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In this Issue: Building Momentum for a Better MoPac Together, We Can Save Our Historic Barton Springs Bridge Stop Solid-rocket Fuel Motor Testing on the Edwards Aquifer Early Giving and Peer-to-Peer Opportunities to Amplify SOS  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. 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. 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 In This Issue:
 The Data Center Fight Continues: Town Hall Thursday, Feb 12 On February 4, 2026, Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra issued an open letter urging all municipalities and water suppliers in Hays County to immediately implement Stage 4 drought restrictions and halt new large-scale industrial water permits. This plea should sound the alarm about the urgent water challenges for Central Texas. And particularly for San Marcos and Hays County, who have become a major target for new data center developments, with as many as a half-dozen data centers planned or under construction. Individually, a single, large-scale data center can run through millions of gallons of water annually just to keep the servers from melting. Collectively, these data centers and the energy generation they require pose a significant, unforeseen strain on water resources that neither local nor state water planning accounted for. The San Marcos community has some difficult decisions ahead and is coming together for a town hall discussion. Join the discussion tomorrow, Thursday February 12th at 6pm in San Marcos at the VFW (1701 Hunter Rd). Robin Rather, longtime local environmentalist and water champion, has graciously agreed to moderate a community Town Hall featuring experts in environmental law, water resources, power grids, AI, surveillance, and local history. OTHER WAYS TO JOIN THE FIGHT: Add your voice to the public pressure campaign to contact the Crystal Clear Special Utility District and the San Marcos City Council. Created by our friends at the Data Center Action Coalition, this campaign puts the power of the pen to work and provides clear ways to contact local utility leaders and elected officials to push back against water-guzzling data center proposals right away. Your voice helps ensure officials prioritize residents, uphold drought protections, and reject unnecessary, water-intensive industrial projects. One action takes less than five minutes. There is also a petition demanding that leaders uphold existing commitments to regional water and land use plans, and it calls for an indefinite halt on all data center permits, rezoning, and project approvals in the area. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? The Mayberry/CyrusOne data center rezoning request has faced significant public opposition through multiple rounds of review, with two major upcoming City Council meetings now potentially determining its fate. Here are the important upcoming dates to show up and speak out:
The proliferation of data centers in Central Texas represents a direct threat to our water security during a historic drought. Your informed and sustained action is the only effective counter to the lack of policies in place. To stay current with decisive meetings, legal developments, and strategic actions, follow @data.center.action.coalition and @saveoursprings on Instagram. There is no single right action or way to show up. Thank you for joining the fight and inspiring others!  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. (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.
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:
 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.
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