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Take advantage of the Trinity Glen Rose District's conservation program incentives. DROUGHT INFORMATION TGR Board Adopts New Drought and Conservation Management Plan The Trinity Glen Rose District Board adopted amendments to its Drought and Conservation Management Plan at its October 2024 board meeting. Click the link below to download and view the plan. TGR Drought and Conservation Management Plan Managing Drought PDF TGR District Moves to Drought Stage 3 Current Drought Stage: Stage 3 as of November 1, 2024 With water well levels already near historic lows and fall rainfall deficits at around five inches, the Trinity Glen Rose Groundwater Conservation District (TGR) declared STAGE 3 water restrictions in compliance with the District’s Drought Contingency Plan effective as of Friday, November 1. “We are seeing very negative trends in our Trinity Aquifer monitoring water well levels continue. Additionally, we’re seeing that same type of problem with the Edwards Aquifer,” said TGR General Manager Amanda Maloukis. “So as the Edwards Aquifer Authority is considering for the first time ever declaring Stage 5 of their drought plan, we know that it is critical for us to declare Stage 3 of our drought plan. These two drought stages are the highest levels of required conservation measures and they’re being invoked due to our persistent drought which has prevented water wells from replenishing to get us back to somewhat normal water levels.” Since September 1, San Antonio has recorded a little less than 1.5 inches of rain. That’s 5 inches below average for the first eight weeks of fall. This is also the driest start to fall since 2008 which was also one of the area’s toughest droughts. As of now, it has been two months since any rain has fallen in San Antonio. Given those very dry conditions, the current US Drought Monitor lists the majority of Bexar County as being in (D3)-Extreme Drought . “How can people help our aquifers? First of all, the growing season has stopped, so there should absolutely be no lawn watering happening,” Maloukis stated in her call to action. “Even though our Stage 3 irrigation measures limit watering to once every other two weeks, that restriction is really written for summer months when landscapes do need a little water to stay alive. So, please, turn off all sprinkler systems and hand water only where and when necessary. Then, we would ask families to talk about conserving water. We can save a lot of water by taking short showers, washing only full loads of clothes and dishes and never just letting a faucet run. You must have an active purpose for using water to turn the faucet on.” Maloukis concluded by reminding people that droughts are a part of living in South Texas. And, at some point, those droughts end with plentiful rainfall. But, until that much needed precipitation returns, it is up to every family and business operation to take these water conserving measures seriously. The conservation measures outlined and strongly encouraged under TGR’s Stage 3 drought plan include all conservation measures from Stage’s 1 and 2 unless replaced by Stage 3: Watering with an irrigation system, sprinkler, or soaker hose is allowed once every other week, from 5- 10 a.m. and 9-12 p.m. on your designated watering day as determined by your address. Watering with drip irrigation may run one day a week, on Friday, from 5-10 a.m. or 9-12 p.m. Watering with a hand-held hose may occur any time and any day. Water use reduction goal of 15%. Installing newly planted landscapes is highly discouraged. Aesthetic fountains should not be utilized unless an alternative source of water other than groundwater. Do not wash parking lots, driveways or sidewalks unless health and safety is a risk. The use of a commercial car wash facility that recycles water is allowed any day. Alternate sources of water are highly encouraged such as rain water harvesting, reclaimed condensate, reclaimed grey water, recycled water, and other non-groundwater sources. Below is a chart outlining the day of the week your household is allowed to water, which is every other week during Stage 3 drought restrictions. But, as mentioned, with the landscape growing season over for 2024, there should not be any lawn watering with sprinkler systems occurring now. You can download a complete copy of TGR’s Drought Stage Plan and the District’s latest drought brochure “Managing Drought” at our website. www.trinityglenrose.com/drought-information . The TGR Conservation page has additional ways each household can help save water during these very dry weather conditions. You can find those tips at the link . Drought and Weather Resources TWDB Drought Monitor/Drought Resources Page TWDB Precipitation Stations/TEXMESONET Map Palmer Drought Severity Index Map Texas Drought Monitor Map Historical Palmer Drought Indices NOAA Precipitation Estimates Map NOAA Soil Moisture Map Texas Burn Bans Map TCEQ List of PWS's Limiting Water Use to Avoid Shortages TWDB Flood Viewer TWDB Drought Monitor Map Click on the image below for most up-to-date information. Drought map on 10-31-2024

Here you will find the latest research by the Trinity Glen Rose District in our effort to learn about the Trinity Aquifer. GMA 9 Board Meeting Date: 10:00 am, September 29, 2026 in Boerne at the Cow Creek GCD GMA-9 Website ( Find more info at the GMA 9 website provided) Proposed DFCs - 2026 *The GMA 9 adopted proposed Desired Future Conditions (DFC) on March 31, 2026. A 90-day public comment period is open through Monday, July 20, 2026. The District will hold a public hearing on the proposed DFCs relevant to the District for public comment July 16, 2026. Comments may also be submitted to the District during the 90-day public comment period at any time. Current planning documents and supporting material are available on the GMA 9 website under CURRENT PLANNING DOCUMENTS . Current documents and supporting material are also available in the District office. Groundwater Management Area 9 Groundwater Management Area 9 (GMA-9) was established in 2002 and includes all or part of 9 counties in the Texas Hill Country. The Texas Water Development Board created 16 Groundwater Management Areas across Texas, each with a number of groundwater conservation districts (GCDs) included in their boundaries. GMA-9 member districts meet at least annually to conduct joint planning with the other districts in the management area and to review the management plans, the accomplishments of the management area, and proposals to adopt new or amend existing desired future conditions. The GMA 9 Committee consists of 9 GCDs, each with its own designated representatives serving as a voting member. You can obtain all GMA-9 planning, meetings and news at: www.GMA9.org. GMA-9 MEMBERS District Designated Representatives Cow Creek Groundwater Conservation District, Chair, Micah Voulgaris, Trinity Glen Rose Groundwater Conservation District, Vice Chair, Amanda Maloukis Bandera County River Authority and Groundwater District, Secretary, Hayli Hernandez, Designated Representative - David Mauk Blanco-Pedernales Groundwater Conservation District, Erik Kubinski Comal Trinity Groundwater Conservation District, Carl Haack Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District, Laura Thomas Headwaters Groundwater Conservation District, Monica Thibodeaux Medina County Groundwater Conservation District, David Caldwell Southwestern Travis County Groundwater Conservation District, Lane Cockrell Alternative Representatives: Bandera County River Authority and Groundwater District, Hayli Hernandez Texas Water Development Board link to Groundwater Management Area 9.

The Trinity Glen Rose Groundwater Conservation District conserves and protects the Trinity Aquifer in Northern Bexar County, Texas. If you need to meet with TGR District staff, please call to make an appointment so you can connect with the appropriate staff person. TGR Mission The TGR was created in 2001 to conserve, preserve, and protect the Trinity Aquifer within the District. CONSERVE - PROTECT - PRESERVE South Texas Drought Conditions With the severity of the current drought condition continuing into 2026, the TGR District will be providing up to date information about these conditions are affecting our local aquifers and how you can help. The map to the right is published each week by the U.S. Drought Monitor. As you can see, Bexar County has moved out of the D4 Exceptional Drought category down to the D3 Extreme Drought listing. The rainfall chart from the National Weather Service shows that rainfall for the San Antonio area is running slightly above average for this time of year. While the heavy rainfall amounts over the July 4th weekend have helped the Bexar County area significantly, the Trinity Glen Rose District is still in Stage 3 of its Drought Management Plan. Local Rainfall Amounts - April Bexar County Map Date: Thursday, April 9 , 2026 None D0 (Abnormally Dry) D1 (Moderate Drought) D2 (Severe Drought) D3 (Extreme Drought) D4 (Exceptional Drought) Click the state map to view Texas Drought Monitor page. Click the chart to view the National Weather Service rainfall report. Drought in the News Texas Water Development Board Weather Report Drought.gov - Online info from National Integrated Drought information System Express-News - April-08-25 - Great overview of current drought Texas Water Newsroom - TWDB Texas Tribune on Water Supply How You Can Help - Click Here QUICK LINKS TGR moves to STAGE 3 Watering Restrictions of Drought Plan Board Meeting Info GMA-9 Meeting Information Current Newsletter TGR STATISTICS 302,274 POPULATION 8,950 (Acre Feet) 2024 PRODUCTION 5 DISTRICT PRECINCTS 3 (Drought Stage 3 ) DROUGHT STAGE Conserving Water for Future Generations

Here you will find the latest research by the Trinity Glen Rose District in our effort to learn about the Trinity Aquifer. Regional Water Planning Group L Region L Texas | South Central Texas Regional Water Planning Group Texas Water Development Board link for RWPG L - Region L Planning Group

Learn about the latest activities of the Trinity Glen Rose District board of directors. ABOUT THE TGR DISTRICT TGR Management Plan TGR District Brochure The Trinity Glen Rose Groundwater Conservation District (TGRGCD or District) was created for the purpose of conserving, preserving, recharging, protecting and preventing waste of groundwater from the Trinity Aquifer in Northern Bexar County. The District was also created in response to the Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission designating a portion of the Trinity Aquifer within Bexar County as a Priority Groundwater Management Area (PGMA). The Trinity Glen Rose Groundwater Conservation District is the governing body of only that portion of the Trinity Aquifer that is located in northern Bexar County. This Aquifer is considered very important to the State of Texas and subject to the provisions in Chapter 35 of the Texas Water Code. The TNRCC designated this area a PGMA in January 2001 and created the TGRGCD in order that appropriate groundwater management techniques and strategies could be implemented at the local level to address groundwater issues or problems within the District. A PGMA designation is given to an area “that is experiencing, or is expected to experience critical groundwater problems.” One of the primary reasons that a PGMA was designated in this area is the explosive growth in North Bexar and surrounding counties. The duty of the TGR Board members will be to ensure that the water in the aquifer is managed in a reasoned and balanced manner to allow for growth in the area, while still preserving the ability of residents or their water suppliers to draw water for their families. The District will conduct administrative and technical activities and programs to achieve these purposes. The District will collect and archive water well and aquifer data, regulate water well drilling and production from non-exempt wells, promote the capping or plugging of abandoned wells, provide information and educational material to local property owners, interact with other governmental or organizational entities, and incorporate other groundwater-related activities that may help meet the purposes of the District. Enacting Legislation The Trinity Glen Rose Groundwater Conservation District was created by HB 2005 during the 77thTexas Legislature . HB 2005 was authored by State Representatives Frank Corte Jr. and John Shields and sponsored by Senator Jeff Wentworth. The bill was signed into law and took effect on September 1, 2001 and confirmed by voters in 2002. The District was created as a result of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) designating the Trinity group of aquifers lying within northern Bexar County as a Priority Groundwater Management Area (PGMA). In 2009, the 81st Texas Legislature passed HB1518 allowing an increase of production fees and allowing municipalities to request inclusion of annexed areas into the District as provided by Chapter 36 Texas Water Code. The mission of the District is to provide rules and regulations to manage, conserve, preserve, protect, maximize recharge and prevent waste of the water resources within the section of the Trinity Aquifer located in northern Bexar County.

This is the TGR District video page. There are sever videos about water conservation, rain barrel construction and some general information about the District. Trinity Glen Rose District Videos This is the Trinity Glen Rose District video. It gives you an overview of what we do to conserve, preserve and protect the Trinity Aquifer within our district boundaries. TGR Database Training Videos The Trinity Glen Rose District database system is very detailed and deep with various types of helpful information. To make acquiring that information a little easier, we will be producing some training videos on how the public can use the system. The first video below is an overview of how to log into and navigate the system as well as some insights into where the main menus are, how to locate a particular well in the system and then how you can find detailed information about specific wells. Building a Rain Barrell Want to build your own rain barrel? George and Emily give you the rundown on how to get it done using materials you can find at most hardware stores. Watersaving Native Plant Landscape Video Conserving water by converting high water use turf and nonnative plants to low water use native plants is a priority for the Trinity Glen Rose District. Here's one sample of a video we produced to show how great a yard can look with native plants and some great landscape design. You can watch more of these types of landscape videos at the District YouTube page .

Looking for water data? You've come to the right place. You can find water well locations and data at this page. TGR WATER WELL MAPS TGR Monitor Wells Interactive Map Shadow Canyon La Escondida Boerne Stage Rd. Fair Oaks Ranch Ralph Fair Rd. Blanco Rd. #1 Blanco Rd. #2 State Water Well Database Interactive water map maintained by the Texas Water Development Board . The map of Texas is what you will see by clicking on the link below. You can then zoom in to San Antonio (see map inset) to find wells in our area. Please see additional instructions below. Click this link to go to the Texas Water Development Board’s interactive water well map. Type in the address you are searching for in the upper left corner. You will then see the location you typed in on the map and the nearby wells represented by dots. Note the default purple dots include historic and public water system wells. To see more recent wells, click the Groundwater drop down menu (upper left) and select "Water Wells". These will appear as orange dots. Click on any of the dots and you will see all of the information the State of Texas has about that well. Feel free to explore this interactive map. There are many other resources under the various tabs on this site.

Looking for water data? You've come to the right place. You can find water well locations and data at this page. RECHARGE ENHANCEMENT From Rain to Recharge Aquifer recharge enhancement (ARE), also known as Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) or Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR), is the intentional human process of adding water (like stormwater, treated wastewater, or surface water) to aquifers to replenish groundwater supplies, buffer against drought, and improve water security. Methods include infiltration basins, injection wells, and in-channel modifications, with benefits like reduced evaporation, water treatment as it percolates, and cost-effectiveness compared to surface reservoirs. The Trinity Aquifer recharges slowly from rainfall on its outcrop areas and seepage from streams, with water moving through its complex fractures and layers, unlike the faster Edwards Aquifer, with recharge rates varying greatly by region, often only 4-6% of rain, and is affected by urban development reducing natural infiltration, making artificial recharge efforts crucial for sustainability. Watch the general water cycle 3-D model simulation below to see how precipitation falls on the Earth's surface, collects in rivers and creeks running across the land and then recharges an aquifer, like the Trinity Aquifer, through fractures and sinkholes in the riverbed. The rainfall then makes it way through various fissures in the various rock formations that make up the aquifer. Healthy soil and vegetation improve the land’s ability to absorb water. Trinity Aquifer Recharge Occurrence - How Recharge Occurs Precipitation & Streams : Rain falling directly on the aquifer's exposed (unconfined) areas, as well as water seeping from rivers and ponds where the ground slopes downward, replenishes it. Karst Features : Water travels through fractures, bedding planes, and solution cavities (karst) in the limestone, allowing for both rapid flow and localized storage. Inter-Aquifer Flow : Some water can also move from the overlying Edwards Aquifer down into the Trinity in certain areas, though this is less significant than direct recharge. Recharge rates are not uniform; some sections replenish quickly, while others take much longer, making management challenging. Common Recharge Enhancement Techniques Berms and Swales – To slow and sink water. Rock or Brush Structures – To slow and sink water. Grassed Waterways – Shaped Channels lined with vegetation that slow rainfall runoff and encourage infiltration. Check Dams – Small barriers placed in drainage ways that slow water, spread it out, and increase soak-in time. Rangeland Restoration – Improving soil health and perennial vegetation so the land absorbs more rainfall. Recharge Basins – Engineer shallow basins that temporarily hold stormwater, letting it soak in instead of running off. Brush Control - removal of invasive brush species such as juniper, mesquite, and salt cedar is used to increase water yield and aquifer recharge. (See more near the bottom of this page) The video below is a segment from a Trinity Glen Rose District sponsored Go Gardening Show. The video was shot at the Edwards Aquifer Field Research Park in Northern Bexar County along the Cibolo Creek. You'll get a great look at how berms, swales, small rock dams, enhanced vegetation and shallow recharge basin s help move water from rain to recharge. Cibolo Creek in Northern Bexar County Cibolo Creek in Northern Bexar County Cibolo Creek is a major Recharge feature to the Trinity Aquifer Recharge for the Trinity Group of Aquifers occurs via local precipitation on its outcrop. The outcrop area takes in recharge flow from the Cibolo Creek and other overlying units where it is in the subsurface. When Cibolo Creek has water in the stretches along northern Bexar County, the movement of water from the creek into the groundwater are substantial and serve as a significant recharge source to the Trinity Aquifer in the District. Although this rapid recharge can occur in other isolated areas of the Trinity Aquifer in the Hill Country, it is a dominant recharge mechanism in the District. The substantial volume of recharge that periodically occurs during wet periods and flooding along Cibolo Creek creates relatively large variations in water levels in the Trinity Aquifer in the District. Helpful Resources - From Rain to Recharge Soil Erosion is a form of soil degradation in which the top layer of soil is carried away by wind and water. Rain and channelized water flow dislodge and wash exposed soil downhill. This cumulative loss of soil poses a major challenge to landowners and managers. The Hillside Stewardship guide highlights a series of erosion-control structures that Hill Country landowners and managers are using to slow and sink water into the land. Just click on the cover photo of the guide to the left to download it. If you'd prefer a video on the topic, you can watch the "Hill Country Groundwater Recharge With Bryan Hummel " by clicking the video link. Brush Control Texas brush control, specifically targeting species like juniper, mesquite, and saltcedar, is used to increase water yield and aquifer recharge by reducing excessive transpiration. The Water Supply Enhancement Program (WSEP) by the TSSWCB incentivizes managing these deep-rooted plants in priority areas to conserve water, improve spring flows, and reduce erosion. Brush Busters is a cooperative program of the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Service to expedite the adoption of Tactical Brush Management Systems (TBMS) technology. Brush Busters methods are easily understood, even by those with little or no previous experience in brush control. We recommend only “select” treatments capable of killing at least 7 out of 10 of the plants treated. Brush Busters methods make every attempt to keep equipment costs and complexity to a minimum, and whenever possible, to use non-restricted herbicides. One-page pamphlets are available from most County Extension offices that describe, in a simple 3-step process, the Brush Busters control methods for mesquite, prickly pear and cedar. Videos are available that demonstrate the Brush Busters control methods available at this link, https://texnat.tamu.edu/about/brush-busters/.

Here you will find the latest research by the Trinity Glen Rose District in our effort to learn about the Trinity Aquifer. TGR Board Adopts Changes to Precinct Boundaries Redistricting is part of the election process in the United States. And because the Trinity Glen Rose Groundwater Conservation District’s (TGR) board members are elected, the district recently reviewed its population changes over the past 10-year period and found it needed to adjust its boundaries due to population shifts in the precincts. The objective is to balance the per capita representation for each precinct in order to give all district constituents an equal say via their elected representatives regarding district policies and future directions. The TGR Board used the following criteria to make its final boundary adjustments: begin and end with identifiable boundaries maintain communities of interest & neighborhoods use whole voting precincts if possible base plan on existing districts adopt districts of relatively equal size draw districts that are compact and contiguous keep existing incumbents in their districts to preserve previous voter wishes tailor plan to comply with the Voting Rights Act The Board opened its planning documents up for public review and comment. At the Dec. 4 board meeting, the Board held a public hearing to receive any final comments before taking official actions to change the TGR precinct boundaries. After a thorough planning process and public comment period, the TGR Board officially changed its boundaries to reflect a more consistent population base in each precinct. Due to the change in boundaries, the district will be holding an election to fill all precinct seats in May, 2022. Click here for more information. Please see the charts below which show the population unbalance before the boundaries were changed and then the chart with showed precinct populations in balance after the official changes were made to the precinct boundaries. These new boundaries will remain in place until the next U.S. census reports are received. Resolution Approving the Redistricting of Director Precincts Effective December 9, 2021 Newly Adopted Precinct Boundaries The map above shows the current boundaries designated by the red lines. The colored areas which extend outside of the red lines demonstrate how the precinct boundaries were redrawn to bring the district into compliance with equal population representation guidelines. Click on this link to download a PDF of this map to review it in more detail. Click on this link to see the current TGR District Precinct map. See District Precincts Map Population and Demographic Adjustments The two charts below show where the population and demographics for each TGR precinct before the board changed the precinct boundaries and how they changed after redrawing boundaries occurred. The first chart shows the existing population. The second chart shows the population representation numbers with new boundaries.

This is the Contact Page for the Trinity Glen Rose District. CONTACT US Trinity Glen Rose Groundwater Conservation District 12274 Bandera Rd., Ste. 106-107 Helotes, Texas 78023 Mailing: PO Box 1589 Helotes, Texas 78023 Phone (210) 698-1155 Fax (210) 698-1159 Office@tgrgcd.org Contact us First name* Last name Email* Write a message Submit

Take advantage of the Trinity Glen Rose District's conservation program incentives. You know the saying "Everything's Bigger in Texas." Well, that truism couldn't be more important than when it applies to conserving water, especially when it's hot (which can be most of the year). Did you know outdoor watering can double your water use during the summer? And lots of that wet stuff can be wasted through evaporation, runoff and just plain overwatering. And indoor water is wasted through leaks and incorrect water use habits, like leaving the water running when you're not using it. So, you need to love our local aquifers like the Trinity Aquifer and the Edwards Aquifer like you mean it. And that's why we say Don't Waste the Wet Stuff, because wasting water is just not Texas-like. Here are some great ideas for how your family can save water inside and outside and protect our water resources as well. So how many gallons does it take to produce one hamburger? According to Water Footprint Calculator, it takes 660 gallons of water to produce all of the ingredients in one hamburger. Check it out at this link. www.watercalculator.org/footprint/what-is-the-water-footprint-of Don't Waste the Wet Stuff! 1. Fix Leaks! Always be on the lookout for leaking faucets, pipes, and toilets to prevent water loss, which is water waste. Even minor leaks can accumulate significant waste and expense over time. 2. Never Leave the Water Running! If you're not using the water, turn it off. For example, don't let the water run when you're brushing your teeth. 3. Install Low-Flow Showerheads! Modern shower heads can produce great water pressure while reducing the actual use of water. Heck, you might even get creative and shut of the off water while soaping up. 4. Take Short Showers! The math on this water-saving tip adds up quickly. Get in, soap up, rinse off, turn the water off. Save the singing for when you're drying off! 5. Only Wash When You Have a Full Load! Your clothes washer is near the top water device in your home when it comes to using water. So only use it when you have a full load to do. And, the next time you have to buy one, find a low-water-us appliance. 6. Wash Only Full Loads of Dishes! Did you know that your dishwasher is more efficient than washing dishes by hand? That's because people tend to leave the water running when washing dishes in the sink. Save some time, money and water by putting that dishwasher to use. Water only on your designated day and preferably in the early morning. Check your sprinkler system and controller to ensure it is running efficiently. Install rain sensors on sprinkler systems. Fix leaky faucets and hoses..they waste water and money. Water your grass…not the sidewalk and street. Native plants don't require much water, overwatering can kill them. Make plans to change out your high water use turf grass to low water use, colorful native plants and ground cover. You don't have to do it all at once. Pick a spot in your yard that needs little love and start there. The Trinity Glen Rose District co-sponsors a video series called Go Gardening which teaches homeowners how to convert their landscapes to native plants, hardscapes and other decorative landscape materials. Click here to watch Go Gardening. Mid-day sun doesn't play well with landscape sprinklers. Use a broom to clear away debris, instead of using the hose. Here's What Your Yard Can Look Like with Texas Native Plants

The Trinity Glen Rose District partners with many great entities to teach water conservation and pollution prevention. Pollution Prevention - See Park Slide Shows Below Practicing Pollution Prevention Each Day Over the next few months, the Trinity Glen Rose Groundwater Conservation District is going to be featuring some of the beautiful parks that are located within the District’s boundaries. The bottom line is that parks, water and pollution prevention go hand-in-hand. So, the more you know about how those three work together, the more likely you’ll be to help prevent pollution from getting into our local rivers and aquifers. So that’s why we’re calling this series “Learn and Live.” Each month, we will inform you about one of the must-see parks in Northern Bexar County. And with that learning, we hope you will not only want to visit that park, but you’ll also want live your life by developing the best pollution prevention habits that researchers have developed so far. Learning About Pollution Prevention Historically, cities have paved roadways, sidewalks, trails, parking lots, sports courts, alleys, driveways, and other surfaces to reduce the annoyance and cost of slippery mud and blowing dust. Unfortunately, having so many hard, water-repelling surfaces (along with a vast number of urban rooftops) can be environmentally harmful. After it rains, vast amounts of water, now called “stormwater,” will collect in these areas, pick up the grease, grime and other pollutants that are deposited on them each day, and then head for a water source like a creek, river or aquifer. Here are some of the ways dirty stormwater can pollute a water supply: most stormwater runoff escapes natural cleansing by plants, rocks and soil; without nature slowing down the stream of water after a rain, higher amounts of water are funneled to local streams; urban streams become prone to flash flooding from rapid runoff, resulting in severe scouring, erosion, and reduction of plant life; once stream beds are scoured, flooding becomes more common. The solution is to hold back the water where it hits, slow it down so that the destructiveness of erosion and contaminants is controlled, and that it is naturally cleaned it before it reaches a waterway or aquifer recharge feature. So, now that you’ve learned how unabated stormwater can create flooding and pollution issues for our aquifers and streams, you can also understand why maintaining and increasing large natural areas like parks is so important to our community. The important point to never forget is that the less runoff, and the slower the runoff we have, the less damage there is to rivers and aquifers and the overall environment. Living Pollution Prevention Here are the Top 6 Pollution Prevention Habits You Should Develop Practice water conservation in your home each day. The less water you use, the more water is left in the Trinity Aquifer for future use. Practice energy conservation in your home each day. Large amounts of water are needed to cool power plants that provide electricity to our city. Less energy production requires less water to be used. Use non-toxic cleaning chemicals in your home. Never dump oil or others types of solvents on the ground or in the street where they can run off into a stream or an aquifer. Use only environmentally-safe weed-killers and fertilizers on your landscapes. Always pick up your pet's waste and dispose of properly. Pet waste that runs off into a creek or stream only increases the bacteria levels in that body of water. Enjoy the parks and advocate for more green spaces in your communities. “Learn and Live” at Stone Oak Park 3V3A0300 IMG_6942 3 3V3A0119 3V3A0300 1/28 Numerous natural areas and community parks beautify Northern Bexar County where the Trinity Glen Rose Groundwater Conservation District (TGR) works to preserve and protect the Trinity Aquifer each day. In addition to these parks’ aesthetic value, they also play a major part in preventing pollution from entering the Trinity Aquifer and Edwards Aquifer which are both critical to the water supply in Bexar County. To highlight pollution prevention message, TGR is bringing its constituents an informative series about the six major parks and natural areas in the district. This month, we are highlighting Stone Oak Park located at 20395 Stone Oak Parkway. Stone Oak Park features a 3.2-mile loop trail located in the heart of the Stone Oak neighborhood. Despite its urban setting, park designers succeeded at creating a very rustic feel as the trails wind through some traditional South Texas hill country scenery. Currently, there are some beautiful wild flowers dotting the trails, and with the recent rains, the park is quite green. The park also contains some interesting sculpture art and some work out stations (push ups, site ups, pull ups) for those looking for an additional level of exercise. The trails are rated as moderate, and dogs are also welcome but owners must be keep them on leash. “Learn and Live” at Panther Springs Park Panther Springs Park Panther Springs Park Panther Springs Park Panther Springs Park 1/21 Panther Springs Loop is a 3.6-mile lightly trafficked loop trail located near San Antonio, Texas that features beautiful wild flowers in the spring, hill country type wooded areas and many beautiful open meadow-like vistas. The trails are paved and considered good for all skill levels of hikers, walkers and runners. The park, which opened in March of 2015, consists of 279 acres which were donated by Dan Parman and the San Antonio River Authority (SARA). The dog park which is located near the entrance of the park includes areas for larger dogs and one for smaller ones. Bird watchers have documented 46 different species in the park to include the Greater Roadrunner, two species of hawks and numerous other types of smaller, colorful birds. The San Antonio River Authority collaborated with the City of San Antonio in the development of Panther Springs. SARA’s portion of the project included design and construction work to improve the water and sediment conveyance in the existing natural channel. The agency continues to monitor the stream for changing conditions as the landscape slowly changes over time. Preserving the community’s natural areas goes a long way toward helping efforts to maintain excellent water quality in local aquifers and other waterways. That is why the Trinity Glen Rose District is urging you to learn about the parks and to live a little by visiting each one to experience the environmental beauty and ecological benefits they provide. “Learn and Live” at Friedrich Wilderness Park Windmill along Water Trail woods 1 bridge 1 Windmill along Water Trail 1/23 Numerous natural areas and community parks beautify Northern Bexar County where the Trinity Glen Rose Groundwater Conservation District (TGR) works to preserve and protect the Trinity Aquifer each day. In addition to these parks’ aesthetic value, they also play a major part in preventing pollution from entering the Trinity Aquifer and Edwards Aquifer which are both critical to the water supply in Bexar County. To highlight pollution prevention message, TGR is bringing its constituents an informative series about the six major parks and natural areas in the district. This month, we are highlighting Friedrich Park located north of Loop 1604 on Milsa Drive. Friedrich Wilderness Park offers approximately 10 miles of hiking trails with varying degrees of difficulty. It is home for rare birds, terrestrial orchids, steep hills and deep canyons. It is internationally known for bird watching. Perched on the edge of the Balcones Escarpment, Friedrich is a nesting site for the endangered Black-capped Vireo and the Golden-cheeked Warbler. In 1971, Norma Friedrich Ward bequeathed 180 acres of land on Heuermann Road near Leon Springs to the City of San Antonio for use as a public park. She also gave $100,000 to make improvements to the land. It was Mrs. Ward’s wish that the natural vegetation and native trees and shrubs be protected and that native birds and wildlife be protected and encouraged to use the park as a sanctuary. The following year, Wilbur Matthews and Glen Martin donated another 52 acres to enlarge the park according to the same guidelines specified by Mrs. Ward. The park was developed with a grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and was dedicated on August 31, 1978. Preserving the community’s natural areas goes a long way toward helping efforts to maintain excellent water quality in local aquifers and other waterways. That is why the Trinity Glen Rose District is urging you to learn about the parks and to live a little by visiting each one to experience the environmental beauty and ecological benefits they provide. For reservations and more information about the Friedrich Wilderness Park, you can visit the park’s website here . Come “Learn and Live” at Eisenhower Park Eisenhower old fence Eisenhower Park Sign Eisenhower Sunset 2 Eisenhower old fence 1/20 Numerous natural areas and community parks beautify Northern Bexar County where the Trinity Glen Rose Groundwater Conservation District (TGR) works to preserve and protect the Trinity Aquifer each day. In addition to these parks’ aesthetic value, they also play a major part in preventing pollution from entering the Trinity Aquifer and Edwards Aquifer which are both critical to the water supply in Bexar County. To highlight pollution prevention message, TGR is bringing its constituents an informative series about the six major parks and natural areas in the district. This month, we are highlighting Eisenhower Park located north of Loop 1604 on NW Military Highway. Dwight D. Eisenhower Park is a 320-acre park managed by the City of San Antonio containing excellent examples of Hill Country landscapes, including wooded dry creek beds and rocky canyons. The park features more than 6 miles of paved and unpaved trails. There are seven different trails in the park most of which are paved. The 2.5 mile Hillview Trail circles the perimeter of the park and leads to the observation tower located about midway through the hike. The one-mile Cedar Flats Trail runs through the heart of the park and contains a combination of paved and rugged terrain. All of the trails have plenty of signage posted and many of the plants and flowers you will see are marked as well. Eisenhower Park is pet friendly, but is a designated natural area park which means roller blades, skateboards and bikes are not allowed on the trails. There are several pavilions in the park for barbecues and picnics that are located near the entrance of the park. Various park amenities are available for rental and you can learn how to make a reservation at this link. The City of San Antonio also offers various types of classes in the parks and you can learn about them at this link. Preserving the community’s natural areas goes a long way toward helping efforts to maintain excellent water quality in local aquifers and other waterways. That is why the Trinity Glen Rose District is urging you to learn about the parks and to live a little by visiting each one to experience the environmental beauty and ecological benefits they provide. You can learn more about Eisenhower Park here. Government Canyon State Natural Area Government Canyon Cover 3V3A6961 3V3A7100 Government Canyon Cover 1/31 Government Canyon State Natural Area is part of the Texas State Parks system. It is designated a natural area rather than a state park because its primary focus is protection of the property's natural resources. Given that designation, access and recreational activities may be restricted if the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) deems such action necessary to protect the environment there. The reserve is located in northwestern Bexar County inside the Trinity Glen Rose Groundwater Conservation District’s boundaries. It protects a large, relatively pristine tract of Hill Country terrain that is home to numerous and diverse species of plants & wildlife and the upper Culebra Creek and Leon Creek watersheds. The approximately 12,000 acres of land Government Canyon State Natural Area occupies was originally purchased to protect the critical aquifer recharge zone which diverts rainfall into the Edwards Aquifer, the main source of drinking water for San Antonio. First opened to the public in October, 2005, Government Canyon State Natural Area offers more than 41 miles of trails. Visitors can camp, attend a program or guided hike, geocache, picnic, take nature photos and look for birds and other wildlife. For those looking for a place to go birding, Government Canyon is a good place to find the endangered Golden-cheeked warbler. One of the most visited features on the property are the dinosaur tracks which are located about 2.5 miles from the visitor’s center. Scientists believe the tracks were made about 110 million years ago. At that time, this location was actually near the shoreline of the Gulf of Mexico. The dinosaurs would walk along the moist, fine-grained mud and leave tracks which would then be exposed to the sun allowing them to dry and harden. Erosion over time have exposed the tracks for today’s people to discover, study and protect. The Witte Museum, University of Texas at San Antonio, Trinity University and Texas Parks and Wildlife are continuing to study and preserve these unique dinosaur tracks today. You can learn more about Government Canyon here. Crownridge Canyon Park Entrance Crownridge Canyon Map 3V3A6275 Entrance 1/15 Crownridge Canyon was the first City natural area developed as part of the Edwards Aquifer Protection ballot initiative. The 200-acre preserve features Level 1 ADA trails and Level 4 hiking trails through a variety of habitats. Features include a canopy level bridge overlook, beautiful forested canyon bottoms, hillside vistas, and restored grasslands. There are excellent opportunities to view the endangered Golden Cheeked Warbler during its nesting season. This park features interpretive elements highlighting local flora, fauna, geology and the aquifer recharge cycle, as well as the area’s early human inhabitants. The landscape at Crownridge feature native plants of northern Bexar county. Many are numbered and can be identified using the Natural Areas Plant Key. Crownridge Canyon Trails offer both gentle Level 1 trail surfaces and more natural and challenging Level 4 surfaces. Trail markers will soon be placed along the trails to identify native plants. Red Oak Trail: Red Oak is the lower trail loop leading to the bridge crossing Red Oak Canyon. It has a 1.3 mile stabilized base surface meeting ADA accessibility requirements. Level 1 . Bear Grass Trail: Bear Grass Trail is a natural surface, .6 mile loop in the upper part of the park. This trail is Level 4 and offers medium difficulty with few steep slopes and rocky ledges. Level 4. Pets, alcohol, bikes, and loud music are not allowed. Location: 7222 Luskey Blvd. 78256 Hours: Sunday-Saturday: 7:30 a.m. – sunset