Record-Breaking Turnout for Polar Bear Splash, Take Action Against Hays Commons & MoPac Expansion

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the 2025 Polar Bear Splash at Barton Springs! It was incredible to see Austinites of all ages—and entire families—come together to dive into our home waters and kick off the New Year with energy and joy. We estimated over 3,000 people in attendance! This 45-year tradition has grown into something truly special, reminding us of the resilience and connection that make Austin so unique. Barton Springs is the heart of our city, and this event is more than a daring leap—it’s a celebration of the community that rallies to protect it. We are all part of the growing strain on our limited water and natural areas, so this time-honored tradition is an opportunity to get involved with SOS to be a part of the solution. ​

image courtesy of Carli Rene @inkedfingers

image courtesy of Carli Rene @inkedfingers

image courtesy of Carli Rene @inkedfingers

Protect Barton Springs & the Edwards Aquifer – Attend the January 28th Planning Commission Meeting

Milestone is pressuring Austin to extend water and wastewater services to a 498-acre development, known as Hays Commons, outside city limits in the environmentally sensitive Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone. They’re also seeking change to the Save Our Springs (SOS) Ordinance for their property! The SOS Ordinance protects Barton Springs and endangered species from groundwater contamination. The Hays Commons SOS Amendment would threaten water quality, set a dangerous precedent for future projects in the Recharge Zone, and undermine Austin’s long-standing environmental protections and sustainable growth goals. 
On Tuesday, January 14, at 6 PM at Austin City Hall, the Planning Commission will decide whether to grant an unprecedented exception to the SOS Ordinance to allow the Hays Commons development to increase impervious cover from 15% to 25% over the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone - that's 88 total acres (over 66 football fields) of pavement. This exception would set a dangerous precedent, weaken protections for our water, and jeopardize Barton Springs and local drinking water wells.
Why is this important?

• Hays Commons is in the worst possible location. It sits directly over the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone, where pollutants can easily flow into the aquifer, contaminating water supplies and threatening Barton Springs.
• This is about greed, not need. The developer, Milestone Community Builders, is asking Austin to abandon its long-standing water protection rules to maximize profit at the expense of public health and the environment.
• The SOS Ordinance is at risk. If this exception is approved, it will pave the way for more developments to demand similar concessions, undermining decades of water protection efforts.

Your voice is critical to stop this. A strong community presence can show the Planning Commission that we won’t stand by while our water and springs are put in jeopardy for profit.
Let’s protect Barton Springs and the Edwards Aquifer together. Join us on January 14th at 6 PM at Austin City Hall and make your voice heard!
When: Tuesday, January 28th at 6pm (this is the RESCHEDULED DATE)
Where: Austin City Hall (301 West Second Street)
Must sign up to speak before 5:30pm on Tuesday. See links for info below

more info about hays commons