Friday, December 13, 2013

Upcoming Events: HoA Landscaping Workshop & 2014 Camp and College Scholarship Contests

·         Jan. 25, 2014:  Water on the Home Front - Water Efficient Landscapes for Homeowners Associations
·         Mar. 18, 2014:  Camp and College Scholarships Application Deadline

Water on the Home Front - Water Efficient Landscapes for Homeowners Associations
In the past regular session, the Texas Legislature passed a water conservation measure as Senate Bill 198, which states that HoAs will no longer be able to ban drought-resistant landscapes. This new law went into effect on September 1, 2013.

The traditional goal of an HoA is to coordinate a consistent, appealing look and feel to the neighborhood and protect associated property values and quality of life for its residents.  Allowing residents to incorporate more drought-tolerant landscape solutions means that the landscapes will survive and even thrive when much less water is available. A more sustainable, beautiful landscape--regardless of rainfall--is an asset to any homeowner and neighborhood.

The District is collaborating with the Clean Water Fund to host a workshop for area HoAs to discuss a variety of drought-tolerant landscape options, water conservation techniques, and examples of HoA codes and covenants that encourage water conservation and while preserving a positive neighborhood aesthetic. Along those lines, a recent newsletter article on Homeowner Association Landscaping Codes and Covenants can be found in the November Aquifer Bulletin, page 7.

The workshop will be held Saturday morning, January 25th.  RSVP to rhgary@bseacd.org for additional details.

Many thanks to Creedmoor Water Supply, Texas Lehigh Cement Company, St. Andrews Episcopal School, and Goforth Special Utility District for donating a portion of their Conservation Credits to support these scholarship programs.  We are able to have a wonderful awards program this year!!  Here are the details for both programs.... please pass along to any students that may be interested!

Students ages 9 through 15 years old
Application Deadline:  Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Scholarship amounts:  $600 or $150, depending on length of camp

The District is now soliciting applications and essays for its 2014 Camp Scholarship program for the Edwards Aquifer Research and Data Center's Aquatic Science Adventure Camp through Tuesday, March 18, 2014. We estimate this year's program will provide:
·         FOUR $600 scholarships to the week-long Aquatic Science Adventure Camp (Note: Parent will be responsible for providing $150 camp deposit fee, which will be needed to hold the child’s spot.)
·         FIVE $150 scholarships to the 2-Day Aquatic Science Adventure Camp (Note: All $150 will be paid for by BSEACD.)
The Camp scholarship contest is open to children ages 9 through 15 who reside in one of the six school districts within the District’s boundaries.  Interested students must submit an application and a 1-page essay/artwork entitled "Why I want to attend the Aquatic Science Adventure Camp!"  Scholarship winners will be chosen in a random drawing; only completed applications with essays/artwork will be eligible.  Deadline for submissions: 5:00p.m. on Tuesday, March 18, 2014.   

Both English and Spanish application packets available here:  www.bseacd.org/education/scholarships/#Camp


High school juniors and seniors
Application deadline:  March 18, 2014
Scholarship amount:  $2,500

The Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District (BSEACD) is now soliciting applications and essays for the 2014 Kent S. Butler Memorial Groundwater Stewardship Scholarship Essay Contest through Tuesday, March 18, 2014. The essay contest is open to high school juniors, seniors, and immediate graduates. Students must reside in one of the six school districts overlapping the District boundary. These six independent school districts are: Austin, Eanes, Dripping Springs, Hays Consolidated, Del Valle, and Lockhart. 

One essay will be selected as the winning entry by an independent evaluation panel, and the author will receive a $2,500 scholarship to the college, community college, or training institution of his/her choice.

Essays must generally discuss groundwater issues, which may include but are not limited to:
• non-point source pollution
• pollution prevention
• water conservation
• hydrogeology

While essays must focus on groundwater issues, applicants do not have to be planning a career path in a water-related field.  Deadline for submissions: 5:00p.m. on Tuesday, March 18, 2014.

2014 Groundwater Essay Contest application form and rules available here: www.bseacd.org/education/scholarships/#College

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