Save Texas Streams Newsletter

Receive updates on key policy issues, environmental education on Central Texas ecology and natural history, and opportunities to get involved in protecting our streams and aquifers.

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Sumac: Fall Colors, a Tasty Spice, and a Wildlife Café

If you’ve ever driven through the Texas Hill Country in fall, you’ve likely noticed the brilliant reds and oranges of sumac trees. With their striking fall foliage and knack for thriving where little else will grow, true sumacs of the genus Rhus bring both color and character to the landscape. Me...

by Logan Ferguson — Nov 17, 2025 evergreen sumac fall foliage flameleaf sumac fragrant sumac poison sumac smooth sumac sumac

Vote Yes for Water - Vote Yes for Prop 4

The terrible floods that devastated the Hill Country in July obscured a basic fact: Texas is sliding into a full-blown water crisis. Two months before the floods, Canyon Lake was only 46% full; Lake Travis, 41%. While both of these crucial Hill Country drinking water sources are more full now, ot...

by Brian Zabcik — Nov 03, 2025 prop 4 proposition 4 texas water water reuse

How to Find Wastewater Permit Information on TCEQ's Website

We don’t say this often, but we want to congratulate the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for making a big improvement to its website — the agency is now posting most draft wastewater permits online. If you’ve ever had to find a copy of a draft permit in the past, you know what a hassle ...

by Brian Zabcik — Nov 03, 2025 tceq tceq permits tceq website wastewater permits

Tell TCEQ: No More Sewage Discharge Permits on Onion Creek!

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is about to make the same mistake again. Two years ago, after many years of challenges from opponents, TCEQ issued a permit that allows Dripping Springs to discharge its treated wastewater into Onion Creek. One of the arguments that the city made for ...

by Brian Zabcik — Nov 03, 2025 dripping springs madelyn estates onion creek tceq wastewater treatment plants

Texas's Seasonal Spectacle: Meet the Texas Red Oak

Prepare yourself for a striking display of fall foliage as our Texas red oaks begin to trade their green canopies for a blaze of deep orange and red. As part 1 to our Texas Fall Foliage Series, SBCA is spotlighting one of our favorite native trees, the Texas red oak! Texas red oak’s scientific na...

by Logan Ferguson — Nov 03, 2025 species spotlight texas fall foliage texas red oak

Wastewater Permits on Blanco River & Onion Creek: Speak Up!

Two pending wastewater permits pose problems for local pristine streams, but you'll have an opportunity to comment on them when the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) holds public meetings on each permit. The worst one would allow the proposed Madelynn Estates subdivision to dischar...

by Brian Zabcik — Nov 03, 2025 algae growth blanco river onion creek texas streams wastewater permits

Tapping into Central Texas Aquifers

Did you know that 53.5% of Texas’s drinking water comes from aquifers? There are 4 major aquifers in Central Texas, all of which are essential to sustaining our municipalities, livestock, agricultural irrigation, and diverse wildlife. In this article, SBCA aims to dig deep into our region’s aquif...

by Logan Ferguson — Sep 05, 2025 carrizo-wilcox aquifer central texas aquifers edwards aquifer edwards-trinity plateau aquifer hydrology texas geology texas hydrogeology texas hydrology trinity aquifer

Say Hello to Our Newest Water Laws

Because Texas doesn’t have a legislature that meets on an annual schedule like normal states, we’re now in the middle of a 30-day special session that started on July 21. And because there’s a bit of controversy going on at the Capitol, Governor Abbott will likely call a second special session af...

by Brian Zabcik — Sep 05, 2025 texas conservation bills texas groundwater bills texas water bills texas water bills 2025 texas water quality bills

Preserving Streams, Preventing Floods

On July 4, 2025, the Texas Hill Country was hit by devastating flash floods that left homes damaged and claimed at least 135 lives. To everyone impacted by the recent Central Texas floods, SBCA sends our heartfelt condolences—with particular compassion for families grieving loved ones and for tho...

by Lee Burton, Logan Ferguson — Sep 05, 2025 riparian buffer riparian vegetation texas floods texas hill country texas hill country floods texas rivers

2025 Legislative Report, Part 1: A Decent Record on Water Bills

The 2025 session of the Texas Legislature is over — except that it’s not. Though the regular session ended on June 2, Governor Greg Abbott ordered lawmakers to return to the Capitol for a 30-day special session starting on July 21. He’s instructed legislators to fix several bills that he vetoe...

by Brian Zabcik — Sep 05, 2025 aqua texas hb 3333 prop 4 sb 1253 sb 1911 sb 2660 texas proposition 4

SBCA Stands with the Hill Country: A Message of Support from SBCA Executive Director

SBCA extends our heartfelt condolences to everyone affected by the recent floods in Central Texas—especially to the families who lost loved ones and to those whose homes, property, and livelihoods were destroyed. Unless you've experienced it firsthand, it's hard to grasp the scale of the devastat...

by Lee Burton, Logan Ferguson — Sep 04, 2025 central texas floods flood mitigation riparian buffer riparian restoration texas hill country floods

Species Spotlight: Leaf it to Mullein!

Don’t overlook what may seem like an unassuming roadside weed—this plant could be the natural remedy for your next stubborn cough or sore throat! Verbascum thapsus, widely known as common mullein, is one of over 300 species of mullein and a member of the Figwort or Snapdragon family, Scrophularia...

by Logan Ferguson — Sep 04, 2025 common mullein mullein texas herbs verbascum thapsus

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