San Marcos River Foundation Newsletter - River Awareness Month
Calendar Inside
Vol. 8, No. 2 - Printed Quarterly on Recycled Paper - April
1, 1998
QUARTERLY BOARD MEETING ON APRIL 21: MEMBERS AND VISITORS
WELCOME!
Date: Tuesday, April 21, 1998
Time: 6:00 P.M.
Place: RIO VISTA ROCK COTTAGE MEETING ROOM OFF CHEATHAM ST.
Agenda: Greenhouse Interpretive Center Plans
Fish Hatchery Waste Discharge Permit
SWT Construction, Four Projects
City of San Marcos Water Withdrawal Permits
River Awareness Month Report
Plans for Summer Activities
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE TO MEMBERS
I am honored to serve as the new President of the River Foundation
Board for 1998. The Board of Directors is a great collection
of people who are all contributing their skills to the group
effort of protecting the San Marcos River, and I am energized
by their hard work and commitment.
We face so many growth issues just at the headwaters of the
River, much less for the entire 90 miles of its run to the
Guadalupe and on to the coast, that it is hard to always remain
optimistic for the future of the River, and we have to realize
that we alone cannot solve all of the problems that face us.
The thing that we can do is focus on the major impacts to
the River's flow, water quality, and beauty, always thinking
of future generations and their right to a beautiful River.
Then we
have to select the items that we can actually solve,and work
so steadily and persistently that we can actually make a difference.
Often the problems can be solved easily by making available
to government agencies information that they were unaware
even existed, and working with them on the issues. Sometimes
we have to gather that information ourselves because no one
ever has studied the problem, and that can be expensive, so
it is wonderful that we have begun to receive grants and contributions
specifically for scientific studies.
Sometimes
we have to take it a step farther and force someone to listen,
or go to the media and make sure that everyone hears it, so
that public pressure can be applied. This is not pleasant
work, but the Board knows that we are having great impact,
and that our stands for the River always have scientific basis.
We are even being included in discussions of River issues
with government agencies that we used to just find out about
long after the discussion stage! So we will keep on working,
and we hope you will enjoy helping out too. The reward is
in seeing the difference you can make. (Let's celebrate the
opening of the new City Wastewater Plant all summer long by
enjoying the River, beautiful and clearer than anyone has
seen in years.)
The monthly
meetings are one way to learn much more about the issues than
we can print in our newsletter or other media, and you are
always welcome. At these meetings, we often call for volunteers
for our many educational efforts. This is a way that anyone
can help, by visiting classrooms, manning information tables
at special events, canoeing government officials or travel
writers down our special River, or helping provide refreshments
or assistance to educational workshops and river cleanups,
and River Awareness Month. Through education on water issues,
we can make sure that the future generations will care enough
to continue our mission to protect this River, and know enough
to realize what the threats are. I'm excited by the success
of the Foundation thus far, and hopeful about the coming year.
I hope you are too! We'll keep you posted.
Dianne Wassenich
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CHARETTE ON DEVELOPMENT OF AQUARENA
SMRF members Jack Fairchild, Charles Blankenship, and John
Hohn (who represented TRPA) attended the Texas Parks and Wildlife
Department and SWT "Charette" to provide input and
ideas for the planned Aquatic Conservation Center on the present
Aquarena Center grounds. Over 40 people from a variety of
State and Regional organizations including SWT, TP&W,
EAA, GBRA, LCRA, USF&W, SMRF,TRPA, Trout Unlimited, San
Marcos/Comal Recovery Team, San Marcos Convention and Visitors
Bureau, and the Houston Canoe Club were represented.
The Center will be the third leg of a state educational and
research system including the Freshwater Conservation Center
at Athens and the Sea Center at Lake Jackson. The San Marcos
center will focus on rivers, springs and aquifers, while the
Athens facility is about Texas lakes and reservoirs, and the
Lake Jackson facility covers coastal estuaries and marine
environments.
Texas
Parks & Wildlife places these centers near major population
centers in order to educate the highest numbers of Texans
about the importance of water resources to the state and how
they can be conserved for future generations. Current plans
call for SWT to manage the facility.
The full
day of discussions resulted in a consensus on the following
several issues:
- The
main building should be outside of the flood plain.
- The
main building should be no higher than two stories.
- The
amount of impermeable cover should be less than that existing
now.
- The
existing buildings except restaurant and historical inn
should be removed.
- The
old historical cabin should be relocated nearer to its original
site downtown.
- The
new building should be located on the footprint of the present
restaurant if it is declared outside of the flood plain,
or on the higher ground toward the north end of the peninsula,
near the parking lot by the swimming pool.
- The
parking lot should incorporate a wetlands type self-treating
system similar to a Florida conservation center discussed
at the charrette.
- The
glass-bottom boats should be retained.
- The
facility should be a model of environmental sensitivity.
- Drainage
should be away from Spring Lake
Special
care is needed during construction to prevent pollution of
Spring Lake. A consensus was not reached on whether the Sky
Ride and Submarine Theater should be retained or removed.
Considering the wide variety of interests involved in the
charette, the amount of consensus on issues obtained was remarkable.
Now the River Foundation intends to follow the design and
implementation phase to be sure the charette goals are achieved.
SAN MARCOS RIVER RANGERS REORGANIZED AND GROWING!
After losing their last few founding members last fall, the
River Rangers have reorganized with many new volunteers, adding
new test sites on the San Marcos River as well as the Blanco.
A Texas Watch Monitor Training conducted in January by Mary
Rocamora, Steve Boles, and Deborah Lane certified 13 new River
Monitors, many of whom are permanent residents of the area.
Test sites have extended down the San Marcos River as far
as Fentress at the Hwy. 20 crossing, and the Blanco is now
being tested at the Old Martindale Road crossing, bringing
the total to 15 sites now being monitored by the Rangers.
A Campfire Girls group and a Girl Scout troop are in the process
of completing Phase 3 of the training, to increase monitoring
sites as well as involve the future generation of river protectors.
The next
training will be in late spring or early summer. Down river
residents are especially encouraged to become involved in
river monitoring. Additional sites, at 5 Mile Dam on the Blanco,
and Hwy. l979 and Hwy. l977 on the San Marcos, need monitors
at this time. The River Foundation provides test kits and
supplies for the River Rangers, and gratitude for their excellent
work. Interested volunteers can contact Deborah Lane, 512-392-3095,
or e-mail deborah@riverrats.net.
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RIVER FLOW NUMBERS, IN CASE YOU ARE CURIOUS
The San Marcos River is flowing at 218 cubic feet per second
(cfs) as of this writing on March 29, and the Blanco is flowing
at 404 cfs. Since there is not a USGS gauging station anywhere
near the confluence of the two rivers, we can only give you
the combined total of the two rivers all the way downstream
at Luling, where it is 719 cfs. The almost 100 cfs that the
rivers increased, over the total of the first two, is a tribute
to the value of all the small creeks and springs that flow
in wet weather into the rivers. What El Nino will bring us
this summer is anybody's guess. Some scientists are saying
a dry spell is coming next. SMRF hopes they are wrong, but
conserve water anyway, in any manner that you can. Remember,
landscaping and toilets are the top two users of water in
homes.
NEWS FROM SWT
The cooling towers for the campus will use Spring Lake water,
if construction plans are bid as planned in April. The Regents
approved a quarter of a million dollars to build the pump
station and pipeline from the Lake just under Joe's Crab Shack's
deck, going under Sessom Drive, and right around the ponds
that SWT is also planning to excavate to use as settling ponds
for their sediment laden runoff from their construction projects
at the top of the Sessom Creek watershed. It does seem that
the right hand might not know what the left hand is doing,
or at least it might be tangling up the left hand in a snarl
of pipes, making things more difficult.
SMRF members Jack Fairchild and Dianne Wassenich have reviewed
the engineering plans and are researching the water permit
issued to SWT by TNRCC in October of '96. The Sunday, March
29 San Marcos Daily Record reported projected Lake pumping
figures from Ed Fauver, SWT Physical Plant Director, of not
more than 150 gallons per minute. SWT says they are pumping
this water from the Lake to save the aquifer, which makes
no sense since the endangered species that need protecting
are in the River just below the Lake where the pipe will pump
from. The net result on the River is the same, so that claim
doesn't hold water. What is really behind this plan?
SWT also
claims to be saving the $17 per acre foot pumping fee that
EUWD is charging them. That $17 amounts to a day and half
of pumping, with maximum pumping all day and night, even though
that would not go on all the time. Even at these levels year
round, it would take over 60 years to cover the initial costs
of designing and constructing this boondoggle. This situation
merits more research, and perhaps the regents, legislators,
and public needs to know the true costs.
At the
very least, the Environmental Review Committee for SWT should
be given the opportunity to look at this project. A recent
effort by SMRF to get SWT to listen to this committee's opposition
to another paving project near the Lake has been answered
with assurances that SWT will let the Environmental Review
Committee look at the paving plans once they are completed.
RIVER CLEANUPS FIND LESS TRASH THAN USUAL
Two River cleanups, one involving the whole 90 mile length
of the River, and one of the San Marcos part of the River,
occurred in March, and the River Foundation contributed money
and time to both. Green Guy Recycling reported that 20 cubic
yards (think 4 dumpsters) of material was recycled from the
March 7 cleanup, and about 35 total cubic yards of trash was
collected, about 7 dumpsters. Many tires were found this year,
since the Legislators in their wisdom, destroyed the tire
recovery program that they had in place that was actually
working well. Now people are dumping the tires in the River
again, instead of paying the $2 now required to dispose of
tires. Thanks to all the true River lovers who work so hard
on these cleanups every year, and contribute time, money,
canoes, camping space, and baked goods to the cause. There
is agreement among most cleanup volunteers that the garbage
is being reduced over the 25 years of cleanups. Hurray!
TWO HEARINGS, NO REAL NEWS
SMRF did attend a new hearing on the Fish Hatchery waste discharge
permit, and the discovery process continues (where we ask
each other questions and have to answer them). There is talk
of a mediation effort, and we'll know more in May. No news
at all on the City's permit to withdraw water from the River,
and no idea when we will finally hear from the hearing examiner,
or when the hearing will be, or if there will be a hearing.
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APRIL IS RIVER AWARENESS MONTH!
CELEBRATE
THE RIVER WITH US BY ATTENDING SOME OF THE FUN TOURS AND EVENTS
ON THE CALENDAR INSIDE.
RIVER
FOUNDATION SPONSORED EVENTS ARE FREE. VISITORS ARE ALWAYS
WELCOME AT ANY MEETING OR TOUR.
River Awareness Month is sponsored every year by the San Marcos
River Foundation, a non-profit group formed in 1985 to protect
and preserve the flow, natural beauty, and purity of the San
Marcos River. For information on the River Foundation, call
512-393-3787, or see their website at http://www.sanmarcosriver.org.
To receive
a newsletter, which will have a membership form printed on
it, write SMRF, P. O. Box 1393, San Marcos TX 78667-1393.
A membership which includes a subscription to the quarterly
newsletter covering river news and issues, is $25.00 per year.
Watch
the San Marcos Daily Record for articles on the events listed
on this calendar, with even more information than there is
room for here. Their daily Community Calendar will have updates
as well, in case changes need to be made in schedules.
Thursday, April 2 - Preservation Associates annual
Fundraiser
Will be held at Aquarena Center, with glass bottom boat tours
of the lake. Mariachi music, an evening banquet and auction
are some of the planned events. This group is instrumental
in preserving local historic sites, choosing Aquarena Center
for this event because of the historic San Marcos Springs.
For information on ticket prices and times, call Dee Story
at 512-847-2774.
The Kiwanis
Pancake Lunch and Supper will be held at the City Park, in
the building adjoining the Lions Tube Rental, on the banks
of the beautiful San Marcos River. Lunch is from 11 a.m. to
1:30 p.m., and supper is from 4:40 to 7 p.m., with tickets
priced at $4 for all you can eat.
Friday, April 3 - Wetlands Workshop
, all day at Aquarena Center on both Friday and Saturday,
for teachers of any age group or subject, and youth group
leaders like Scout leaders too. Ways of educating children
on wetlands conservation issues are taught in an entertaining
and hands-on way, with educational credits available. The
River Foundation will provide morning coffee refeshments.
Event taught by SWT Aquatic Biology program. For information,
call Paula Power, 512-245-2276.
Saturday, April 4 - Home and Garden Show
, at the Activity Center, sponsored by Hays County Master
Gardeners and San Marcos Parks & Recreation Department.
Great speakers on organic gardening, composting, wildflowers,
and wildlife gardening. The event will run from 10 a.m. to
6 p.m., admission $1.00, for more info call Bruce Welborn
at 512-396-3347 or 512-395-7085. The Hays County Master Gardeners
are big proponents of xeriscape or drought tolerant plants
and water conservation, which helps the San Marcos River survive
dry periods by reducing pumpage of the aquifer.
The Convention
and Visitors Bureau and local businesses are hosting a group
of travel writers from major Mexican magazines and papers
all weekend. The River Foundation is canoeing them down the
river, and could use help from anyone who is a good safe paddler.
The trip is scheduled for 4:30 to 5: 30 p.m. Call 512-393-3787
to volunteer to help. Spencer Canoes is providing the canoes.
The aquifer
play performance is at outdoors at Aquarena Center at 1 p.m.
and again at 3 p.m. The title is "A Gathering of Spirits",
and it was written by SWT's playwright-in-residence, Charles
Pascoe. Performed by SWT's Theatre Department students, the
costumes and set are great, and admission is $3 for children
and $5 for adults. Call the SWT box office at 512-245-2204.
The play will also be performed Sunday, April 5 at 3 p.m.
Sunday, April 5 - The SWT Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit
Will have an opening reception from 2 to 5 p.m. at Aquarena
Center. Fifty works by students and area artists will be on
display through May 16. An exhibit well worth seeing in a
beautiful setting by Spring Lake. See
the information above about the aquifer play on Saturday and
Sunday.
The Bluebonnet
Lions Kitefest is a huge festival that has become a spring
tradition at River Ridge Park on IH 35. It will happen on
both Saturday and Sunday, and for information,
call the Chamber at 512-353-5900.
Thursday, April 9 - The River Foundation will sponsor
a walking tour of the Sink Springs
The largest of the springs above Aquarena that are considered
the origin of the San Marcos River. Dr. Glenn Longley of the
SWT's Edwards Aquifer Research Center will lead the tour,
starting at 5:15 p.m. at the home of Larry and Ann DuPont.
To drive there, head toward Kyle on Post Road at the traffic
light just past the railroad track at Aquarena's entrance.
Turn left on to Spring Road and proceed to the DuPont mailbox
on the left, near the end of the street. Park in their driveway.
For info, call 512-393-3787.
Monday, April 13 - The Chamber's Natural
Resource Committee
Is taking vans to Selah Ranch, owned and restored by Mr. Bamburger,
who has won many awards for his research in land and water
conservation. For information, call the Chamber at 512-353-5900.
City Council
meetings begin at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall in San Marcos. Water
and river issues are frequently discussed, and it is always
good to have citizens there and involved. Agendas are posted
at City Hall the Friday before the meeting.
Tuesday, April 14
The River Foundation will have a presentation on the state
of the river at the monthly breakfast meeting of the morning
Kiwanis Club. For information on place and times, call Diane
Parkin-Speer, Kiwanis President, at 512-392-2269.
Thursday, April 16
The River Foundation will sponsor a walking tour of the wetlands
restoration project at Aquarena Center at 5:15 p.m., gathering
in the parking lot near the far end. One of the interesting
spots to see will be the experimental plots of different ways
of removing the elephant ears that have taken over the river.
Led by members of the SWT Aquatic Biology program, bird and
wildlife habitat will also be discussed, since that is key
in wetlands restoration. Bring your binoculars for birdwatching,
too.
For information, call 512-393-3787.
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Friday, April 17
There will be a lecture on urban sprawl, with slides, demonstrating
ways to design communities to help conserve natural resources,
by nationally known designer, Randall Arendt, from 1-5 p.m.
at the Activity Center. For information, call Jeff Barton
at 512-262-2091.
Tuesday, April 21
The quarterly Board Meeting of the San Marcos River Foundation
will be at the rock cottage at Rio Vista Dam, at 6 p.m. Visitors
always welcome. Turn into the parking lot for the swimming
pool off of Cheatham Street, and the cottage formerly known
as the Parks and Rec office is across the lot from the swimming
pool. The meeting will probably include discussion on the
two permit hearings the River Foundation is involved in, protesting
the Texas Parks & Wildlife Fish Hatchery discharge into
the river, and the City of San Marcos request to appropriate
water from the river, as well as many other recent river developments.
For information, call 512-393-3787
Thursday, April 23
The River Foundation's annual Birdwatcher's Walk along the
San Marcos River will begin at the Playscape Park at 5:15
p.m., led once again by the intrepid Dr. David Huffman of
SWT. Bring your binoculars, and who knows what exotic birds
may be sighted, since April is migratory month for birds from
all over the world. For information, call 512-393-3787. Wear
comfortable shoes, and stay as long as you like, if you don't
want to walk as far as Dr. Huffman can, once he gets started.
Saturday, April 25
The annual Home Brew Fest is held on the banks of the beautiful
river at City Park from noon to 10 p.m., featuring music,
food, and finely crafted beers. Homebrew contests will be
featured, and festival goers may purchase sampler tickets
or individual servings. Scholarships for San Marcos students
benefit. For information call Jay Whitley at 512-353-6604
or 512-754-6216, evenings. Or you can e-mail him at: spueng@centuryinter.net
Monday, April 27
City Council Meeting--see April 13 above for information.
Thursday, April 30
Walking Tour of the City's new Wastewater Treatment Plant,
led by Alphonso Carmona, Plant Manager. This plant is almost
complete and will produce a much better quality effluent to
be discharged into the San Marcos River, thanks to the hard
work of the River Foundation for many years. Come see and
learn more than you ever wanted to know about sewage! See
where it pours into the river. Call 512-393-3787 if you need
directions.
High Tea
at the Cottage Kitchen on Hopkins and C. M. Allen is a fun
afternoon event sponsored by the Heritage Association, to
kick off the weekend Heritage Festival and Home Tour. The
Heritage Association is a major donor to the endowment fund
of the River Foundation, and continues to make sure that the
historic and unique San Marcos River is preserved. For info
on the Tea, ticket prices and times, call Sharon Chiu at 512-353-3470.
Reservations limited to only 30 people.
Friday, May 1 - The Meeting of the
Monitors
A state-wide conference of Texas Watch water quality testing
groups will be held in Corpus this year. San Marcos is lucky
to have many affiliated river testers, particularly the large
River Rangers Group. For information on the River Rangers,
or this conference, call Deborah Lane at 512-392-3095.
Gala Dinner
and Dancing at Quail Creek Country Club to celebrate the Heritage
Festival and Tours of Distinction weekend. Sponsored by the
Heritage Association of San Marcos, see above High Tea on
Thursday, April 30. For info on the Festival and Tour, call
Jackie Cable at 512-353-1258.
Saturday,
May 2 - Cinco de Mayo and the Heritage Festival
including the Tours of Distinction, make for an exciting weekend
in San Marcos, celebrating the culture and history of San
Marcos with parades, music, and more. The San Marcos River
has been home to many cultures for 12,000 years and continues
to be the heart of the city. For info on Cinco de Mayo call
the Hispanic Chamber at 512-353-1103, and for the Heritage
Festival and Tours
call Jackie Cable at 512-353-1258.
Check
out the River Foundation's birdwatcher's website at http:://www.centuryinter.net/birding
and call the SMRF birding hotline at 396-BIRD for monthly
updates on birds seen in the San Marcos area.
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