Latest News

Opponents challenge wastewater plans for Hays County concert venue
Express News Jan 9, 2024 By Liz Teitz. Written comments stated by the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance: “The Fitzhugh music venue, as currently proposed, would likely degrade Barton Creek and local groundwater quality in violation of the Clean Water Act and state law through treated sewage and stormwater runoff.” https://www.expressnews.com/hill-country/article/dripping-springs-concert-venue-wastewater-18596208.php?utm_source=marketing&utm_medium=copy-url-link&utm_campaign=article-share&hash=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXhwcmVzc25ld3MuY29tL2hpbGwtY291bnRyeS9hcnRpY2xlL2RyaXBwaW5nLXNwcmluZ3MtY29uY2VydC12ZW51ZS13YXN0ZXdhdGVyLTE4NTk2MjA4LnBocA%3D%3D&time=MTcwNDgzMTQ5OTU0MA%3D%3D&rid=NGRhMDUzZjgtNTAwNS00YTQ3LWE2YTgtYTkyYjljNzczMWYx&sharecount=Mg%3D%3D

Barton Springs-Edwards Aquifer declares Stage 4 exceptional drought
By Carissa Lehmkuhl PublishedDecember 15, 2023 5:19PM Weather FOX 7 Austin As quoted by GEAA Executive Director Annallisa Peace, “The news of the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District declaring a stage four exceptional drought (the first time in its 36-year history) is quite dismaying. The Barton Springs segment is a much smaller pool of groundwater than the San Antonio segment. Cyclical droughts coupled with the rapid growth in that area point to a real need to conserve water and, perhaps consider restricting population growth to what local water resources can support.” https://www.fox7austin.com/news/barton-springs-edwards-aquifer-declares-stage-4-exceptional-drought

How new legislation and growth threaten Edwards Aquifer
By Annalisa Peace,For the Express-News Nov 27, 2023 GEAA Under a new state law, those who own property in the extraterritorial jurisdiction, where most of the development in our region is occurring, can forgo compliance with municipal regulations. San Antonio should join the fight against this new law. https://www.expressnews.com/opinion/commentary/article/water-texas-edwards-aquifer-san-antonio-18509338.php?utm_content=hed&sid=5936c55d3f92a45314ebbfdb&ss=P&st_rid=null&utm_source=marketing&utm_medium=copy-url-link&utm_term=headlines&utm_campaign=article-share&hash=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXhwcmVzc25ld3MuY29tL29waW5pb24vY29tbWVudGFyeS9hcnRpY2xlL3dhdGVyLXRleGFzLWVkd2FyZHMtYXF1aWZlci1zYW4tYW50b25pby0xODUwOTMzOC5waHA%3D&time=MTcwMTExNzAzOTMwMw%3D%3D&rid=NGRhMDUzZjgtNTAwNS00YTQ3LWE2YTgtYTkyYjljNzczMWYx&sharecount=MA%3D%3D

Where I Work: Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance
by Rachel Hanes November 20, 2023. As policy director at the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance, Rachel Hanes works to protect the Edwards and Trinity aquifers.

Water for the future: Comal County has opportunities for reuse.
By Rachel Hanes / Policy Director, Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance Oct 28, 2023 Updated Oct 29, 2023. It is vitally important for residents in Comal County to be informed about the importance of water reuse in their region. In the article here, GEAA Policy Director Rachel Hanes provides insight into how reuse can help protect and relieve the burdens placed on existing water supplies and the importance of reaching their elected representatives about conducting an interim study on water reuse districts and systems before the next Texas Legislative Session. https://herald-zeitung.com/life/water-for-the-future-comal-county-has-opportunities-for-reuse/article_f67738bc-74f6-11ee-bd28-c3ecf18c3284.html

Digging into healthy soil to battle climate change
By: Deborah Reid-Technical Director, Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance, for the Express News Oct 3,2023 Perhaps you are familiar with the vital role healthy soils play in our future and what it means for the health of our local water supply. If not this article written by GEAA’s Technical Director Debbie Reid will arm you with information that is important for each of us to know! Healthy Soils= a reduction in greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere, a reduction in stormwater runoff, increased groundwater recharge levels, biofiltration of our drinking water and more nutrient-rich plant life and a reduction in irrigation. Please read and

Million Gallon March: Rallying for Local Wells & San Antonio’s Primary Water Source
Deceleration News Greg Harman Feb. 14, 2025 YOUTUBE VIDEO HERE! Hundreds of residents gathered in Grey Forest, Texas earlier this month to decry plans for

Northwest Bexar County residents oppose wastewater permit over drinking water concerns
Mayor Nirenberg visited the Helotes area that could be affected by developer’s proposed wastewater plant. https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2025/02/17/northwest-bexar-county-residents-oppose-wastewater-permit-over-drinking-water-concerns KSAT 12 Zaria Oates, Reporter Ricardo Moreno, PhotojournalistFebruary 16,

https://news4sanantonio.com/news/local/officials-work-to-prevent-treated-waste-water-from-entering-helotes-creek

Protecting Edwards Aquifer requires higher standard at Hill Country development
By Express-News Editorial Board,Opinion Staff Feb 14, 2025 For more than two years, private and public stakeholders — including the city of San Antonio, Metropolitan Health

Water nonprofit report explores solutions to water crisis, housing affordability
by: Marisa Nunez KXANFeb 10, 2025 / 04:34 PM CST https://www.kxan.com/news/texas/water-nonprofit-report-explores-solutions-to-water-crisis-despite-housing-affordability-concerns The report written by GEAA’s Policy Director Rachel Hanes, recommends Texas legislators support both long-term

Newly released report from GEAA Policy Director Rachel Hanes: “Water for Residents: Ensuring housing solutions do not worsen the water crisis in the Edwards and Trinity aquifer region,”
More below from Chad Swiatecki Austin Monitor Thursday, February 6, 2025