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IN THIS ISSUE: Austin Budget and Our Water. SIGN UP TODAY Data Center Town Hall August 17th August Snorkel Tours with Special Guides  Speak Up On Austin City BudgetThis Thursday, July 31 at 3:00 p.m., the Austin City Council will take public testimony on the City Manager's proposed Fiscal Year 2026 $6.3 billion budget. You may sign up to speak here in person or by call-in here until noon Wednesday, July 30 and SIGN UP FOR ITEM #3. The Council will vote on the budget August 13th. While the details are endless, and we are still looking at the details, we encourage our fellow water, land, and democracy defenders to speak up this Thursday against wasteful and harmful spending on "discretionary concrete" -- big construction projects we don't need, do real harm, and/or that can and should be postponed. At the top of the list of projects to be scrapped or postponed are:
 Join Us August 17 in San Marcos for a Data Center Town Hall The last Community Information Session brought together more than 50 concerned residents at the San Marcos Public Library and the message was clear: Central Texas is at a crossroads to protect our water once again. A growing number of industrial-scale data centers are being proposed across our region, quietly pushing forward under the radar of most regulations. These massive AI and cloud-storage facilities run 24/7 and rely on enormous amounts of both energy and water to cool their servers. Some use up to 4.5 million gallons of water per day which is more than 10 times the daily use of the average household neighborhood. For a deeper look at how Texas became ground zero for AI-fueled data center expansion, check out this recent Austin Chronicle feature by Sammie Seamon. Despite the recent devastating flood events, our region is still in the midst of an unprecedented, 7-year drought that continues to push the Edwards Aquifer to record lows. Amid these dangerous conditions, there are currently no statewide regulations in place to limit how much groundwater data centers can pump or waste.  Saturday, August 17 from 2–5 PM at the San Marcos Public Library We’ll hear from a panel of scientists, water experts, and community advocates about the risks associated with these water guzzling operations, as well as what we can do to fight them. Whether you're just learning about the issue or already engaged, this is a critical opportunity to get informed, ask questions, and organize alongside neighbors. If you believe our water should serve people and ecosystems, not unregulated server farms this is your moment to get involved. Follow @DataCenterActionCoalition for updates, tools, and upcoming actions. Together, we can demand smart development, stronger protections, and a water-secure future for Central Texas.  Join us for a guided snorkel tour at Barton Springs and experience the magic of Austin’s most iconic swimming hole. You’ll explore beneath the surface of our home waters fed by the Edwards Aquifer, learn to spot native fish, and hear the deep-time story of the Springs, all while cooling off in 70-degree water. Whether you're a first-timer or a lifelong springs lover, this adventure is not to be missed. Below are some of our upcoming tour dates and guest guides!
 Saturday, August 23rd 8-11am Mariana Krueger, Executive Director, Austin Bat Cave & City Commissioner. Mariana Krueger is a native of the Texas Hill Country currently serving as the Executive Director of Austin Bat Cave, a 501-c3 that promotes greater equity and accessibility in education through free and affordable creative programming to Central Texas public school students. Prior to that, she spent fifteen years working in global health research, education, community organizing, and nonprofit and political campaign management. She is also an award-winning photographer, storyteller, and media producer whose work has been published by National Geographic and has been on exhibit at the Elisabet Ney Museum and UT Moody School of Communications. She attended Duke University for undergraduate and graduate school, where she earned a B.A. in Biological Anthropology and Anatomy, and an M.S. in Global Health. Mariana is the Vice Chair for the City of Austin's Environmental Commission, and also proudly serves on the City's Commissions for Human Rights and LGBTQIA+ Quality of Life. She is a Democratic Precinct Chair in East Austin, a longtime volunteer at the Festival Beach Food Forest, and an ardent lover of public lands and natural spaces at home and around the world.  Sunday, August 24th 8-11am Emma Walsh, Development Manager, Austin Youth River Watch. Emma Walsh (she/her) is the Development Manager at Austin Youth River Watch, where she’s spent the past seven years working to make environmental education, youth development, and outdoor adventure accessible to the next generation of environmental leaders. At River Watch, Emma helps develop multi-year after-school and summer programs where high school students learn to test water quality, restore local creeks, and explore the outdoors. As a proud Texan and lifelong lover of rivers and springs, Emma is passionate about ensuring that all young people have the opportunity to connect with and care for their local environment. With city budget decisions underway and data centers eyeing Central Texas, this is a critical time to speak up (and show up!) for our water.
Donate today to power grassroots advocacy, watchdog legal work, and community education efforts that protect our springs, aquifers, and the people who depend on them. With gratitude and determination, SOS Alliance Comments are closed.
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