The Land That is Hays County
Hays County, Texas is home to beautiful landscapes, rich biodiversity, and underground aquifers. Some people call it the Gateway to the Texas Hill Country. As a community, we must recognize the importance of preserving our natural and open spaces to ensure that future generations can experience the same beauty and benefits that we do today. It is our responsibility to protect the land for future generations.
Why Protect Natural and Open Spaces?
Environmental Benefits: Natural and open spaces play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance. They provide habitats for wildlife, recharge our aquifers, and help to sustain healthy ecosystems.
Water Conservation: Hays County is home to vital water resources. The Edwards and Trinity Aquifers are critical natural infrastructures. Waterways such as the Blanco River, San Marcos River, Onion Creek, and Bear Creek are essential to our region’s ecological health and recreational opportunities. Preserving open spaces helps protect these water sources from pollution and overuse. Healthy landscapes act as natural reservoirs, ensuring a sustainable water supply for our community and maintaining the delicate balance of our aquatic ecosystems. By safeguarding these areas, we also protect the recharge zones that are critical for replenishing our aquifers, ensuring clean and plentiful water for generations to come.
Quality of Life: Open spaces provide recreational opportunities, promote physical and mental well-being, and enhance our overall quality of life. Parks, trails, and natural areas offer places for residents to connect with nature, engage in outdoor activities, and foster a sense of community. Preserving these spaces ensures that everyone, regardless of age or background, has access to the benefits of the great outdoors.
Economic Value: Natural and open spaces contribute to the economic vitality of Hays County. They attract tourism, support local businesses, and increase property values. By investing in the preservation of our landscapes, we are investing in the long-term prosperity of our community.
Water Quality Protection Lands
On the Water page you learn about the above ground waters of Hays County and the underground aquifers that you can’t see. You also learn the very important role the aquifers play in Hays County for drinking water.
The City of Austin realized how valuable the recharge zone is for the recharge of the Barton Springs portion of the Edwards Aquifer. In 1998 they started purchasing land in Hays County to protect it. These lands are called Water Quality Protection Lands (WQPL).
The open space between the WQPLs and Hays Commons is the neighborhoods of Chaparral Park, Southwest Territory, Copper Hills, Allegre Monantial, and other county properties. These properties are all on lots larger than 1/2 acre and the residents are stewards of the land.
The neighborhoods in Hays County that are not in the cities are all on large lots and get their drinking water from the aquifers. By having large lots, the buildings cover less of the land and rain water can filter down into the aquifer where the water is stored. All the buildings and pavement is called pervious cover. The conservation standard is 15% impervious cover. That is why we must protect the recharge zone from high density housing developments over the recharge zone. We must also educate the cities about protection of the recharge zone so they do not extend water and wastewater services to commercial or residential areas creating high impervious cover.
