summer 2021 Neighborhood Site Visits - Trinity Aquifers

This summer the WVWA is collaborating with the HTGCD and the CTGCD to better document aquifer conditions in the Trinity Aquifers. Well owners in selected areas can sign up for a free site visit for water level and water quality screening.

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wimberleywatershed.org
Spring flow increased, Groundwater levels still low.

Welcome rains this summer have produced some recharge. Spring flow has slightly increased even after the rainfall ended, but monitor wells show that recent rains haven’t generated enough recharge to replenish water supplies.

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wimberleywatershed.org
Mini-BioBlitz at the WVWA Colemans Canyon Preserve

The Jacob's Well Natural Area and Colemans Canyon Preserve are connected biologically, hydrogeologically, and through conservation efforts. We (with a lot of help from our friends) have come far with trail building, trash cleanups, green fielding...

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wimberleywatershed.org
Greenfielding Complete at Colemans Canyon Preserve

When WVWA purchased the Coleman's Canyon property in 2019, there was a lot of work needed to restore the land. Perhaps the biggest project was greenfielding the derelict buildings-removing structures and impervious cover. Finding opportunity in...

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wimberleywatershed.org
In the Media
Jacob's Well Is A Source Of Life (KUT)

KUT’s Riane Roldan hiked, interviewed, and researched the community’s connection between groundwater, spring flow, creeks and rivers. WVWA's David Baker and Robin Gary are featured in her segment on KUT's All Things Considered...

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wimberleywatershed.org
One Water by Blue Hole Primary Second Graders

WVWA is one of many proud partners of the One Water Project and we have been helping facilitate the implementation and case study of Wimberley's One Water School-Blue Hole Primary. Check out the YouTube video of how Second Graders explain Blue...

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wimberleywatershed.org
Behold the Bounty of the Blanco (Texas Highways)

This month's Texas Highways features the Blanco on the cover! The author-Joe Nick Patoski-covers a lot of river miles and even makes it to Jacob's Well, the headwaters of Cypress Creek and an important tributary to the Blanco River.

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wimberleywatershed.org
The Wimberley Valley Watershed Association is a 501c3 non-profit organization. In order to carry out our mission, we rely upon generous donations by people like you who care about protecting and preserving the natural beauty of the Hill Country. Your contributions are tax-deductible. 
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