This Thursday, January 30th, the Austin City Council will consider Agenda Items 4 and 25 relating to managing wildfire risk on City watershed and wildlife protection plans. While addressing wildfire risk is crucial for Austin, these items require further discussion and should be tabled for now. READ MORE FROM HART HAGAN ABOUT WHY THIS $7,500,000 in contracts doesn't actually suppress wildfires. Trees are not the enemy. They provide critical watershed services and habitat for our endangered songbirds. They sequester carbon. They facilitate water retention and aquifer recharge. In most situations, they resist wildfire much better than grasslands. While the “urban-wildlands interface” must be managed to protect people and structures, these proposals would undermine existing local research and could unintentionally harm our environment without reducing wildfire threats. Sign up here to speak, in person or remotely, at the Thursday Council meeting at 10:00 to urge the council to honor the science of local ecosystems and not succumb to a fear of trees as fuel. You must sign up by noon tomorrow, Wednesday, January 29th. Item 4: Redundant and Misguided Study The proposed U.S. Forest Service study (Item 4) duplicates research already conducted by Baylor University in 2009. The study would be carried out by forest managers with no local expertise, who have a history of over-cutting trees. Baylor’s study found that forests pose less wildfire risk than grasslands—contrary to the logging industry’s preference for clear-cutting and prescribed burns. Spending $198,467 to shop around for a different conclusion seems unnecessary when robust data already exists about what is best for our local environment. Item 25: Risk of Degrading Parklands Item 25 allocates $7.5 million for vegetation management, including prescribed burns and tree thinning. However, these methods often dry out soil, increase erosion, and encourage fast-burning grasses—creating hotter, drier landscapes that are more prone to fire. Recent prescribed burns in Austin resulted in significant carbon emissions without reducing wildfire risk. Rather than moving forward with these measures, the City should prioritize strategies that preserve tree canopies, improve soil health, enhance landscape hydration, and reduce human-caused ignitions through park patrols and fencing. A Balanced Approach to Wildfire Mitigation The fires in LA should not cause panic in Austin. Pausing these items would allow time to talk about how best to pursue wildfire management, instead of simply reacting to current headlines. Thank you for your consideration in ensuring that Austin’s wildfire mitigation efforts align with both environmental stewardship and public safety. 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. 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.
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. 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.
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. 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
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. Hays Commons Makes No Sense: New Planning Commission Date Set for January 28thUPDATE 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. 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. Record-Breaking Turnout for Polar Bear Splash, Take Action Against Hays Commons & MoPac Expansion1/14/2025
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. Protect Barton Springs & the Edwards Aquifer – Attend the January 28th Planning Commission Meeting 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?
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 This year, Save Our Springs Alliance has been deep in action, taking on more legal battles than ever to defend the people, the waters, our wildlife, and the natural spaces that make Central Texas unique. From standing up for our right to speak and participate in the same direct democracy that formed the SOS ordinance to challenging massive highway projects threatening our aquifer, we’ve been working tirelessly to protect what matters most. Let's take a moment to reflect and celebrate these collective victories! 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:
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