 A developer is seeking to dump treated municipal sewage into Onion Creek.
Join us at a TCEQ public meeting to oppose the permit on Monday, October 6th at 7pm at 1042 Event Center Drive, Dripping Springs, TX, 78620 and submit written comments here using permit no. WQ0016475001. Issues with the Draft Permit for TPDES Permit No. WQ0016475001: Allied Development, LLC, (an out of town developer who does not have an approved development plan, does not have an approved source of water for the development, and does not own the property for the development) has applied for new TPDES Permit No. WQ0016475001 (the draft permit) to discharge 45,000 gallons per day of treated municipal sewage into Onion Creek to serve the high-density development Madelynn Estates near Ranch Road 12 and FM 150. The draft permit has effluent limits of 5 mg/L CBOD, 5 mg/L TSS, 2 mg/L Ammonia Nitrogen, .15 mg/L TP, and 6 mg/L TN. The draft permit does not have any effluent limits for emerging contaminants of concern. SOS is concerned that the draft permit will violate water quality standards by reducing dissolved oxygen in Onion Creek, causing fish kills, harming wildlife, causing metabolic and behavioral changes in wildlife, causing nuisance algal blooms, making recreation unsafe, and failing overall to maintain water quality. Many of these water quality violations will be caused by the excess phosphorus and nitrogen, also known as nutrients, contained in wastewater. Algae and aquatic plants take up the nutrients as they grow, and the more they have, the more they grow. When the algae and aquatic plants grow too much, they can cause dissolved oxygen levels to plummet, cause fish kills, cause changes in the community of animals living in a stream, and make human recreation unpleasant and unsafe. Pristine Hill Country streams, like Onion Creek, have naturally low levels of phosphorus and nitrogen; that is one of the reasons the water is so clean and clear. Even a little bit extra phosphorus and nitrogen can cause an overgrowth of algae and aquatic plants and other negative changes in the stream. For the permit here, the total phosphorus limit in the draft permit is ten times higher than the limit estimated by U.S. EPA reports that is needed to protect Hill Country streams. And studies conducted by Dr. King and Dr. Back from Baylor University in Onion Creek show that the total phosphorus limit in the draft permit is too high and will likely cause harmful algae blooms. The same goes for total nitrogen. In addition to nutrients in the wastewater, the wastewater discharge will contain emerging contaminants of concern. Emerging contaminants of concern include personal care products, pesticides, soaps, pharmaceuticals, PFAS/PFOA and other harmful chemicals. TCEQ has not analyzed the harms these contaminants will cause in Onion Creek even though these contaminants are harmful to Onion Creek and human health. All of this pollution is particularly concerning because Onion Creek is an important recharge feature for the Edwards Aquifer and the Middle Trinity Aquifer. Nearby wells and downstream springs are at risk of contamination from pathogens, emerging contaminants of concern, and nitrates due to wastewater pollution. We hope to see you at the public meeting to echo these concerns and to urge TCEQ to follow the Clean Water Act, deny the draft permit, and protect Onion Creek! IN THIS ISSUE: City Council – Convention Center site plan back for approval (again) CAMPO TIP – Regional Transportation Comment period open until Oct. 10 Oct. 4 – Bill Bunch Honored at Travis Audubon Award Ceremony Oct. 10 – Central Machine Works concert with Grupo Fantasma benefiting SOS  Another chance this week to demand a vote and transparency on the $5 billion convention center travesty.If you are able to join us Thursday morning at City Hall, please sign up to speak here before noon tomorrow (Wednesday) at this link to speak against City Council Agenda Item 63. You may speak or donate time to others; you may also call in to speak remotely. Specifically, Item 63 calls for the City Council to approve a site plan for the new convention center project. This is a do-over: City Council already voted to approve the site plan a few weeks back. SOS filed an appeal for the simple reason that no site plan existed at that time for the council to approve. It was still in review and the limited backup showed there were still major problems with flooding/drainage, sidewalk safety and access, and other site plan issues. We haven't had time to wade through the over 200 sheets of design drawings that are now linked in the backup for Item 63. But we are doing that (and could use some help with this too). Meanwhile, the Save Austin's Soul petition drive that would force a vote on the $5.6 billion project and 30 year commitment for a giant new center is in the home stretch. If you are a City of Austin voter and haven't signed yet please do. Go to the link for locations to sign. You can also print out a copy or two of the petition and get your friends, family, and colleagues to sign. And be sure to watch and share The Magic Hole for all the truth on why this project is a disaster for Austin's future -- wasting billions of dollars and guaranteeing 30 years of poverty and neglect for what we most love about Austin. Enjoy HAAM Day today, and donate generously to HAAM to support all Austin musicians!!  Weigh in on How Your Regional Transportation Dollars Are Allocated by October 10thThe Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) is currently hosting an open house to gather public input on proposed amendments to the 2025-28 Transportation Improvement Program. Here is the proposed TIP, with a full list of the projects. Unfortunately, most of the transportation funding continues to be directed toward highway expansion. However, we would like to highlight two specific projects that raise significant concerns and deserve your attention:
Now is your chance to weigh in on these important decisions and help shape a more equitable and community-centered transportation future for our region!
Thank you for taking the time to stay informed and engaged in protecting Austin’s waters and wild spaces. Every voice, every action, every donation makes a difference. Stay involved, keep speaking up, and keep fighting for the future we all want to see.
In Solidarity, SOS Alliance As summer comes to a close, we are excited to celebrate the success of our summer internship program. Over the past few months, eight college students—many studying environmental science and related fields—along with one passionate high school student, dedicated their weekends to engaging with the community, sharing the vital narrative of our precious aquifer and the pressing challenges that confront our local parks' ecosystems. Before hitting the field, interns completed extensive training on the science and history behind the aquifer. A few students even tied their internship experience to academic research and projects, exploring topics ranging from civil rights to the I-35 highway expansion. A highlight of the program was a field trip to the San Marcos Aquatic Resource Center, where interns saw Barton Springs Salamanders and Austin Blind Salamanders up close, deepening their understanding of the species that depend on our water resources.  Their commitment has made a real difference. This summer alone, we celebrated the addition of 196 new memberships, a testament to the enthusiasm they generated, and successfully raised over $12,000 through merchandise sales and generous donations from community supporters.  Field Manager Fin Kirsch and intern Landry Kern give a thumbs-up for Barton Springs. Photo by Alejandra Paredes  Interns Jules Strickland and Gabby Ellis talk about the convention center petition. Even more significant than the financial figures are the inspiring stories of interaction; our interns actively educated countless visitors, igniting a new passion among our community to protect the invaluable natural resources that define our region.  We are deeply grateful to our interns for their dedication and to everyone who supported our mission this summer. Together, we are forging a stronger, more educated community that is committed to the stewardship of our parks and waterways, ensuring their preservation for future generations to appreciate and enjoy.  Alberto Cortes showing pictures of his favorite Barton Springs creature: the American Eel. IN THIS ISSUE: Convention Center Petition Drive Locations and Links Hays County Road Bonds Open Houses Barton Springs University Needs Volunteers - Oct 28th  Let's Finish the Save Austin's Soul Petition Drive - Please Sign!Please Help Finish the Save Austin's Soul Petition Drive! We're Almost There. For all who love Austin's local culture and nature-in-the-city, we need your support over the next few weeks to finish the Save Austin's Soul petition drive. With at least 20,000 signatures of registered City of Austin voters, we can force a public vote on the $5.6 billion new convention center (boondoggle) project. We’re within reach, but we need 26,000 to guarantee the 20,000 valid signatures needed. Without this petition, our Mayor and Council will hang over $4 billion of debt around the necks of Austin voters and taxpayers for the next 30 years. This money rightfully belongs to what drives Austin's economy, makes Austin a great place to live, and actually draws visitors to all of Austin, not just the southeast corner of downtown. With your help we can put over $100 million every year into the pockets of the people, places, and activities that make Austin Austin. Visit AustinUnitedPAC.com for all the info on how you can print the petition and get 10, 20, 30 or more friends and neighbors to sign the petition! This is our chance to say no to greed, waste, and a multi-billion dollar arena that does nothing to improve our fair city. Instead, let's say yes to community priorities like arts, housing, culture, and public parks. Let's stop digging the hole and start building something better. Please find and sign the petition. Share it. Help us win back our right to vote on the future of our city.  Wimberley & Dripping Springs: Speak Up to Protect Water and Stop Roads That Cost YouHelp protect our water, land, and taxpayer dollars by attending the upcoming Hays County Road Program Open Houses and by speaking out against new and expanded roads in environmentally sensitive areas. After a court ruled that the Hays County Commissioners illegally called the $440 million 2024 Road Bond Election, the Commissioners are now trying to sidestep voters by pushing through “certificates of obligation”—a move that bypasses your right to approve this massive public spending on roads with serious environmental concerns. Despite the court’s decision, the commissioners have already voted to move forward with $240 million in funding for these controversial roads. Now, they’re asking for input on which roads to build first—without giving you a real say on whether these projects should happen at all. We need your voice to protect Hays County’s most environmentally sensitive areas. Developers are pushing for projects including an extension of RM 150 around Dripping Springs (the “Southwest Connection”) and expansions of Darden Hill and Fitzhugh Road so taxpayers—not developers—foot the bill. These roads would speed up unsustainable growth, threaten our water resources, and leave residents paying the price. Our Water is Limited: These new roads would provide more access to rural areas, meaning more development and putting extra pressure on our already stressed aquifers. Sensitive Creeks and Aquifers at Risk: Road construction and polluted runoff threatens water quality by endangering pristine creeks, spring flow, and groundwater. Protect Taxpayers: These road projects mainly benefit developers, not residents, and are being pushed through without direct voter approval, raising big concerns about transparency and who pays the bill. Invest in Safety: Funding should prioritize maintaining and improving the safety of our existing roads, not building new ones. Your Voice Matters: Now is your chance to speak up at upcoming public meetings and help shape decisions that will impact our community and natural resources for generations. Upcoming Open Houses Attend an open house and let Hays County leaders know that protecting our water and environment must come first, and that residents should not be forced to subsidize roads for private development.
 Barton Springs University – Volunteers Needed! Barton Springs University (BSU) is an outdoor, hands-on environmental education event that brings hundreds of students to Barton Springs to explore science, water, and the natural world in a fun, immersive way. We need volunteers Tuesday, October 28th to help make this unforgettable experience possible! Roles include setup and breakdown, lunch monitors, student guides, activity assistants, snorkel tour support, and more! Volunteer guides will join students as they meet live animals, test water quality, and explore an immersive, life-size cave simulation. You’ll see firsthand the excitement of students discovering science in action and helping them navigate a day full of interactive learning. All volunteers receive a free t-shirt, lunch, and the chance to connect with fun people. There's a variety of shifts up for grabs, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. No experience is necessary, just curiosity, energy, and a love for Barton Springs!
Whether shopping for a cause at MOSS today or volunteering at Barton Springs University, every action you take helps protect our water and our communities for the long haul. These opportunities make a tangible difference for future generations and our shared environment.
Together, our voices and efforts create the region we want to live in. Keep showing up, stay engaged, and keep Central Texas a truly special place to live and thrive by supporting SOS. With gratitude, SOS Alliance |
Archives
February 2026
Categories |
RSS Feed
Save Our Springs Alliance
|
Quick Links |
SOS is a 501 c3 non profit and your donation is tax deductible