In less than three days, we kick off Amplify Austin Day—a 24-hour local giving sprint on March 4th that boosts local nonprofits like Save Our Springs Alliance. There's no need to wait! Early Giving has begun, and we are aiming to raise $17,000 to protect Barton Springs, the Edwards Aquifer, and our Hill Country watersheds. By becoming a supporter during Amplify Austin, you will help us expand our team, upgrade our Education programming, and mobilize our community. ​

Every dollar makes a tangible, local impact. Whether it’s $50, $100, or $500, your contribution directly supports the long term protection of Barton Springs and the waters that flow through the Edwards Aquifer and sustain our community.

More ways to step up locally:

•  Forward this newsletter to friends, family, and coworkers who care about Austin’s future.
•  Sign up for an upcoming Ecotour while the springs are closed and deepen your connection to the watershed.
•  Challenge three friends to match your gift and multiply your impact.
• For the GREATEST impact, you can become a Fundraising Champion -- email Megan@SOSAlliance.org to get set up and use the Amplify platform to build your own easy campaign. Water is *life* and local action is how we defend it. Join us this Amplify Austin Day and be part of the difference here at home!

Thank you for jumping in, turning up, and getting creative during this intense week of action. Your time, energy, and bold ideas are exactly what keeps the fight for our local waterways, unique wildlife, and community going. We see you, and we couldn’t do this without you.

For the love of water & wild places,
SOS Alliance

Better MoPac: Help Us Build Momentum in MarchThe proposed MoPac South expansion is back. The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority has released its draft Environmental Assessment for an 8.77-mile stretch of highway expansion, from Slaughter Creek to Enfield Road. The proposal outlines four toll lanes and expanding the highway six to eight lanes through the Edwards Aquifer Recharge zone, the source of Barton Springs and the lifeblood of our region. The official comment period runs March 9 - May 3. We’re coming together to organize and build serious momentum for the surge of community action ahead.

The Better MoPac Coalition continues to broaden its reach through a range of strategic and creative engagement efforts, and we highly encourage you to get involved! Opportunities include tabling at Austin High, joining our Lady Bird Lake paddle (details below), creating protest art and signs, sharing updates on social media, or lending your skills as a volunteer. JOIN HERE -- It's free and gives you a direct role in a coordinated, community-led effort to stop a short-sighted project that would permanently alter Austin and threaten our precious aquifer. 
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Below are some key dates and ways to join the movement... ​

Together We Can Save Our Historic Barton Springs Bridge"Sending Out An SOS!!"-- Please plan to attend or call in to the Historic Landmark Commission's meeting next Wednesday, March 4, at 6:00 PM to urge them to "save our beautiful, 100-year old historic bridge and its Barton Creek, Butler Trail, and Zilker Park setting. We will send out details on how to sign up to speak in person or by call in when they are posted later this week.  

Here's the short background: On December 14, 2023, our Mayor and City Council voted on its Agenda Item 79 to demolish our beautiful, historic gateway to Zilker Park -- the Barton Springs Road bridge over Barton Creek. If you have ever walked, run, paddled, swam, fished, or rode a bike under this bridge, or viewed it from the bike/ped bridge on the Butler trail, you've seen it. You've probably photographed it as well. It's one of the most beautiful and iconic places in Austin.  

The council's regrettable vote happened without the required prior review of our Historic Landmark Commission. Somehow they "forgot."  

The council did have misleading information from City contractors seeking fat contracts to demolish the historic, 58-foot wide bridge and replace it with a giant, ugly, 106 foot wide, highway-style bridge. Those contractors and staff told the council that the bridge was too frail to save and the only way to address traffic safety issues was to build a new giant bridge, with extensive construction in and disturbance of Barton Creek. Buried in the 700 pages of back-up documents, it showed the bridge was actually in "good" to "fair" condition and could be restored for $13 to $18 million. The council never heard this as a viable and affordable option. The cost to tear down and build the giant replacement, initially pegged at $10.2 million in 2022 ballooned to $36 million and then, today at $54.5 million. We are also just now finding out the project will do real damage to the historic Umlauf home and studio property and to the archeological and historic districts within Zilker Park.  
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Thankfully, the Historic Landmark Commission called "time out" on the City's push to destroy the historic bridge at its last February 4 meeting. You can watch the testimony and discussion on the Agenda Item 8 by clicking on that item here below the City's meeting video window. The Commission will consider recommending saving the bridge, the park, the creek and its unique aquatic life, the historic and archeological resources, and the Umlauf property at its Wednesday March 4 meeting. Please be there with us to support the Commission's historic landmark protection mission.  

Sign the Petition to Ask Texas State University to Move the Rocket-Fuel Test Site OFF the AquiferAn important message from San Marcos River Foundation -- A proposed solid rocket motor fuel testing at Freeman Ranch, located entirely over the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone, poses serious potential risks to the drinking water supply for more than 2.5 million Central Texans.
Texas State University has agreed to allow testing in partnership with X-Bow at Freeman Ranch, despite the site’s sensitive location. The plan involves firing solid rocket motor fuel secured to a concrete pad approximately 4-6 times per year. SMRF notes several water quality concerns. In the event of a malfunction, fuel pellets could be thrown beyond the test area. Testing can send dust beyond the site, and the need to capture and truck away contaminated cooling water after each run leaves significant room for error. The fuel contains ammonium perchlorate and aluminum oxide, which can persist in groundwater for centuries, making contamination extremely difficult to remediate. Please sign the petition below to tell Texas State to stop this plan that puts our aquifer at risk.

We’re keeping watch on the big fights ahead: opposing the horrible MoPac expansion and now rocket fuel testing, both over the Recharge zone, and fighting for the historic Barton Springs bridge. We also encourage you to step outside and enjoy what we’re working to protect. Join us for a Lady Bird Lake paddle on March 14, explore the many beautiful corners of the Greenbelt while Barton Springs is closed the next few weeks, and consider taking an enlightening walk with Black Austin Tours to learn more about the untold history, contributions, and experiences of Austin’s Black community.
As always, we’re watching the sky for rain.

In Solidarity, 
SOS Alliance ​

Big win, big loss, and next up!  

The big loss, as you may have heard, came from an adverse ruling late Friday in the Austin United PAC's lawsuit to force an election on the new Austin convention center and redirect much of the funding to cultural and outdoor investments that benefit both visitors and locals. District Judge Jessica Mangrum denied the request to order the initiative petition certified for a public vote. SOS attorneys represent the AUPAC in the case. Yesterday, AUPAC sought emergency relief from the Texas Supreme Court in the matter. The Court has complete discretion to accept the action on an expedited basis or not. If the Court does not act quickly, the legal questions will become whether the petition will be placed on a city ballot in November. More on this soon. Meanwhile, watch The Magic Hole to learn—or be reminded—why this issue is so important to the future of Austin.  

On the flip side, last Wednesday's Austin's Historic Landmark Commission (HLC) meeting presented one of the most remarkable and impressive displays of public service in memory. The entire commission, led by long-time Chair and architect Ben Heimseith, refused to be silenced by City of Austin Staff, City consultants or, indirectly, by a City Council that has little interest in hearing from appointed advisory commission members not eager to toe the party line.  

It's worth watching on the City's meeting video here. Click on the video index Item 8 just below the screen. If you don't have time to watch the whole thing, fast forward the video to the 2:32.55 time-mark to see Bill Bunch, UT Architecture Professor David Heymann, and Barton Hills NA leader Worthy LaFollette speaking and answering questions from the Commissioners. 

In short, the City Council voted in 2023 to move forward in demolition of the historic Zilker Bridge over Barton Creek. This 2023 City Council vote took place without any HLC input on this historic bridge and entryway to Zilker Park.  It also took place with a rigged and hidden-from-the-public analysis saying a tear down and replacement would be much cheaper than taking care of this historic treasure. If you've ever walked, run, paddled, or swam under the bridge, viewed it from the Lady Bird Lake trail, or photographed its beautiful arches reflecting on the surface of Barton Creek, you know this bridge. And you know it's something that should be protected, for centuries, like bridges all over Europe and the US as well.

We'll provide more details soon, but if you have time watch the video, and you love this bridge, park, and creek environment that it has occupied for 100 years, mark your calendar and plan to attend the HLC's next meeting on Wednesday March 4 at City Council chambers. Like the 2023 Zilker Park Plan, and the new convention center, many folks assumed the destruction of this bridge was a "done deal," with the money already being counted. It's not. Somehow (you might guess) the 2022 estimate of $10.2 million for the tear down and replacement with a giant, ugly highway bridge option was $10.2 million. Now the cost is $54.5 million and available funds for the project are $14.5 million short.  

The $54.5 million dollar question: Will our Prop Q chastised Mayor and City Council, now committed to "fiscal accountability" reexamine the bait-and-switch game played here by the City's contractors and go back to saving this treasure, or will they keep going and decide that $54.5 million to destroy this treasure is somehow being fiscally accountable?

At Barton Springs: The city just announced that Barton Springs would close early, on February 23, for the annual spring cleaning.  Normally the pool is closed for the first two weeks in March, opening for spring break. This year the City needs to perform some repairs at the pool and is scheduling this extra week of closure for the work, opening again on March 14th. Read the full announcement here.
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(A letter from Bill Bunch, Executive Director of SOS) ​

Phew! Lots going on. Please try to find one small way to show up, whether you speak at San Marcos City Hall, print a protest shirt, check out the Carver museum programming, journey into Barton Creek with us, or just read these emails and share, we are grateful. You are why any of this is possible.​

In Solidarity, 
SOS Alliance 

Spring (Back) in Love with the GreenbeltCelebrate Valentine’s Day by exploring Barton Creek on SOS’s first 2026 eco-tour! Join our expert SOS staff guides and Dane Smith, Vice Chairman of the Texas Speleological Society, an organization bringing together cavers across Texas since 1956 to study, protect, and explore the state’s caves. Dane will lead the group through Backdoor Spring and Backdoor Cave, two hidden gems in the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone. Along the way, learn about karst geology, local flora and fauna, and the critical role these waterways play in Austin’s environment. This guided hike includes both cave and creek adventure, and is perfect for geology enthusiasts, nature lovers, or anyone looking for a memorable Valentine’s Day experience.

• Date & Time: February 14th, 8:00am - 11:30am
• SalaVANder Shuttle: Available to the first 14 guests, first-come, first-serve. Meet at SOS Headquarters, 3201 Menchaca Rd at 8am.
• Self-Drive Option: Meet directly at Hill of Life Trailhead, 1710 Camp Craft Rd, Austin, TX 78746

We have 24 spots total, including the van roster and additional walk-up spaces for participants who want to meet us at the trail. Tickets are $25 each. Explore the beauty and science of one of Austin’s pristine creeks, uncover hidden limestone formations, and connect with the natural places we love. 
​We are expecting a big turnout for this special kick off tour, so grab your spot now! 

Central Texas is facing a surge of proposed industrial data centers that strain our water supply, increase electricity costs, and threaten local waterways with chemical contamination. You can make a difference: join the public pressure campaign to contact the Crystal Clear Special Utility District and San Marcos City Council. Your voice helps ensure officials prioritize residents, uphold drought protections, and reject unnecessary, water-intensive industrial projects.

​If you’re looking for a concrete way to help right now, the public pressure campaign created by our friends at the Data Center Action Coalition puts the power of the pen to work. This easy guide gives you clear ways to contact local utility leaders and elected officials and push back against water-guzzling data center proposals right away. One action will take less than 5 minutes. 

Upcoming Opportunities to Join the Fight Against Data Centers:

• Thursday, Feb 12, 6pm - Community Forum + Open Discussion Civil, non-partisan discussion with public officials and experts. Share your perspective and learn from others. VFW Hall, 1701 Hunter Rd, San Marcos
• Tuesday, Feb 17, 6pm - San Marcos City Council Public Hearing & First Reading
  Oppose the Maberry/CyrusOne data center rezoning, The developer has reapplied for land use changes from “Conservation Cluster” to “Commercial/Employment Low” and from residential to industrial zoning. City Council Chambers, 630 E Hopkins St, San Marcos
• Tuesday, March 3, 6pm - San Marcos City Council Ordinance Reconsideration (2nd Reading / Final Vote) Your voice can help prevent this project from moving forward.
  City Council Chambers, 630 E Hopkins St, San Marcos
  
  

To learn more about data centers, resources, and a list of contacts, go to the Data Center Action Coalition Linktree here. Protecting the Edwards Aquifer depends on engaged residents, sustained public pressure, and clear, civil participation. Thank you for adding your voice to protect our shared water future.

Drought Watch: A Noticeable Drop in SpringflowFor more than seven years, I’ve been a near-daily swimmer at Barton Springs, often snorkeling through clear water among bass and cichlids, eel grass and cobomba stands that all depend on steady springflow to thrive. This week, near one of the main spring vents where on a winter day one might normally feel a strong heated current, the pulse was barely noticeable, and clouds of algae are steadily spreading across plants that rely on consistent flow to survive.

The springs are the canary in the coal mine, and this majestic place is already showing clear signs of strain. The Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District (BSEACD) warns that groundwater conditions are approaching historic lows. The region has now endured 43 consecutive months of drought, driven by well below-average rainfall, record heat, and rapidly growing demand. Barton Springs flow is less than a quarter of its historical average settling at around 11 cfs since late January. We are on the brink of Stage 4 Emergency Response Period, an unprecedented drought stage in the District’s 39-year history. A Stage 4 declaration would bring significant pumping limitations to protect springflow and the long-term health of the aquifer.

“Thousands and thousands of households between Austin and San Marcos depend on well water for their daily needs,” said Charlie Flatten, General Manager of BSEACD. “It is critical that we cut back on outdoor use and conserve for indoor use only.”

The question is, if we don’t act now to conserve and support smarter water management, what will Barton Springs and the aquifer it depends on look like in the years ahead? You can read the full BSEACD drought update here and use the resources listed below. Go ahead and start conversations with friends and neighbors who may not realize how to make a difference.

• Water Conservation for Indoor and Outdoor Usage
• City of Austin Water Rebate Programs
• BSEACD Water Tips

Keep checking in on the springs, join us for an inspiring greenbelt eco-tour, take action against the encroaching data centers, and share ways to use water more thoughtfully. However you choose to show up, we appreciate you.

In Solidarity, 
SOS Alliance 

Despite claims from City Staff that the bridge is beyond repair, experts have debunked these assertions, showing that only minor maintenance is needed, not the costly $40 million demolition and replacement proposed. Further, arguments that the bridge is unsafe for traffic or pedestrians are unsubstantiated, as recent safety improvements have been successful, and the bridge poses no significant danger. Restoring the existing bridge would support the historic fabric of Zilker Park, while avoiding the unnecessary environmental harms that come with ripping out the existing bridge and putting in a new one. 

​Here's how to speak out:
The Historic Landmark Commission will hear this case Wednesday, Feb 4 at 6:00 p.m. You can attend in person at City Hall, 301 W. 2nd St. The agenda and backup materials are available HERE.

• Register to speak in advance (remote OR in person) at this link
• Virtual/teleconference registration closes at 12:00 p.m. the day before the meeting, and in-person registration closes at 5:45 p.m. on the day of the meeting. Speakers must complete all required sections of the form, and enter Opposed to Item #8
• For questions, contact preservation@austintexas.gov

SAVE AUSTIN'S SOUL POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE Post-Trial Update

Austin United PAC’s legal team, led by Save Our Springs Alliance public interest attorneys Bill Bunch and Bobby Levinski, laid out the law and evidence to support reversing the Austin City Clerk's rejection of AUPAC voter petition to call time out on the City's $5.6 billion, 32-year debt-financed convention center project and redirect public spending to support cultural and outdoor tourism that benefits visitors, locals, our creative economy, and our water and parks. If the petitioned ordinance advances and gets approved, these funds would be more equitably spent across the City--rather than just downtown. 

Judge Mangrum took the case under advisement. AUPAC has requested the Court to order the Austin City Clerk to certify the petition as valid in time for the Austin City Council to place the petitioned ordinance onto a special May 2026 ballot. 

Key points of the legal argument included:

1. The Clerk’s wrongful disqualification of ETJ and Limited Purpose District voters
2. The Clerk’s wrongful rejection of voters they were able to find on voter rolls based on technicalities 
3. The City's and City Clerk's extreme efforts to mislead the public and the court and to hide critical information from the public, AUPAC's attorneys, and the court.

The City Clerk, Erika Brady, was notably absent from the trial proceedings. Deputy City Clerk, Stephanie Hall, represented Clerk Brady. The Defendants’ legal team was led by Austin attorney Paul Trahan.

As always, we are grateful to the engaged citizens who continue to show up, speak out, and hold City Hall accountable. Your steadfast commitment to Central Texas, to the springs, culture, and protected wild spaces that define this region, remains our strongest defense against backroom deals and deregulation disguised as progress.

​In Solidarity,
SOS Alliance

Trial Set in Lawsuit to Validate Convention Center Petition

A trial date has been set in the lawsuit filed by Austin United PAC against the City of Austin for rejecting the “Save the Soul of Austin” petition, signed by ~25,000 residents of Austin, which would call a “timeout” on the Austin City Council’s rush to commit an estimated $5.6 billion, over 30 years, for a convention center project, without giving Austin voters a say in the matter. The petitioned ordinance would also prioritize City financial support for Austin’s local live music, arts, cultural, and environmental tourism sectors across the entire city.

After the PAC turned in the petition, the City Clerk disqualified over 1,600 signatures, many of which are actively registered voters and should have been counted. For example, the Clerk disqualified signatures for minor discrepancies in names and addresses, but these voters can be easily found on the City of Austin voter rolls. In disqualifying these signatures, the Clerk determined that the petition contained 19,506 valid signatures, short of the required 20,000-signature threshold. The lawsuit asserts that with those wrongfully disqualified signatures, the 20,000-signature threshold was met, and Austinites should be entitled to vote on it at the upcoming May 2026 election. The lawsuit also challenges the City’s violation of the Texas Public Information Act, in keeping secret the statistical sampling method used in preparing the sample used to evaluate the sufficiency of the petition.

The trial is set for January 26-27, starting at 9am each day. At this point, we do not know the court room assignment; however, it will be at the Travis County Civil and Family Courts Facility, at 1700 Guadalupe St, Austin, Texas 78701. There are screens near the elevators that identify the case (D-1-GN-25-010865) and will list the court room.

Note: Because it will be a jury week, parking around the facility may be challenging. There are street parking and a parking garage across 17th Street.

District Drought UpdateAs we move into 2026, drought conditions in the Barton Springs segment of the Edwards Aquifer are becoming increasingly severe. 2025 marked the fourth consecutive year of below-average rainfall, leaving Austin with a deficit of nearly 35 inches, which is roughly a year’s worth of rain. At last week’s BSEACD board meeting, staff for the district reported that without significant rain in the beginning of this year, the district will likely enter the most severe stage of drought, Stage 4 Emergency Response Period, by late March or early April.
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This scenario spells big trouble, not only to Barton Springs itself but also to the people, wildlife, and ecosystems that depend on clean, reliable groundwater in our region. Conserving water aggressively at home and in our communities, supporting policies that reduce impervious cover, fighting water and energy guzzling data centers, and advancing smart water management solutions are critical if we are to protect Barton Springs and sustain the aquifer. Here are some quick resources to put into action and share with your friends and family. 
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• Water Conservation for Indoor and Outdoor Usage
• City of Austin Water Rebate Programs
• BSEACD Water Tips

The growing need for people who care and who act is greater than ever. Your support helps keep our springs flowing, our creeks healthy, and the wildlife that depends on them thriving, while giving communities across Texas the tools to make a real difference.
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This New Year, make a gift to help Save Our Springs continue our fight to protect these waters and our city.

In Solidarity,
SOS Alliance

​In this Issue:  

• Polar Bear Splash Recap and Acknowledgements
  
• Second Chance Commemorative Tee Order
  
• Watch The Warbler and the Water Short Film

What an incredible turnout for New Year's Day!
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The 2026 SOS Polar Bear Splash was out of this world, and we were thrilled to see so many familiar faces (and MANY more new ones) in community at Barton Springs. An estimated 4,000 people moved through the park over the course of the morning, and participated in the community jump at 9:30am. That moment may go down as one of the greatest spectacles we have witnessed in recent springs' history. There was a shared charge in the air, the kind that makes a moment feel unforgettable. 

That’s always been the magic of this day. People from every background show up together, side by side, to start the year with courage and joy of the shared ritual of washing off the old year and welcoming the new. Multiple generations of family trudging in together, gaggles of friends, and plenty of solo dippers who show up brave and leave smiling. One of our favorite sights was a group of women who arrived dressed to the nines before taking the plunge.

A huge thank you to our hardworking volunteers that showed up for the mayhem on a national holiday! Thanks to Epoch and Barrett’s for donating more than 10 gallons of fresh coffee early that morning, powering up the thousands of sleepy-eyed people arriving for their New Year's tradition. This year, Flavor on Wheels food truck also rolled up with Korean-Mexican treats for the masses. We are so grateful for community partners who show up, literally before dawn, to make moments like this even better. Big thanks as well to Porkchop Screenprinting for printing our commemorative Polar Bear Splash shirts! 

Because of your support, we are fully energized to kick off the year strong. And we will need that energy. There are several critical fights ahead that require immediate attention, including the proposed MoPac South expansion over the Recharge Zone and a wave of massive water and energy guzzling data center developments targeting Central Texas.
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Thank you for starting the year with us in cool water, good company, and shared purpose. We’re grateful you’re here, and we’re ready for what’s ahead.

Onward Into 2026,

SOS Alliance

New Year’s Day is this Thursday, which means it’s almost time for one of Austin’s great traditions: the SOS Polar Bear Splash at Barton Springs Pool. For decades, this has been our way of washing off the old year and starting the new one grounded and reinvigorated. It’s joyful, it’s refreshing, and this year, it’s exactly what we all need. 
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WHO Everyone is welcome!
WHERE Barton Springs Pool
WHEN Thursday, January 1st. SOS staff & volunteers on site: 8:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. (front and back gates). Community group jump: 9:30 a.m.
WHAT Celebrate the New Year and the Soul of Our City. Free coffee & donuts from local legends Epoch and Barrett’s, plus find out ways to get involved with SOS. Flavor on Wheels food truck at the back gate. Cool 2026 commemorative SOS t-shirts available for $30 supports our work (both gates)

The Polar Bear Splash is about showing up for the springs and for one another. We are fortunate to live in a city where a spring-fed pool still flows through the heart of town, and that doesn’t happen by chance. The soul of Austin endures because we choose again and again to protect it. On New Year’s Day, we come together not only to celebrate, but to recommit -- to organizing, to stewardship, and to keeping our home waters safe and clean. 
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A quick and important note: the Polar Bear Splash will not have lifeguards on duty. It is swim at your own risk. Barton Springs is 70 degrees year-round with a natural (slippery) bottom, and we expect the air temperature to be about the same. If you have health concerns or limited swimming ability, please proceed with caution, or come be part of the fun hillside. There are plenty of ways to participate without getting in the water. This is a chance to reconnect with neighbors, with the springs, and with the work ahead. We’ll be sharing updates on how to get involved with Save Our Springs Alliance in 2026.

If you do take the plunge, we recommend bringing a warm robe and beanie, and of course grabbing a screen-printed commemorative shirt to throw on after your New Year's dip.

We can't wait to see you there!
SOS Alliance

Having clean, fresh and flowing water is a right for humans and for nature. Together we can save our springs.   
We hope to see you at Barton Springs on New Year's Day for coffee, donuts, and a plunge into the best swimming hole in Texas!

With gratitude,
Bill Bunch, Executive Director, Save Our Springs Alliance
P.S. Be sure to check out our newly wrapped SalaVander at the Springs, and watch for our 2026 schedule of eco-tours, classes, and community events.