 Last week Save Our Springs, along with other conservation groups, scientists, and community members, submitted a petition authored by conservation biologist Crystal Datri to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to list the Lipan salamander to receive protections under the Federal Endangered Species Act. The filing of the petition starts a 90-day clock for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to determine whether the petition presents substantial evidence showing the species should be listed. Taking its common name from a group of indigenous people that have long inhabited the western parts of Texas, the Lipan salamander is a small salamander that retains larval features, including external gills, throughout its life. The species is entirely reliant on groundwater of adequate quantity and quality. The species has an extremely limited range with only about 20 known locations in Edwards, Kinney, Uvalde, and Val Verde counties, from the Nueces to the Devils Rivers in Texas. While the Lipan salamander is a unique species, it is one of 15 salamander species endemic to the Edwards-Trinity aquifer system and faces similar threats common to its genus. With its limited range and dependence on groundwater, its main threats are over pumping of the aquifer that has been exacerbated by climate change. Learn more about the threats facing the species by reading the petition HERE.
Crystal Datri explained the importance of filing the petition: “We're really fortunate here in central Texas because of the types of protections our groundwater resources have: the EAA for the San Marcos and the Comal Springs and the BSEACD for Barton Springs. The Lipan salamander springs don't have those types of protections and some of them, including some of the largest springs in Texas, they're dry. The community swimming pool in Brackettville, the Las Moras springs, has already run dry this year, coinciding with the beginning of irrigation season. There are Lipan salamander springs that haven't run in years. These dying springs may already be extirpation events for the species.”
Crystal also explained that the fate of the Lipan salamander is directly tied to impacts here in Hays County and Comal County: “The Lipan salamander might seem far away out in southwest Texas, but we're dealing with the same aquifer. Those waters, if not captured by pumpers, would come out in springs that those of us in central Texas are more familiar with: the Comal and the San Marcos. Your continued support of Save Our Springs allows us to work with our partners to protect these rare species that make our home so special, thank you for joining us!
Outside of her work at SOS, Lindsey is an Olympic weightlifter and a devoted mom to Eve, and you can spot them most weekends enjoying a wild swim or a kayak adventure. We asked Lindsey to share more about what brought her to this work, what challenges and excites her, and where she finds her favorite waters.
What brought you to SOS, and what do you work on here? Barton Springs brought me to SOS! I had started to swim at the springs regularly and I was feeling like I needed to make a career change. I was sort of lost during this time, just swimming until I could figure it out. I started forming relationships with other regulars at Barton Springs and got plugged into the Zilker Park Vision plan debacle. I'll never forget standing by the pool and watching Ben Livingston march down the stairs and announce to all of us swimmers, "Can you believe this bull*%$&!" holding a print-out about the vision plan in his hands. I started to volunteer and show up. Later that fall I heard that SOS was hiring, and the rest is history! For the past two seasons I have worked as the Outreach Coordinator at SOS, managing tabling efforts, leading snorkel tours and ecotours, and helping to manage our summer internship program. A lot of this work keeps me out of the office and at the springs—which is a great part of the job. Why did you choose to work in water conservation? I spent years studying environmental literature in graduate school at UT and I knew I needed to do something more directly involved with the material world. I had always enjoyed my years as a public school teacher, so outreach and outdoor education was a perfect fit. What’s the most challenging part of your role? I think figuring out how to give people memorable and transformative in-water experiences has been challenging. It's something magical that is really hard to design and execute in advance. So much of our bond with nature occurs spontaneously and through play. How to allow for people to capture this playful aspect of solo exploration while simultaneously "leading" a group of people through a pre-set itinerary is a challenging art. It is one that I am still figuring out. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? Be here now.
What part of this work is most rewarding for you? Hands down, leading ecotours and snorkel tours and seeing people discover new swim spots that they want to return to and keep building relationships with. Also, educating elementary school age kids about how groundwater is hugely rewarding. What’s a common misconception you hear about Texas water? That there is none! Since traveling abroad, I have heard many people be surprised that there is decent swimming in Texas. I always tell them not only is there decent swimming, Central Texas is home to some of the best swimming holes in the world. I am very proud of our water in Texas. What we have here is very special and far surpasses many "iconic" swim spots of the world. What’s something unexpected about you? A fun fact! My other sport is Olympic weightlifting! Where’s your favorite place you’ve ever gone swimming? Ooooh this is such a mean question. (I'm not counting the Springs in this question). For freshwater I would have to say the waterfalls in Barton Creek Wilderness Park and a close runner-up being Cascade Lake on Orcas Island, WA. For salt water, it would be the channel swim between St. Kitts and Nevis Island where I got to swim with my partner and saw a handful of sea turtles along the way. Oh and Brighton Beach, English Channel! Where I faced my fear of ocean swimming and sobbed on the beach afterwards because I was so happy. If you could take anyone on a Texas river trip, who would it be and where would you go? Of course I would take my daughter, Eve. I love exposing her to the outdoors and she is a natural wild swimmer. In a perfect world, I would love to take her to the swimming holes on the Frio that are in the H.E. Butt Foundation Camp Grounds. There is a blue hole there that is 30 feet deep! But I would equally enjoy taking her back to the Frio in Garner State Park. Spending all day in the water with her, watching her wade and explore through the shallows, watching her captain her kayak Gingerbread (she named it, not me), and mermaid through the crystal clear waters is all I ever need in this world. What's the funniest thing a kid has said while on a snorkel tour? "Is this a petting zoo?" (asking about the geese. Eager to touch geese). How much can you bench? I have no idea how much I bench but my snatch pr is 38 kg right now! (The snatch is one of two lifts in the sport of weightlifting, the other being the clean and jerk. The objective of the snatch is to lift the barbell from the ground to overhead in one continuous motion) Tell us about a scary encounter in the wild - creature, weather, or other. A year or so ago I wanted to take a quick dip in Barton Creek before work. I knew there was a chance of thunderstorms in an hour but I figured I would be down and up in plenty of time. Well, the water was so beautiful and it was so calm and peaceful out there that one thing led to another and my dip turned into a full on swim-selfcare-communing with Nature session. Warning!: The Greenbelt always works its magic: time seems to stop when you are down at the creek (this should be posted at every trailhead). As I was standing in the water taking pictures I felt raindrops and suddenly remembered where I was and that it was time to GO. As I was hurrying to pack my things and pull on shorts over a wet bathing suit, I saw a bright flash of lightning. OK now we REALLY have to go! However, I still had a 20 minute hike up the Hill of Life in between me and my car. I tore across the flat meadow on the way to the hill. This hike was now going to be an uphill sprint. I hit the button on my sportwatch (might as well get the PR if I make it out alive) and started the long haul up the Hill. Lighting was now absolutely CRACKING above my head, it seemed like mere feet away from me. I was cursing myself for being so careless but I finally made it up to the top and to my car, lucky that I did not get a collateral strike charge from a tree out there. I also learned that my official "Running For My Life" pace is about 10 minutes a mile up the Hill of Life. With a couple of breaks. Not exactly David Goggins, but I'll take it. The lesson here? Folks! With access to high quality weather apps, no one should ever get "caught" in a thunderstorm. (P.S. Beware of Greenbelt magic. It will always keep you longer than you think :) Whether she’s underwater, online, or on the trail, Lindsey shows up for the springs and the people who love them. We are so lucky to have Lindsey on our team. To join Lindsey on a Snorkel Tour, sign up below! IN THIS ISSUE: Thursday, May 15th - Join Us for the Statesman PUD Hearing Stand Up for Our Endangered Species Saturday, May 17, SOS + The Long Time, Sandlot Baseball Benefit Stop the Water-Guzzling CloudBurst Data Center in San Marcos May and June Eco-tours at Barton Springs  SOS In Court This Thursday to Defend Lady Bird LakeJoin us this Thursday, May 15th at 2:00 p.m. at the Travis County Courthouse for a court hearing in SOS Alliance v. Watson, et al., our Texas Open Meetings Act challenge against the Austin City Council's unlawful approval of the Statesman PUD. The hearing will take place in person and is expected to last 3 hours. Travis County Civil and Family Courts Facility 2:00–5:00 p.m. 1700 Guadalupe Street, Austin, TX 78701 10th Floor, Courtroom 10(C) (Judge Soifer) This case focuses on governmental transparency and accountability. It's also about guaranteeing a participatory democracy by allowing the public a fair chance to express their views on Council votes on matters of significant interest to the community (i.e., one of our members was limited to just 12 seconds per zoning item). The process for approving the Statesman PUD ordinance (and related items) was deeply flawed. It did not inform the public about the full scope of what was being approved, including dramatic changes at 3rd reading to increase the heights on the property to 725 feet (taller than the Jenga Tower). Under the guise of a "zoning" amendment, the Austin City Council approved the relocation of the Hike and Bike Trail, eroded environmental protections of the Lady Bird Lake shoreline, and approved the removal of almost 100 mature trees along the trail and lake. Your presence in the courtroom will send a clear message that Austinites expect transparency, accountability, and protection of our lakefront, not backroom deals. Parking and Transit Options:
 Join SOS This Saturday at The Long TimeJoin us at The Long Time this Saturday, May 17th for an afternoon of sandlot baseball, live Cajun music, cold plunges, and good times! Nestled in east Austin, The Long Time is both sandlot ballfield AND community event space. This year, The Long Time selected Save Our Springs Alliance as their featured nonprofit for the Steppin’ Up to the Plate campaign in honor of the critical work we do in Central Texas! Game Day Lineup: 11:00 AM: Nashville Dollys vs. Austin Grackles 3:00 PM: Austin Moon Towers vs. Your Texas Playboys Live Music: 2:15 PM: Charles Thibodeaux & The Austin Cajun Aces 4:30 PM: Hayride music set All Day: Left Field Flea Market, local drinks & yummy food, cold plunge stations from our friends at MeltWell starting at 1PM (bring a swimsuit & towel or purchase one at the general store) Location: 5707 Dunlap Road North, Austin, TX 78725 For every $10+ donation, you'll up your chances to win a raffle with prizes like a Barton Springs season pass (+ free parking), gorgeous artwork by Roger Paul Mason, and a gift basket brimming with local treasures. Come for the fun, stay for the cause -- protecting our waters. See you there!  Dangerous Rollback on Endangered Species' Habitat Protections - Speak Up Now The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wants to weaken one of the most important tools we have to protect endangered wildlife. A proposed rule change would strip away federal protections against habitat destruction by redefining what it means to “harm” an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). You can read more about the proposed change HERE.This change would be devastating for species like the Barton Springs salamander and the Golden-cheeked warbler, both listed as endangered because their habitats are being destroyed. For over 50 years, the ESA has safeguarded America’s most vulnerable wildlife. If this change goes through, it will open the door to unchecked development and ecological collapse across the entire country. We can’t let that happen. Submit a public comment by May 19 Speak up before it’s too late. You don't have to go into detail, even a simple comment makes a difference. Tell them you oppose this change to habitat protection! How to submit a comment:
Let Senators Cruz and Cornyn, and your Congressional rep know you oppose this rollback. Share this alert Forward this to friends, neighbors, and everyone who cares about keeping Texas wild. Now’s the time to act. Let’s stand up for the species that can’t speak for themselves.  Hays County: Speak Out Against the Proposed CloudBurst Data Center
We’re in the midst of a water crisis. Hays County is currently facing a Stage IV Exceptional Drought, the most severe classification, and prolonged periods of intense drought have become our new reality. While we struggle to conserve our rivers and aquifers, a new threat looms—water-intensive data centers are being proposed throughout our region, ignoring the limitations of our already strained water supplies. The proposed data centers on Francis Harris Lane in southern Hays County, including the massive CloudBurst AI data center, exemplify the imminent danger to our water resources. These facilities would consume hundreds of thousands of gallons of water daily for cooling. When combined with the water needed to cool the power plants for their extreme energy usage, the ultimate water consumption of these data centers could rival that of small towns. With our aquifers and rivers already under immense stress due to severe drought conditions, these data centers will exacerbate our water crisis. Climate experts warn that droughts will only worsen over time, making this type of water-intensive development not just reckless but irresponsible. It’s time to act. Join us on Tuesday, May 20th, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. at the Hays County Commissioners Court (Downtown San Marcos, Third Floor) to voice your concerns. Sign up at the door before 9:00 a.m. to demand transparency about the project’s water sources, emphasize the ongoing drought, and advocate for sustainable, water-conscious development that safeguards our future. We need our elected leaders to sound the alarm now, before irreversible harm is done. This is our moment to protect Hays County’s water for generations to come. Show up, speak out, and help stop this disaster in the making, before it’s too late. IN THIS ISSUE: Help Stop the $5.6 Billion Dollar Convention Center Waste Protect Water Quality on Our Pristine Streams - SB 1911 An American Eel Spotted at Barton Springs We’re Hiring! Summer Internship Applications Now Open New Eco-Tours for May and June  Save Austin's Soul, Not the Convention CenterNew Convention Center or local parks and culture, you decide. Volunteer now to Save Austin's Soul -- before it's too late! Yes, it really is that binary. While our City Manager sounds the alarm on budget cuts and revenue losses, our City Council barges ahead with a $5.6 billion boondoggle project to tear down the center we have and build a new, bigger convention center. If the Austin City Council keeps going, 75 to 80% of our hotel tourism tax dollars -- over $170 million per year -- will be tied up for 30 years to cover the massive debt and tens of millions every year in operating losses. But nobody comes to Austin for the convention center. The City tells us it's about 1% of visitors. The whole convention industry is dying, sliding downward since the 2008 bust. As virtual meetings boom, actual convention attendance declines and convention centers sit empty across the nation. As the mismatch between supply and demand widens, Austin and other cities now have to give away the space for free to attract conventions and events. Only a handful of downtown luxury hotels and giant construction, engineering, and architecture firms benefit from digging The Magic Hole for the new convention center. People visit Austin, businesses locate here, and we live here because of Austin's water, parks, and local culture. Culture and nature-in-the city visitors generate far more of the $170 million per year hotel tax collections than the convention center ever did or ever will. We are rapidly losing the Soul of Austin because of blind greed and failed leadership and integrity at City Hall. But we can stop this massive, 30-year transfer of wealth from the local creatives and Austin places that we love and are losing. With 20,000 Austin voter signatures, we can force a public vote this November. That vote would pause construction of the new center and make funding available to support local culture and nature tourism Austin’s top hotel tax priority. Want to help? Contact SOS here or the Austin United PAC here to help gather the petition signatures we need. Learn more and contribute to Austin United PAC here. Watch and share Austin Free Press' The Magic Hole short documentary for the truth about this civic nightmare. It takes a community to save a community. Please join with us today, next week, and until we have the petition certified.  No Sewage in Barton Creek: Help Pass SB 1911Senator Eckhardt has filed a bill to protect Texas’ last remaining pristine streams, including Barton Creek and Onion Creek, from new pollution due to the discharge of treated municipal sewage. SB 1911 would discontinue TCEQ’s ability to issue wastewater discharge permits, also known as TPDES permits, into Texas streams that have very low concentrations of phosphorus to protect their crystal clear waters and prevent algae blooms. You can read the text of SB 1911 here and check out an article featuring some of SOS’s partner organizations that describes the issues with wastewater discharges in the Texas Hill Country at this link. Please take a few minutes to express support for this bill by emailing:
What makes this American eel sighting so remarkable is the extraordinary migration and biology that made it possible. Their journey from the Sargasso sea to our springs is a feat of survival, swimming entirely upstream and crossing dams, levees, and drought-stricken areas. They can breathe through their skin for several hours in wet conditions, which could explain how this particular eel navigated to the springs' waters after recent rainfall across Central Texas. READ MORE HERE
 Nico Hauwert's sold out Eco-tour last week was epic! We ventured to secret caves and springs, where Nico shared expertise on dye tracing and the complexity of our aquifer system.  Don’t miss what’s ahead! Grab your tickets now for upcoming Eco-tours, including the first Barton Springs snorkeling adventure of the season in just two weeks, featuring some of Austin’s most amazing environmental leaders as our guides.
At Save Our Springs, we’re fighting to protect what makes this city livable, lovable, and unique. But we can’t do it without your support. If you believe in defending Austin’s soul over corporate spectacle, please consider donating today. Your gift helps fund our legal work, education programs, and campaigns to stop wasteful projects and salvage our natural and cultural heritage.
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SOS is a 501 c3 non profit and your donation is tax deductible