You Protect the Water That Makes Central Texas Home

Whether you made a gift this year, volunteered your time, raised your voice when we called for action, or have been standing with Save Our Springs from the beginning, you’re part of a community that shows up for Central Texas waters.
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At a time when our water, our public lands, and even our democratic institutions face unprecedented pressure, you choose to stay engaged, and that choice matters. Your support matters, too. Please consider including Save Our Springs Alliance in your end-of-year giving.

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This year, in the face of relentless development pressure and our increasingly strained aquifer levels, your support delivered real, measurable protection for the Texas Hill Country.
Here is some of what we accomplished together in 2025:

Education at the Heart of Lasting Change

We inspire the next generation of water protectors. Barton Springs University Day is our biggest education event of the year, offering immersive, place-based learning that connects students directly to the Edwards Aquifer and Barton Springs. ➔ In 2025, SOS organized 20+ hands-on activities, brought in over 45 expert presenters, collaborating with dozens of organizations across Texas to reach thousands of students.

We create transformative experiences at Barton Springs year round. Discovering the hidden world of the Springs deepens our understanding of the aquifer and long-term stewardship. ➔ This year, SOS expanded our eco-tour curriculum and access, offering more free tours and bringing in over 2 dozen subject matter experts to enrich guided learning in one of the most ecologically and culturally significant sites in Central Texas.

Advocacy That Lifts Community Voices

We fight harmful highway projects. Highways over the Edwards Aquifer Recharge zone increase impervious cover, pollution, and long-term risks to Barton Springs and downstream waterways, and SOS intervenes when projects ignore water impacts or voters’ will. ➔ This year, SOS successfully blocked illegal funding for the SH45 expansion in Hays County and is actively preparing to challenge the MoPac South expansion over the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone.

We challenge unsustainable water use. Large industrial water users pose serious risks in drought-stricken areas, and SOS works to ensure growth does not come at the expense of groundwater or local communities.➔ In 2025, SOS and Data Center Action Coalition (alongside many of you) challenged water-guzzling data center proposals in Hays County, pushing back against projects that threaten already limited water supplies.

Legal Action That Protects Water, Wildlife, and People

We keep wastewater out of creeks. Municipal and industrial wastewater can harm water quality and wildlife, and SOS steps in when permits threaten sensitive ecosystems. ➔ This year, SOS secured stronger treatment standards and increased monitoring for the Mirasol Springs wastewater permit near Hamilton Pool Preserve and Reimer’s Ranch, preventing pollution from entering this fragile Hill Country ecosystem.

We protect endangered species. We are lucky to share our home with many unique endangered species including the Golden-cheeked Warbler, the Barton Springs Salamander, and the Austin Blind Salamander. ➔ Beyond the broader protective impact of our projects, this year SOS filed a petition to list the Lipan Salamander as endangered and advocated against removing protections for the Golden-cheeked Warbler.

Thanks to supporters like you, 2025 was one of the most ambitious years in SOS’s 33-year history. As 2025 comes to a close, an end-of-year, tax-deductible gift to Save Our Springs Alliance helps ensure we enter 2026 prepared to protect our home waters, precious wildlife, and access to direct democracy. 

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, and Best Wishes for the New Year! We can’t wait to celebrate with you at the Polar Bear Splash on New Year’s Day at Barton Springs Pool :)

With gratitude and hope for the year ahead, 
Save Our Springs Alliance