Austin straddles the Colorado River in the Hill Country of Texas, 80 miles northeast of San Antonio. In 1934, the City of Austin set aside its first preserve, now known as the Austin Nature Center. Back then, Austin had a population of roughly 80,000 people and was largely known as the state capital and home of the University of Texas. But rapid growth began to change the landscape, degrade the quality of streams and reduce flows in local springs. Austin and Travis County have responded with strategies to preserve land and protect their most precious asset, water.

A cactus at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin offers a subtle reminder that Travis County would be a thirsty place without its precious aquifers and springs.

In 1972, the Audubon Society created an inventory of important biological and geological sites in Travis County. When the City did its own survey in 1980, it found that many of these sites were in jeopardy. One year later, the Audubon Society, Sierra Club, Wildlife Rescue and other conservation organizations worked with the City’s Department of Environmental Protection to preserve Austin’s remaining natural habitats. In 1982, the citizens of Austin approved a $5.7-million bond to begin acquisitions. Today the Austin Nature Preserve System includes 13 preserves with a combined area of 1,111 acres.

In 1990, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed the golden-cheeked warbler as an endangered species. In response, Austin and Travis County established the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve, a multispecies regional habitat conservation plan that protects critical watershed as an important additional benefit. In 1992, Austin voters approved a $22-million bond and by 2002, 26,323 acres of the proposed 30,000-acre preserve had been secured by a combination of public agencies and private organizations. In addition to the City and County holdings, totaling 15,323 acres, Travis Audubon Society pledged its 680-acre Baker Sanctuary, The Nature Conservancy of Texas committed its 4,084-acre Barton Creek Habitat Preserve and the Lower Colorado River Authority, a public service provider, contributed over 2,500 additional acres in three of its preserves.

The aquifers that provide drinking water to the Austin region are particularly prone to contamination from activities on the surface, including development. Consequently, Austin embarked on a third land preservation strategy known as the Water Quality Protection Lands. In 1998, Austin voters approved Prop 2, which authorized $65 million in bonds, mostly for the protection of 15,000 acres of land in aquifer recharge zones. By 2000, the City had already purchased over 7,169 acres outright and acquired conservation easements on an additional 7,709 acres.

In total, between 1992 and 2006, Austin voters approved no fewer than eight bond measures worth $235 million and Travis County voters passed another three bond measures worth $84 million for watershed, park and open space preservation. In addition, Austin’s subdivision approval process contains land dedication requirements (or fees in lieu of dedication) that have resulted in the acquisition of over 10,000 additional acres of park land.

One of Austin’s most unique treasures is Barton Springs Pool, a 900-foot-long, spring-fed swimming hole that annually cools an estimated 300,000 people in the Central Texas heat. In addition to being a beloved local landmark, Barton Springs Pool is a barometer of environmental health. Austonites are justifiably concerned when the pool suffers from low flow, flooding or water contamination. In 1992, the voters approved the Save Our Springs Ordinance, which imposed new water-protection regulations on development. In 2005, a coalition of seven cities, three counties and three water conservation districts completed the Regional Water Quality Plan for the Barton Springs Segment of the Edwards Aquifer. The Plan calls for tougher development regulations and the protection of an additional 20,000 acres of land. Save Our Springs Alliance, a water-watchdog organization, recommends preserving an even greater portion of Travis and two adjacent counties, specifically 50,000 acres. Even at today’s real estate values, preserving 50,000 acres could carry a price tag of $1 billion. But the SOS Alliance points out that preserving more land reduces sprawl and, in turn, reduces the cost of regional transportation improvements. And, perhaps more importantly, additional preservation would add greater protection for Barton Springs itself, which the SOS Alliance refers to as Austin’s natural crown jewel.