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In this Issue:
Before we jump into this week's news, we want to acknowledge the severe storms and flooding affecting communities across Central Texas. If you or loved ones are in areas under flood warnings, please stay informed, avoid low-water crossings, and follow guidance from local news and emergency officials. Please check in on those around you, and stay safe.  Travis County Declines to Approve Dog's Head Subsidies; Show Up for the Colorado River Thursday, July 23rdAt the Tuesday, July 14 meeting of the Travis County Commissioners Court, dozens of concerned residents and environmental leaders spoke out against the request for Travis County to invest half-a-billion in tax dollars (in addition to $1.7 billion from the City) to support infrastructure for the proposed Dog’s Head development. After approximately two hours of public testimony, the Commissioners Court unanimously decided to not take any action. This means the City of Austin now must figure out how they’ll proceed without the County’s participation. Throughout the discussion, the Commissioners made clear that the proposal lacked the detail, assurances, and enforceable public benefits needed to justify the extraordinary request for public support. Commissioners pressed for specifics about what would actually be built, what affordability commitments would be guaranteed, how environmental impacts and flooding concerns would be addressed, and how nearby communities would have a meaningful voice. Yet again, neither the developer nor the City of Austin representative sent to lobby for its passage had meaningful answers. Another troubling aspect of the discussion was the City’s characterization of the rushed approval of the development agreement as “alternative compliance” to the environmental regulations that are necessary to protect the river. Such bogus framing of the sweetheart deal given to Endeavor Real Estate Group ignores reduced critical water quality zone setbacks, massive amounts of impervious cover being allowed, and provisions that allow for administrative waivers without any public process. The Dog's Head property includes roughly seven miles of Colorado River frontage, much of which would no longer be subject to Austin's standard environmental protections under the proposed development agreement. The conceptual transportation plan also includes at least three new road bridges over the Colorado River, including one that would connect directly to Tesla Road, providing access to Tesla's Gigafactory directly across the river. Our taxpayers and our river deserve better. Mark Your Calendars and SHOW UP! As we saw at Tuesday's meeting, a large community outcry is the only way to stop or slow this development - and we need your voice now more than ever. Community Forum: Defend Dog's Head WHAT: The program includes a brief overview of the development, as well as large-group and small-group Q&As & discuss how we as a community can work together to fight the Dog's Head development. WHEN: Sunday, July 19th, 4 - 6 PM WHERE: HOPE Outdoor Gallery | 741 Dalton Ln, Austin, TX 78742 SHOW UP: Please RSVP here to join https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfTN9OLD7C7gx8msorJuuwjJ96HK5lbEb7-2rXjpP2W13fByg/viewform Austin City Council Meeting, Thursday July 23rd WHAT: Dog’s Head developer is asking the County for an 80% tax break until 2061, equating to an estimated $1.6 billion in public subsidies WHEN: Thursday, July 23, 2026: Austin City Council, meeting starts at 10 AM WHERE: 301 W. 2nd Street, Austin, Texas 78701 (Austin City Hall) SHOW UP: Instructions for how to register to speak VIRTUALLY or IN PERSON on Items 13, 14, and 111 (speaker sign up opens at 10 AM the Monday, July ) https://www.austintexas.gov/services/participate-city-council-meeting. We hope to see you there, putting your civic power to good use. If you are interested in getting more involved, please reach out! There are additional opportunities to engage our City and County officials and organize against this proposal. Read more about the development and why it's bad for Austin. FREE Tickets to 'Summer Underground' at The VORTEX
For more than three decades, The VORTEX has been one of Austin's places for bold, original theater, where emerging artists, young performers, and boundary-pushing storytellers bring new ideas to life. Protecting Barton Creek's Water + Wildlife From White Rocks Development The proposed White Rocks development sits along State Highway 71, uphill of Barton Creek and surrounded on several sides by the Barton Creek Habitat Preserve. But this sensitive location hasn’t stopped the developer from proposing a high density development that includes a 10,000 seat amphitheater. Without your support, the golden-cheeked warblers that call the Barton Creek Habitat Preserve home can anticipate severe impacts that will stem from wastewater, stormwater, water-demand, noise pollution, light pollution, increased air pollution, and increased impervious cover. The developer plans to irrigate 120,000 gallons per day of treated sewage on 27.43 acres of disposal fields within the development. But the disposal fields have steep slopes, with grades in excess of 10% in some places, and thin soils that make it almost inevitable that the Barton Creek watershed will be polluted if the wastewater permit is approved. Watch the CBS Austin recent report on White Rocks here. SOS is working hard to fight this proposal and protect water quality by opposing the wastewater permit for the development. On Wednesday, July 15th, the TCEQ Commissioners voted to grant SOS a contested case hearing to challenge the wastewater permit on several issues. This decision starts a process that will require lots of work from our legal team and the help of expert witnesses. Look out for updates from us as the contested case hearing process moves forward and please consider donating to help us fund this fight. Hays + Guadalupe County: Crystal Clear SUD to Consider Data Center Water Request July 23rd, 6:30 PM
July 23rd is an important day for Central Texas. If you’re able, we hope you’ll join us at City Council to share your concerns about the Dog’s Head tax giveaway, and later in Seguin at Crystal Clear SUD to help protect our shared water future from data centers. Your voice could have impact far beyond 2026.
Standing together for Central Texas water, SOS Alliance Comments are closed.
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