News from NPSOT’s Tonkawa Chapter. Read more about the threat to Salado Creek at Save Texas Streams.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is currently accepting public comments on the draft permit for Salado Vista, so that’s what you’ll be commenting on. For suggested talking points from Save Texas Streams, go to https://www.savetexasstreams.org/saladocreek and scroll down to “Salado Vista permit problems.”
The short take: Salado Vista’s draft permit has the worst limits of all 12 permits on Salado Creek, because TCEQ believed the applicant’s claim that it would be discharging its wastewater into Darrs Creek. But the actual location of Salado Vista’s treatment plant means that its wastewater will flow into Salado Creek instead — which means that it needs much stricter permit limits.
Please take a few minutes and send in your comment to TCEQ. The deadline is February 23rd. Any comments coming after Feb 23rd are disregarded.
National Invasive Species Week is February 23-March 8. Team up with Good Water Master Naturalists for the Big Pull in Round Rock on March 7 March 21.
Info from GWMN:
The Good Water Master Naturalists are supporting the Native Plant Society of Texas by joining them for The Big Pull! Let’s make an impact during National Invasive Species Week by removing invasive species and supporting healthy native ecosystems at the park by our iconic Round Rock on Saturday, March 7, March 21 9am-12pm.
Williamson County Conservation Foundation is taking care of sign up since it’s part of their responsibility so we’ll be signing up on their website. If you’re new to volunteering with them, every participant will need to sign the WCCF waiver before participating. (It is good for the rest of the calendar year in case you want to volunteer with WCCF again.) All are welcome, bring friends and family members if they want to join in on the fun.
Bring: Gloves, water, sunscreen, snacks if you want them, and basic garden tools for taking out weeds! Dress for the weather that day. Long pants and close toed shoes recommended.
If you have any questions, send an email to wilco-chapter@npsot.org and we’ll put you in touch with chapter member (and master naturalist) Michelle Goerdel.
Read NPSOT’s announcement about the Big Pull and invasive species.
Join NPSOT-Williamson County on Thursday, March 12, 2026, when our featured topic will be Partnerships for WaterWise Communities: City of Round Rock Landscape Project with City of Round Rock Conservation Staff, Jessica Woods and Emily Morales.Free and open to the public. The meeting begins at 7:00 PM. The guest presentation begins after a short business meeting.
Please note: This month’s guest presentation will NOT be recorded for YouTube.
About our topic: Our presentation will provide insight into why we (the City) need partnerships to achieve our goals, as well as an update on our landscape transformation project at the Utilities and Transportation Office to which NSPOT has donated several plants. A lot of pictures will be included in the presentation!
About our speakers:Jessica Woods is the Senior Water Conservation Coordinator for the City of Round Rock. She is an active Good Water Master Naturalist and is starting to enjoy backyard birding.
Emily Morales is a Water Conservation Specialist for the City of Round Rock. She is also an active Good Water Master Naturalist and especially interested in habitat restoration and plant rescues.
==> This month’s in-person location is the Georgetown Public Library, 2nd floor, 402 West 8th St, Georgetown, TX 78626. Come early (6:30 PM) for expert advice, to check out the seed swap board, or just to visit.
At every meeting, we give away a book — about native plants or the meeting topic — to one randomly chosen in-person attendee!
If we have permission from our guest speaker, we record the presentation for our YouTube channel. (See a list of past topics at this link.)
Have an idea for a speaker? Let Program Leader Susie Hickman know via email to wilco-chapter@npsot.org.
NPSOT-Williamson County meetings are free and open to the public. We hope you attend! Meetings may be in person, virtual, or both, so be sure to check details in the meeting announcement. Meetings are announced on our website, our calendar and Facebook. See upcoming topics on our Home page or on the Calendar.
