TAGD October 2013 Quarterly Meeting

1. Public Information
and Education
Strategies
Robin Havens Gary
Senior Public Information and Education Coordinator
Barton Springs
Edwards Aquifer
Conservation District

2. More with Less
Barton Springs
Edwards Aquifer
Conservation District
Barton Springs
Edwards Aquifer
Conservation District

3. District Overview



11 staff members
1.25 communications + database + GIS
Strategy: find ways to involve more
people in creating content and
disseminating information
Barton Springs
Edwards Aquifer
Conservation District

4. The Standards
(tried and true)









Website
Social Media
Email Group
Press Releases
Presentations
Field Trips
Quarterly Newsletters
Direct Mail
Standardized drought messaging
Barton Springs
Edwards Aquifer
Conservation District

5. Train The Trainer Model
(multiply the message)

Permittees:


Teachers:



Coordinated drought messaging with standard bill
inserts, road signs, drought icons
Yearly teacher training in collaboration with area
water educators
Groundwater to the Gulf reaches 50 teachers and
therefore 5,000 students annually.
Staff:

Website content management system that allows
each team to post and update appropriate materials
Barton Springs
Edwards Aquifer
Conservation District

6. Collaboration
(extend resources)






Groundwater to the Gulf Collaborative
Central Texas Water Efficiency Network
City of Austin Earth Camp
Camp Fire USA – after school, family, troops
Texas Well Owner Network
Creek clean-ups
Barton Springs
Edwards Aquifer
Conservation District

7. Rewards Programs
(encourage good behavior)




Groundwater Stewardship Awards
Permittee of the Year
College scholarship (juniors & seniors)
Camp scholarship (9-15 year olds)
Barton Springs
Edwards Aquifer
Conservation District

8. Special Projects



Realtors (new well owners)
HoAs
Exempt Well Owners
Barton Springs
Edwards Aquifer
Conservation District

9. Realtors

Seller's Disclosure Notice modifications
Add Well-Specific Information
Such as:
Barton Springs
Edwards Aquifer
Conservation District

10. Homeowner Associations

Under SB 198, HoAs
can no longer enforce
provisions that prevent
a homeowner from
installing a droughtresistant landscape.

HoA Workshops to
help modify their codes
and covenants.
Barton Springs
Edwards Aquifer
Conservation District

11. Exempt Well Owners



Barton Springs
Edwards Aquifer
Conservation District
Well Owner Guide
Water Well Testing
Water Level Monitoring
http://www.bseacd.org/education/well-owners/

12. Thank you
Robin Gary: rhgary@bseacd.org

Drought Blog
 http://droughtmonitor.blogspot.com/

District Website:
 www.bseacd.org

‘Friends of the Aquifers’ Email Group
 Email rhgary@bseacd.org with ‘subscribe’ in the
subject line.
Barton Springs
Edwards Aquifer
Conservation District