New Year's Day Polar Bear Plunge Photos

CHECK OUT THE PHOTOS HERE or HERE. 

Polar Bear Splash is a GO!!!

We are happy to announce that Barton Springs Pool will be open on New Year's Day for the Polar Bear Splash.  Many thanks to the pool staff for working diligently since Thursday after the flood to get the pool cleaned of debris so our community can enjoy the 2019 Polar Bear Splash ~ Austin style!

 

We are blessed to live in a place that honors this tradition and the soul of our city - Barton Springs.

 

Join us in thanking the following unsung heroes!

 

Pool Managers:  Matthew Miller, Danica Ruggles, Conor Hopkins, Kris Williams

 

Pool staff:

Edward Balaguer, Sophia Bastidas, TJ Bulgerin, Milton Hein, Shane Keckin, Joel Manzo, (see pic for Matthew Miller, Pool Manager,  Jim Pappas, Troy Clites & Carl Petry), Claire Prewitt, John Shumake, Alex Slivinske, Brave Stephens, Elleyna Thompson, Landon Tourne, Derk Wilkinson, Lindsey Worthington

 

And our PARD Officials:

Aaron Levine, CORO, Aquatic Supervisor; and Kimberly McNeeley, CPRP, Acting Director and Adam Thompson

 

We'll see you Tuesday at the front gate area!  We will have hot coffee, donuts and the commemorative Polar Bear tees for sale as long as they last. 

 

 

Seeking the Truth on Springs Pollution

This last week gave us a stark reminder of how vulnerable Barton Springs is to urban pollution sources on the watershed south and west of the springs. The clear flowing springs suddenly turned milky white, triggering a pool closure and rapid investigation of the source and content of the pollution.

2018 Year End Letter

When we arrived at Barton Springs at 8:30 this New Year’s Day morning it was 29 degrees.

The front gate parking lot was full.  Seriously. 

Before we could set up the Save Our Springs welcome tent, with free coffee and donuts, our maps and water education materials, and our traditional Polar Bear t-shirts, the t-shirt line was already six people deep.

It never let up.  Before we packed up that afternoon, we had enjoyed the magic of Barton Springs welcoming the new year with a few thousands friends, neighbors, and potential friends. 

Unlike some years, when it’s warm and sunny, it was a true winter splash.  It felt like a fairy tale. It’s hard to describe the sense of community, good will, and pure joy of starting the new year at Barton Springs. 

We are all so blessed by the beautiful waters of Barton Springs, San Marcos Springs, Comal Springs, and the hundreds of other smaller springs of Central Texas.  

The challenge of keeping these springs clean and flowing grows every day, as our region’s population continues to grow.  With a changing climate, central Texas could see an even greater influx of newcomers fleeing rising seas and larger storms along the Gulf Coast.

Please make a generous donation today to SOS to support the science, law, and public education advocacy that we need to save our springs from these growing threats.         

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Thank You Holiday Party Participants!

Thank you to all of you who braved the weather and made this year's Holiday Party one of the best ever! 

Thank you so much to our Sponsors!

Big Win on Prop D, Big Loss on Prop J

On election day,  Austin voters  approved Proposition D with a staggering 84% voting "yes."  This was the highest pass rate of any of the Austin bond measures.  Prop. D provides $184 million for flood mitigation, open space and water quality protection.  $72 million of the total is specifically earmarked for buying land and conservation easements in the Barton Springs watershed in order to permanently protect and remove those lands from potential development.