Colorado River Fundraiser

Two local bands, a photography contest, and raffle will headline a fundraiser in Downtown Bastrop for one of the most vigilant and tireless stewards of the Lower Colorado River below Austin. The fundraising event will allow Environmental Stewardship to continue challenging state regulators to be more vigilant in water quality monitoring and wastewater permitting. Neighbor’s Kitchen & Yard, 601 Chestnut Street, will host the event on April 17th from 7:00-9:00p, and has offered its facility overlooking the river for a fun, relaxed, and informative gathering. The evening will highlight the work of Environmental Stewardship and its ongoing effort since 2007 to protect the river’s water quality and aquatic life. Live Music in the Yard will include sets from Phil Hurley and Ben Zuniga. “?????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???? ???? ???? ???????? ???????? ?????? ???? ?????? ?????????????????????????? ?????????????????????? ?? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ?????? ?????????????????? ???????? ???????? ?????? ??????????,” says Chap Ambrose, a member of the Austin-based non-profit who enjoys fishing and paddling in Wilbarger Bend. Since Environmental Stewardship became a Waterkeeper Affiliate organization in 2016, it has expanded its mission to include the river’s associated aquifers, as well as the bays and estuaries of the Texas Gulf Coast. Its first-hand knowledge of the watershed has informed an unwavering commitment to the rights of the community, to ecological health of waterways and aquifers, and to the rule of law. Working to enforce those rules has become more critical as exploding growth downstream of Austin has put added stress on the river. Excessive nutrients from wastewater facilities, as well as excessive soil and silt erosion from construction and gravel mining have impaired its recreational use while also threatening the water quality of domestic wells and municipal water supplies. The non-profit’s recent water quality monitoring efforts indicate the river’s exceptional water quality status has not been maintained. “???? ???????? ????????????????????, ????????, ?????? ???????????????????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ?????? ??????????, ?????? ?????????? ???? ?????????? — ???? ???? ???????????? ?????????? ???????? ????????????,” says Steve Box, executive director of Environmental Stewardship. “?????? ?????????? ?????? ???????????? ???? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????????? ???????? ???? ???????? ??????????????.” Under Box’s leadership, Environmental Stewardship and its partners have made a significant impact in protect the section of the river that runs through Bastrop County, including: -Encouraged an industrial user to hook up to the city’s wastewater system rather than build its own wastewater operations that would discharge directly into the river. Increasing oversight on the impact of sand and gravel mining operations on aquatic life and pushing for increased setbacks. -Challenging a wastewater permit that would discharge up to 500,000 gallons of treated sewage through a nature preserve. These challenges are mostly won in government hearings that require Environmental Stewardship to hire the best lawyers and environmental experts to prove its case. This fundraising event, which is free and open to the public, is critical to continue these efforts. In addition to food and music, it will feature a display of the most compelling images from its river photography contest, with a focus on inspiring more stewardship for this vital resource we all depend on.