We have some good news to share in case you missed it over the weekend. After months of hard work, hundreds of your thoughtful comment submissions, and a coalition effort from other dedicated groups including Save Barton Creek Association, Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance, Austin Sierra Club, Austin Environmental Democrats, and Hays Residents for Land and Water Protection—the item that would have initiated an amendment to the Save Our Springs Ordinance for Milestone's proposed "Hays Commons" development has been withdrawn from consideration. This means we are calling off the action alert to speak at the Planning Commission today as originally planned. Hooray!!

This victory is thanks to all of you—our SOS members, allies, and partners who spoke out against this harmful proposal. We’ve made it clear that this is an awful idea for our community, and together, we’ve forced the pause on this development. The Austin Planning Commissioners heard the community’s concerns, raised key questions about the conflicts with the City’s growth plans, and highlighted the environmental damage that could have resulted from this project. Additionally, Council Member Paige Ellis announced she would not support the applicant's request for increased impervious cover on the site. This sent a strong signal that City Council would not back the proposal if it advanced.
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This is a meaningful win in the larger fight to protect this critical area of the Recharge Zone. We must continue to ensure that City resources, including water, are not used to support unstainable growth in this area.

Continuing the WorkEven though we’ve won this round, there’s still more to do. 

• Save Our Springs Alliance is currently contesting a separate Municipal Utility District (MUD) proposal submitted to the TCEQ (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality) for the Hays County portion of this property. 
• Milestone is also seeking a TLAP (Texas Land Application Permit) that would allow for spray irrigation of treated wastewater over the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone—something that could seriously impact our water quality.

While there are a lot of moving parts, the key here is to limit the amount of development on this sensitive land and make sure the Edwards Aquifer is protected for generations to come.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to be part of this effort—whether by attending meetings, sharing your concerns, or helping spread the word. This victory wouldn’t have been possible without your involvement and passion for protecting our community’s natural resources.
Stay tuned for updates on the next phases of this project and how you can stay involved.

Exciting News – We're MovingSave Our Springs Alliance HQ is relocating to a new space closer to the springs—a permanent home where we can continue our important work. As we make this transition, please be patient with us. We’ll be out of reach for a few days while we settle into our new office.

In the meantime, we may have some free office furniture available, so keep an eye out for those posts in the coming days. We appreciate your understanding as we settle in and get up to full speed.
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Thank you for your continued support!
SOS Alliance

We are thrilled to announce: YOU did it! 

After months of hard work, a groundswell of community opposition, and a coalition effort from dedicated groups--Save Our Springs Alliance, Save Barton Creek Association, Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance, Austin Sierra Club, Austin Environmental Democrats, and Hays Residents for Land and Water Protection—the item that would have initiated an amendment to the Save Our Springs Ordinance for Milestone's proposed "Hays Commons" development has been withdrawn from consideration. This means we are calling off the action alert to speak on Tuesday January 28th at the Planning Commission meeting. 

We are so grateful to the hundreds of SOS members and allies who voiced concern about the proposed Hays Commons’ development. While the exact reasons for the withdrawal remain unclear, we know that our collective efforts played a key role in this outcome. Based on community-driven concerns, many Austin Planning Commissioners raised important questions about  this proposal’s conflicts with the City’s sustainable growth plans and highlighted the potential environmental damage the project could cause over the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone.

Additionally, a key turning point came when Council Member Paige Ellis announced she would not support the applicant's request for increased impervious cover on the site. This sent a strong signal that City Council would not back the proposal if it advanced.
We are also incredibly thankful to the Austin Environmental Commission and Planning Commission members who met with us and ultimately supported the effort to protect this area from overdevelopment. This is a meaningful win in the larger fight to protect this critical area of the Recharge Zone. We must continue to ensure that City resources, including water, are not used to support unstainable growth in this area.

Continuing the Work
Even though we’ve won this round, there’s still more to do. 

• Save Our Springs Alliance is currently contesting a separate Municipal Utility District (MUD) proposal submitted to the TCEQ (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality) for the Hays County portion of this property. 
• Milestone is also seeking a TLAP (Texas Land Application Permit) that would allow for spray irrigation of treated wastewater over the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone—something that could seriously impact our water quality.

While there are a lot of moving parts, the key here is to limit the amount of development on this sensitive land and make sure the Edwards Aquifer is protected for generations to come.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to be part of this effort—whether by attending meetings, sharing your concerns, or helping spread the word. This victory wouldn’t have been possible without your involvement and passion for protecting our community’s natural resources.
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Stay tuned for updates on the next phases of this project and how you can stay involved. 

With immense gratitude,
SOS Alliance

After years of legal battles, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has recommended downlisting Texas’ beloved golden-cheeked warbler from “endangered” to “threatened.” This decision yanks on the thread to unravel decades of hard-fought protections for the bird, whose habitat is rapidly vanishing due to rampant land development and devastating climate
change.

An Abridged History

• 1990, the Golden-Cheeked Warbler was listed as endangered, in large part thanks to advocacy by longtime SOS supporters and members
• 2019, a federal judge upheld the warbler’s endangered status,
• citing ongoing habitat destruction from sprawling subdivisions, new roads, and businesses.
• 2020, the fight intensified when developers pushed to delist the bird entirely.
• 2024, a Reagan appointed federal judge ignored the overwhelming scientific record and the FWS’s opinion at the time to rule that delisting of the warbler may be warranted
• Today’s decision represents a turning point, as the FWS now claims the warbler no longer meets the criteria for “endangered,” despite mounting evidence proving otherwise.

Alongside our partners at Earth Justice, SOS Attorney Victoria Rose has been at the helm of these legal battles. “We are dismayed at the service’s decision to recommend downlisting the warbler against a grim backdrop of threats from habitat destruction and climate change throughout the warbler’s range, but we are looking ahead to fighting for continued protections for Texas’ most iconic songbird.”

In the coming months there will be a public comment period, so stay tuned. This heinous decision puts a spotlight on a larger issue we cannot ignore: in the coming years, the challenges we face will intensify. But we are not powerless, and SOS is working with researchers to show the warblers shrinking numbers and habitat. Please donate to SOS to ensure the golden-cheeked warbler—and the biodiversity it represents—remains protected. Together, we can make data, science, and collective action tools for resistance.

UPDATE on Hays Commons: New Planning Commission Date Set for January 28thIf you have written to the Planning Commission to oppose the harmful Hays Commons Development and its request for an amendment to the Save Our Springs Initiative Ordinance, THANK YOU. We received word that the item will be postponed by the Planning Commission until January 28th at 6 PM at Austin City Hall (301 W. 2nd Street). Speakers must register by 5:30 PM on Jan. 28th.
The Good News: This delay, requested by the developer MileStone Community Builders, gives us more time to organize and voice our concerns.
The Bad News: Milestone won't take "NO" as an answer. We need your help to prevent the extension of water and wastewater utility lines to the area, which will drastically increase development and environmental harm in an area that the City of Austin has spent millions trying to protect. The proposed development, Hays Commons, poses risks to the water quality of the Edwards Aquifer and Barton Springs. If approved, it could set a dangerous precedent for how Austin manages development in the Recharge Zone. 

How You Can Help1. Contact the Planning Commission: Use this extra time to urge them to reject MileStone's amendment request. Emphasize the risks to water quality and the importance of protecting our natural resources. The more personal the comments, the better! 

2. Mark Your Calendar: Plan to attend the meeting on January 28th and speak out. We’ll provide registration details as the date approaches. A Facebook event invitation is linked below if you need a reminder.

3. Stay Informed: For ongoing updates and more information, visit our linktree: https://linktr.ee/stophayscommons. We linked the presentation from our community meeting held on January 7, 2025.

Together, we can protect our springs and aquifer. Let’s show the Planning Commission that our community stands united against sprawl over the Recharge Zone!

Austin Environmental Democrats Endorse Against Hays CommonsOn Friday, January 10, 2025, the Austin Environmental Democrats joined the Save Our Springs Alliance, Save Barton Creek Association, Austin Chapter of the Sierra Club, Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance, and Hays Residents for Land and Water Protection in opposing the Hays Commons development and its request for City water and wastewater utilities. 
Note: SOS is a non-partisan organization. This is shared only to announce that another group has joined the fight against Hays Commons. 
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PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING DETAILS: When: January 28th at 6 PM 
Where: Austin City Hall (301 W. 2nd Street).
Important: Speakers must register by 5:30 PM on Jan. 28th.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the 2025 Polar Bear Splash at Barton Springs! It was incredible to see Austinites of all ages—and entire families—come together to dive into our home waters and kick off the New Year with energy and joy. We estimated over 3,000 people in attendance! This 45-year tradition has grown into something truly special, reminding us of the resilience and connection that make Austin so unique. Barton Springs is the heart of our city, and this event is more than a daring leap—it’s a celebration of the community that rallies to protect it. We are all part of the growing strain on our limited water and natural areas, so this time-honored tradition is an opportunity to get involved with SOS to be a part of the solution. ​

Milestone is pressuring Austin to extend water and wastewater services to a 498-acre development, known as Hays Commons, outside city limits in the environmentally sensitive Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone. They’re also seeking change to the Save Our Springs (SOS) Ordinance for their property! The SOS Ordinance protects Barton Springs and endangered species from groundwater contamination. The Hays Commons SOS Amendment would threaten water quality, set a dangerous precedent for future projects in the Recharge Zone, and undermine Austin’s long-standing environmental protections and sustainable growth goals. 
On Tuesday, January 14, at 6 PM at Austin City Hall, the Planning Commission will decide whether to grant an unprecedented exception to the SOS Ordinance to allow the Hays Commons development to increase impervious cover from 15% to 25% over the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone - that's 88 total acres (over 66 football fields) of pavement. This exception would set a dangerous precedent, weaken protections for our water, and jeopardize Barton Springs and local drinking water wells.
Why is this important?

• Hays Commons is in the worst possible location. It sits directly over the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone, where pollutants can easily flow into the aquifer, contaminating water supplies and threatening Barton Springs.
• This is about greed, not need. The developer, Milestone Community Builders, is asking Austin to abandon its long-standing water protection rules to maximize profit at the expense of public health and the environment.
• The SOS Ordinance is at risk. If this exception is approved, it will pave the way for more developments to demand similar concessions, undermining decades of water protection efforts.

Your voice is critical to stop this. A strong community presence can show the Planning Commission that we won’t stand by while our water and springs are put in jeopardy for profit.
Let’s protect Barton Springs and the Edwards Aquifer together. Join us on January 14th at 6 PM at Austin City Hall and make your voice heard!
When: Tuesday, January 28th at 6pm (this is the RESCHEDULED DATE)
Where: Austin City Hall (301 West Second Street)
Must sign up to speak before 5:30pm on Tuesday. See links for info below

Stop the Mopac South Expansion: Comment by January 28thHelp us stop the destructive Mopac South expansion! This project would add up to 7 lanes, pollute the Edwards Aquifer, harm endangered species, and disrupt Zilker Park—all for just 5 minutes saved in commute time.
 What’s at Stake?
The proposed expansion adds up to 7 lanes of pavement to MoPac, stretching from Cesar Chavez to Slaughter Lane. This destructive project would:

• Pollute the Edwards Aquifer: More pavement means more polluted runoff into Barton Springs and our drinking water.
• Harm Endangered Species: Barton Springs and Austin Blind Salamanders are at risk from sedimentation and pollution.
• Damage Zilker Park & Lady Bird Lake: New bridges would increase noise, clear trees, and disrupt wildlife and parkland.
• Increase Traffic, Not Solve It: The “induced demand” effect means more lanes = more cars, making congestion worse.
• Endanger Neighborhoods & Schools: Austin High School and nearby neighborhoods will see worsened air quality and noise.

All this destruction for only 5 minutes of saved commute time during rush hour! Please submits comments and demand a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to ensure public input and protect our environment. Don’t wait.