The owners of Windemere Ranch property say they’re going ahead with their plans for development, but Hays County could have designs on the land for its regional habitat conservation plan to protect the golden-cheeked warbler and the black-capped vireo.
The decline of Texas Wild Rice, which grows naturally only in the San Marcos River, could motivate state aquifer protection planners to pressure the city into closing parts of the river for recreational uses.
The City of San Marcos lifted its Stage 2 drought restrictions Tuesday after several periods of significant rainfall that have relieved severe drought conditions. The city now moves down to Stage 1 restrictions.
Not even two weeks ago, San Marcos council members thought about expanding watering options under Stage 1 drought. Now, it appears, Stage 3 is not far away.
If the Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) declares critical drought restrictions in February, as expected, it doesn’t mean simply that water use has to be reduced 20 percent. Local water experts indicate that the last 18 months of dry weather is close to replicating conditions of the legendary 1950s drought, with all the damage that suggests.
The Edwards Aquifer Authority said the slow flow in the San Marcos Springs could lead to Stage I water restrictions in February, though a little rain and conservation could make such a declaration unnecessary.
