DRIPPING SPRINGS – Spring is in full force – native grasses are tall and green, trees have erupted in fresh leaves, and bluebonnets are gracing roadsides across the region. These blooms rely on long-awaited rains – and despite the vibrant floral displays, rainfall counts are already off to a rough start.
Last year, the Hill Country Alliance, a regional nonprofit that works to preserve clear and flowing waters in the Hill Country, celebrated its first annual Spring Water Revival – a month-long springtime celebration of our region’s incredible waters – our bubbling springs, pristine streams, and flowing rivers.
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In an ironic twist of fate, since last spring the region has seen countless creeks and springs dry up in response to one of the cruelest one-year droughts on record. Jacob’s Well stopped flowing for the longest period in history and the Highland Lakes, which receive much of their flow from spring-fed rivers, saw historically low inflows. Hill Country springs are the lifeblood of the region, supporting local economies, drinking water supplies, recreation, and countless plants and animals. The ongoing drought has left residents across the Hill Country worried about our collective water future.
Despite the challenges posed by the drought, this year the Hill Country Alliance is celebrating its second annual Spring Water Revival Month, all April long. “The ongoing drought has been hard on the Hill Country,” says HCA’s Water Program Manager Marisa Bruno. “And it’s an important reminder not to take our springs for granted. The goal of our Spring Water Revival month is not just to celebrate our springs, but also to educate community members about their local water resources and highlight ways to get involved.”
This year’s Spring Water Revival will include a social media campaign that highlights some of the many grassroots groups working to protect local waterways, along with examples of Hill Country communities protecting water resources through local ordinances. The Hill Country Alliance is also sharing water resources and events throughout the region at www.SpringWaterRevival.org.
Upcoming events:
- April 13 – Yana Wana’s Legend of the Bluebonnet Play Screening: Join the Indigenous Cultures Institute and the Hill Country Alliance at Spring Lake in San Marcos @ 6:00 – 8:00 PM for an evening event featuring a family-friendly play screening and panel discussion. The play features Indigenous dances, shares ancient traditions, and presents an alternative, Native-origin story about the first bluebonnets and sacred springs in Texas. Click here to reserve a free seat.
- April 15 – Junction Runs on Water Block Party and Mural Reveal: Join the Llano River Watershed Alliance, Hill Country Alliance, Big Seed, and Texas Water Foundation for a free block party in Junction, Texas celebrating the first Texas Runs on Water® mural in the Hill Country. This event will celebrate the Llano River, local art and all the way water touches our lives. Click here to RSVP on Facebook.
We hope you will take some time this April to explore the many ways water unites our communities and join the work to protect these precious resources by visiting www.SpringWaterRevival.org and following along on HCA’s social media. This month of events would not be possible without the support of local partners like the Indigenous Cultures Institute, The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, Llano River Watershed Alliance, Big Seed, Texas Water Foundation, Pint and Plow, and Fairweather Cider-Texas Cool. Special thanks to Ozona Bank for their generous sponsorship of this annual event.
Join us for events, activities, and news celebrating the Hill Country’s water—one of our most precious resources!
The Hill Country Alliance is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to raise public awareness and build community support around the need to preserve the natural resources and heritage of the Central Texas Hill Country. Visit us at www.hillcountryalliance.org.
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Contact:
Leah Cuddeback, Storytelling and Public Engagement Manager | Hill Country Alliance | leah@hillcountryalliance.org
Marisa Bruno, Water Program Manager | Hill Country Alliance | marisa@hillcountryalliance.org
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