Wimberley Valley Watershed Association

“Each member of the board of directors is provided a copy of the form 990 for review prior to the board meeting. At the next board meeting, each member is given the opportunity to comment on the final or near final version prior to the form 990 being filed with the irs.”

“The organization passed a conflict of interest policy on 10/28/2010. The policy calls for an annual review of the policy and the organization's compliance therewith, and the results of the review are recorded in the minutes. Each board member signs an annual statement recorded in the minutes that they have received, understand and subscribe to the policy.”

“The governing board of wvwa is composed of independent, uncompensated volunteer business and professional people, including at least one each of lawyers, accountants, entrepreneurs and educators. The board met contemporaneously with the compensation decisions for deliberation, substantiated the decisions for personal knowledge of reasonable salaries in the marketplace, and made the final determinations.”

“Governing documents are made available to the public upon request.”

“Wvwa's mission is to ensure that communities are aware of their connection and responsibilities to the watershed and are suported in implementing water policies and practices that will ensure ecological sustainability for future generations. To achieve this mission, wvwa advocates for clean clear flowing springs and streams and the sustained health of the wimberley valley and engages the community in land and water stewardship through reserach and education.”

“Education & outreach and the center for engaged ecology - the wvwa education programs inform the local community and policy makers about the value of water and land conservation and the importance of stewardship and sustainable watershed management. Wvwa provides public tours and school programs and promotes land conservation through private landowner outreach programs. The wvwa is involved in outreach to the community through partnerships with local governments, agencies, universities, schools, nonprofits, and local businesses. We also seek to inspire members of the community to share the responsibility to manage our water resources equitably by honoring our connection with the natural environment. The center for engaged ecology at jacob's well promotes environmental practices that restore and sustain watersheds for ecosystem and community health. The center is integral to the long-term stewardship of jacob's well by providing an open venue to inspire, influence and educate the local community and visitors to the texas hill country region.”

“Watershed protection & conservation science - wvwa initiated the cypress creek watershed protection plan (ccwpp) in 2008. The ccwpp is a collaborative approach involving the cities, county, civic organizations, and citizens of the wimberley valley. The community-led and epa-accepted watershed protection plan is an important tool that is to be used to help guide efforts to effectively manage the cypress creek watershed. The plan is science-based, community-driven, and adaptive, and includes a suite of best management practices (bmps) designed to mitigate non point source pollution and anticipated future water quality impairments and protect groundwater resources. The wvwa continues to serve on the executive committee and is partnering with the meadows center for water and the environment to support ccwpp education and outreach activities. Wvwa is one of the only nonprofit organizations in the state of texas collecting quality assured water quality data used to assess whether surface water in the blanco river and cypress creek is meeting federal clean water act standards and will continue to participate in the clean rivers program. The wvwa has also helped fund the installation and ongoing maintenance of a continuous water quality and flow gauging station at jacob's well operated by the united states geological survey. Educating the public about the scientific data and how it affects our everyday lives encourages community ownership of the watershed protection plan and the longevity of the practices and protections it advances.”

“The texas hill country conservation network (thccn) is a group of more than 150 ngos, businesses, universities, and government agencies working to promote community sustainability and resilience in the 17 county texas hill country. By working together, thccn member organizations can expand their reach, scale up their work and leverage the benefits of collaborative action. Through the power of the network, member organizations have more collective impact and influence, attract great resources, and elevate their solutions-focused agenda among other networks in the region. This network emerged from the recognition that individuals nad organizations cannot solve the myriad problems facing an 11-million-acre region by acting independently. A shared vision and mission inspires greater action than any one organization, agency, or brand could achieve alone. It is only by individuals and organizations working across boundaries that we can engage the agencies, authorities and communities at the geographic scale needed to link economic, social and environmental objectives for this region. Land conservation - the wvwa is focused on conserving and managing land to protect water quality of the trinity aquifer, jacob's well, cypress creek, and the blanco river watershed. The wvwa works with private and government partners to promote the use of conservation easements and fee simple land acquisitions for wildlife habitat preservation, water quality protection, establishing public parklands and scenic open space. The wvwa has protected the 96 acres of land surrounding jacob's well with conservation easements designed to restore and protect the conservation values of the land in perpetuity and serve as a public nature preserve, center for environmental research, education and ecotourism. The association also monitors three conservation easements on properties in the wimberley valley and actively stewards wvwa's property adjacent to jacob's well. By transferring the jacob's well natural area to hays county, we have created new opportunities for public recreational access paired with experiential learning about water and the environment. Wvwa continues efforts to strategically conserve land in critical recharge areas and threatened habitats.”

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