Edwards Aquifer News for 2026

September 2026

San Antonio moves to Stage 3 drought rules

On September 21, after a very dry August and September that saw the 10-day rolling average of the J-17 index well fall below 640', San Antonio moved to Stage 3 drought restrictions. In Stage 3, watering hours and times are the same as Stage 2, but a high use surcharge is applied for water use above 20,000 gallons per month.

August 2026

Old mill on Comal River to be converted to mixed-use development

In August 2026, the Oxbow Development Group announced plans to convert the old Dittlinger Mill on the Comal River in New Braunfels into a mixed-use property, similar to the highly successful Pearl development in San Antonio.

When finished in about four years, it will include retail and office space, restaurants, apartments, and a parking garage. The site is a nine acre tract that was home to the Dittlinger flour mill for 137 years until it closed in 2023.

Oxbow Development also did San Antonio's Pearl, and the company's Director of Development Omar Gonzalez said "We don't want to wipe away the history of place but instead celebrate it. We want to tell the story of the Dittlinger family, much like we did for Emma and Otto Koehler through the brewery and Hotel Emma."

Gonzalez also said "The site is one of the best pieces of real estate left in Central Texas. It's accessible from downtown New Braunfels, which is super charming, walkable, and historic. The access to the river is another highlight. I think that stretch of the Comal River is the prettiest in Texas with crystal clear water. That combination of nature, industry, and urban really led us to fall in love with it."

San Antonio moves to Stage 2 drought rules

On August 4, after generous rains in July that raised J-17 well levels and springflows, San Antonio moved to Stage 2 drought restrictions. The city had been under Stage 3 rules since June of 2024. In Stage 2, watering hours and times are the same as Stage 3, but a new high use surcharge implemented in 2024 is suspended.

July 2026

Comal County receives $30 million loan for water programs

In July of 2026 the Texas Water Development Board voted to approve an application submitted last October by Comal County for a $30 million loan to be used for preserving land in key local watersheds.

The goal is to protect the quality and quantity of water supplies, and the money will come from the State's Clean Water State Revolving Fund. Comal County includes lands that help recharge both the Edwards and Trinity aquifers, and rapid new development is placing strains on water resources.

County officials plan to use the money to buy land in the aquifers' recharge zones and in watersheds of local creek and rivers to reduce pollution, maintain springflows, and reduce impervious cover.

May 2026

New statue honors Aquifer advocate Phil Hardberger

In May of 2026 a new bronze statue of Phil Hardberger was unveiled at the park that bears his name in northwest San Antonio. Readers who know their Aquifer history may recall that Phil Hardberger was the lawyer for the environmental groups in the very first early-1970s controversy over the Edwards Aquifer, which involved a large proposed development known as Ranch Town. He later served as San Antonio Mayor, and today his daughter Amy Hardberger carries on the family tradition of advocating for Aquifer protections as a prominent water lawyer.

The statue stands at the entrance to Hardberger Park's Urban Ecology Center just off the Military Highway and depicts Hardberger with a bomber jacket slung over his shoulder of the type he wore when he flew in the U.S. Air Force in the 1950s. Text on the base identifies him as the Park's founder and says "He brought beauty into our lives." Laredo-based artist Armando Hinojosa created the piece and offered Hardberger the opportunity to make alterations while the work was in progress, such as to be slimmed down or fattened up or have more hair on the head. Hardberger made no changes.

March 2026

San Marcos implements park fees for out-of-towners

On March 31 the San Marcos City Council voted 6-1 to implement new fees for Rio Vista Park, one of the city's most popular tubing and recreation destinations. Beginning on Memorial Day, adults who are not San Marcos residents will be charged $5 to enter the park, and anyone under 18 can enter free. The fees will be in place on weekends and holidays from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

The 17-acre park next to the San Marcos River is popular for its river access, and there are a series of chutes used for tubing and swimming.

January 2026

Planning Commission, Council oppose creation of District for Guajalote Ranch

In January members of the San Antonio Planning Commission recommended to City Council that it deny consent for creation of a Municipal Utility District (MUD) to serve the Guajalote Ranch development in its plan to build a wastewater treatment plant. MUDs are used to finance infrastructure in new developments, with the district issuing bonds that are repaid by taxing residents in the district.

On January 22, a majority of Council members signaled they plan to oppose the creation of a district. TCEQ will make the final decision on approving the district, but since the site is within the city's extraterritorial jurisdiction the city must vote on whether or not to consent.

If Council denies consent or takes no action, the developer can then file a petition to negotiate with city entities, and if an agreement is not reached the developer could then ask TCEQ to approve the district without the city's consent. The Express-News reported that city staff were continuing to negotiate an agreement that if the MUD were approved by the city, additional conditions would apply. An existing agreement requires things like a very advanced level of treatment, a high level of operator certification, and setting aside 50% of the property as open space.