Devils River report open for review

San Marcos—The Devils River Watershed Project invites stakeholders in the Devils River watershed to provide feedback on the initial draft of the "State of the Devils River" report. The report combines scientific research and the collective knowledge of stakeholders to outline what is currently known about the watershed and identify additional information needed to support its ongoing stewardship.

Initiated in 2021, this project is a collaborative effort between the Devils River Conservancy, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and The Nature Conservancy, funded by a WaterSMART grant. The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Texas State University is contracted to serve as the project facilitator, ensuring a fair and transparent process where every stakeholder has an equal voice.

The project enlisted four technical teams of volunteer experts and stakeholders who worked together to prepare the draft report. The teams gathered all available information on the watershed related to groundwater resources, species and their flow requirements, sustainable recreation, and water quality. The preliminary report summarizes their findings, incorporating stakeholder accounts, scientific research, and potentially differing viewpoints.

In conjunction with the draft report’s release, an in-person symposium to gather stakeholder feedback is scheduled for July 25 in Del Rio. The symposium will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Enchanted Event Center (4934 US-90, Del Rio, Texas—note that maps may refer to the Enchanted Event Center as Enchanted Jardin). Stakeholders can ask questions, participate in discussions, and provide feedback on the report while enjoying light refreshments. To register, visit https://events.humanitix.com/state-of-devils-report-symposium.

Stakeholders who are not able to participate in the symposium can send their comments directly to the project planning team via email at CarrieThompson@txstate.edu or through the Devils River Project website, https://devilswatershed.wp.txstate.edu/contact/. All feedback received from stakeholders will shape the draft report and recommendations for the project planning team.

For details about the report's content, view presentations from the technical experts covering each key section, which includes groundwater resources, species and their flow requirements, sustainable recreation, and water quality, at https://bit.ly/3XYgtt9.

To view the draft report, visit https://devilswatershed.wp.txstate.edu/report/. For more information about the project, visit https://devilswatershed.wp.txstate.edu/.

SOURCE The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment