Education
| The Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer District actively participates and hosts events designed to engage and educate groundwater users and District residents. Events include stewardship awards, festivals, creek cleanups, presentations to schools and community groups, and teacher trainings. |
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Events Web Resources
Water Conservation page:
Conservation is easiest and cheapest way to extend groundwater resources. Practical and easy-to-implement tips on how to conserve both indoors and in the landscape are found in these subpages.
Rainwater Harvesting page:
Rainwater harvesting systems come in all shapes and sizes, from a simple container under a downspout to potable systems with thousands of gallons of storage and complex filtration features. Collecting and using rainwater for outdoor watering provides a simple alternative to using potable water on the landscape and leaves this more expensive, treated water for human needs such as drinking and cooking. This page provides information on the District's rainwater harvesting and provides ample resources for further investigation.
Water-Wise Landscaping page:
This page contains ample resources to help residents design water-wise landscapes that use Texas native plants and water conserving gardening practices.
Creek Cleanups page:
Because major recharge features are frequently located in creeks, the District schedules an annual creek cleanup to improve the quality of water recharging the aquifer and educate residents about the connectivity of surface water and groundwater. More information on past cleanups and details on upcoming events can be found on this page.
Austin Cave Festival page:
The Austin Cave Festival is a free, one-day festival that celebrates Austin's caves, karst, and aquifers. This page details the many agencies and partners who carry out this unique event, lists the activities that are offered throughout the day (including short cave trips), and houses the most up-to-date details on the festival.
Scholarships page:
Each year the District holds an essay contest for area high school juniors and seniors; the winner of the contest is awarded the Kent S. Butler Memorial Groundwater Stewardship Scholarship of $1500 to be used toward his/her college education. In addition, the District offers several scholarships to the Edwards Aquifer Research and Data Center's Aquatic Science Adventure Camp for nine to fifteen year olds. Rules, applications, and deadlines are can be found on this page.
Groundwater Stewardship Awards page:
Each year the District recognizes outstanding groundwater stewards. Nomination forms, past winners, and this year's categories are available on this page.
Groundwater to the Gulf: Summer Institute for Central Texas Educators page:
The District, in collaboration with many local water agencies, hosts a three-day, field trip-based summer institute designed to provide tools for teaching water-focused curricula to students in grades four through eight. Educators receive hands-on field experiences with local water experts, FREE Curricula, TEKS-aligned activities, resources, and 22 continuing education credits.
Water Well Check-up page:
Annually, the District will provide a water well check-up day for area residents. For a nominal fee, private well owners can have a sample screened for common contaminants, including fecal coliform bacteria, nitrates, and high salinity. This page explains the testing process and will provide dates when screening events are scheduled.