NewsDrop-Oct_Nov-2025

EAC OUTREACH

By: Nikki Young EAA Senior Community Engagement Administrator

3,000 PLANTS. 50 PHOTOS. 1 AQUIFER. 2 WAYS THE EAA SHOWS CONSERVATION IS ROOTED IN TEXAS!

CONSERVATION CAN OFTEN FEEL ABSTRACT, BUT ON TWO RECENT MILESTONES, THE EDWARDS AQUIFER AUTHORITY (EAA) MADE THE NUMBERS TELL A STORY. On September 27th, more than 3,000 Texas native plants found new homes at the EAA’s headquarters during its second annual Rooted in Texas: Free Drive-Thru Plant Pickup. Cars snaked down East Quincy Street in the early morning hours as families, gardeners, and first-time plant adopters lined up for the free event. This year’s effort marked a significant increase from the inaugural pickup in 2024, which distributed 2,000 plants.

Just weeks earlier, another number had defined the season: nearly 50 photo graphs were submitted from across the Edwards Aquifer Authority’s jurisdiction in the debut of the Rooted in Saving Water: Conserve & Share It Photo Contest. The entries captured not only artistic vision but also heartfelt connections to the land and water. We received submissions from Bexar County to Uvalde County, each offering a unique perspective on how conservation takes root in everyday life. One partici pant shared how they picked wildflowers — sunflowers, Indian blanket, and blue bells — for a wedding bouquet at Confluence Park. Another described trans forming a yard of St. Augustine grass into an “urban prairie” alive with butter flies, hummingbirds, and even bats at dusk. Others highlighted the everyday choices that add up, like reusing cooking water for gardens or turning off the faucet while brushing teeth.

EAA staff and volunteers handed out carefully selected sun and shade-loving vari eties—plants chosen not only for their beauty, but for their ability to thrive in local landscapes while conserving water. Collectively, those 3,000 plants represent thousands of gallons of water saved each year compared with non-native land scaping, a tangible reminder of how small actions multiply into lasting impact. “Every plant that leaves here is another root system supporting the Edwards Aquifer and strengthening our connection to conservation.” — Michael De La Garza, Executive Director, Communications & Engagement And for many attendees, the event was about more than picking up a plant. “It felt like taking home a piece of Texas heritage — something living we can pass down and watch grow year after year.” — Gene Gentry, Attendee

The inaugural contest doesn’t end with submission. Selected images will be featured in the EAA’s 2026 calendar and showcased in future public displays, extending their impact well beyond the lens. Each photograph is both art and testimony — proof that being a steward of the aquifer takes many forms, from the technical to the deeply personal. From native plants to beautiful photos, these conservation initiatives remind us that caring for the Edwards Aquifer isn’t just a responsibil ity — it’s a practice that grows deeper with every action, every personal story, and every neighbor. And it’s Rooted in Texas.

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