What is the WQPL?

Overview of the Water Quality Protection Lands program

History

The Water Quality Protection Lands program was created in 1998 to protect Barton Springs. Barton Springs is one of the largest springs in Texas and a natural outlet of the Barton Springs segment of the Edwards Aquifer, which stretches across Central Texas. The Springs have been an important gathering place for humans for thousands of years, and are home to numerous aquatic species, including two endangered salamanders.

Beginning in the 1980s, citizens of Austin voted to protect Barton Springs and other water resources from degradation due to rapid development. Despite local efforts, many of these regulations were overturned by the state legislature. Even the local regulations left in place could only protect sensitive lands that lie within the City's jurisdiction. Much of the water that feeds Barton Springs enters the ground outside of city limits. How could the community ensure the long-term protection of the Springs?

In 1998, Austinites voted to purchase land and conservation easements to protect Barton Springs, creating the Water Quality Protection Lands. Over the course of two decades, voters have approved $227 million in bonds to conserve the most sensitive lands for the Barton Springs segment of the Edwards Aquifer.

Click on the map above to explore the Water Quality Protection Lands. The recharge zone of the Barton Springs segment of the Edwards Aquifer is shown in dark green and the contributing zone is shown in light green.

Managing the Land

Staff and volunteers actively manage these conservation lands with the goal of providing the best quality and quantity of water to the aquifer and springs. A large part of our management efforts focus on restoring grassland savanna, a globally endangered ecosystem that accounts for about 70% of the WQPL land owned by the City. Local and global research indicate that grassland savanna ecosystems usually allow for more water to enter the aquifer through recharge than more dense woodlands do.

To restore native grassland savanna, we use thinning and prescribed fire to mimic the natural fires and native herbivore browsing that once shaped Central Texas grassland ecosystems.

Prescribed burns promote grasslands by reducing brush and reducing the potential for destructive wildfires. Because native grasslands evolved with fire, this practice increases plant diversity and contributes to ecosystem resilience.

Volunteers and staff increase the diversity and resilience of grassland savanna by spreading native grass and wildflower seed, some of which is collected on the WQPL.

Volunteers play a big role in restoration. Sign up for upcoming workdays at austintexas.gov/wildlandevents .

Caves on the land and in the creeks are a direct link to the aquifer. We keep them clear of debris so that clean water can flow to Barton Springs and area groundwater wells.

Metal grates have been developed to let water into these natural cave openings in the creek bed and to keep debris out.

Benefits Beyond Water

The primary job of these lands is to provide clean groundwater that eventually feeds Barton Springs, but they provide many additional benefits to the community and environment.

These lands protect biodiversity and are home to hundreds of species of plants, some of which may contain medicines and uses yet to be discovered. Volunteer botanist Tom Watson has identified more than 448 species of plants on the lands. These lands also preserve the beautiful views that make the Hill Country famous.

These lands protect cultural resources, including artifacts older than the pyramids of Egypt. Staff, partners, and scientists conduct research to study best practices in land management, learn more about the flow of water underground, and gain insights into pollinators, endangered salamanders, and more.

What Does The Future Hold?

More than 95% of land in Texas is privately owned. The Water Quality Protection Lands (WQPL) represent some of the last wild, public places for people and wildlife in Central Texas. Their future depends on community choices.

As clean water moves through the rock below, on the surface we host hundreds of public events, featuring star gazing, bird watching, hiking, and volunteer opportunities, each year.

As our region grows, we face challenges related to urbanization and the new infrastructure that goes along with it. The WQPL is not immune to these impacts.

The Water Quality Protection Lands exist because the community chose to protect the source water for Barton Springs by protecting these last wild places. Our commitment to conserve and improve these lands, this aquifer, and the Springs must be continually reaffirmed.

You can learn more and find ways to lend a hand in the  Get Involved section.