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David Baker, The Watershed Association executive director, confirmed on Monday that Hays County has purchased the Karst Canyon Preserve through the county’s Parks and Open Space Bond. Due to finalize this week, the purchase more than doubles the size of the Jacob’s Well Natural Area. A conservation easement to be held by The Nature Conservancy further protects the area.
“This is a crucial investment in our region’s water future through an innovative publicprivate partnership,” Baker wrote in a recent announcement. “With Hays County’s population projected to grow by 464% by 2050, and through the combined efforts of Hays County’s purchase, The Nature Conservancy’s oversight and our continued management, we can ensure these critical recharge zones remain protected for generations to come.” According to scientists, The Karst Canyon Preserve is extraordinarily efficient at capturing rainfall and replenishing the Middle Trinity Aquifer. While most Hill Country land only allows 3 to 5% of rainfall to reach the aquifer, Karst Canyon Preserve’s unique geology enables up to 30% of rainfall to be captured and filtered into the groundwater system that feeds Jacob’s well. Known previously as Coleman’s Canyon, the preserve was purchased by The Watershed Association in 2019 from a developer planning to build 1600 highdensity residential lots within the Jacob’s Well critical recharge zone.
“We’re thrilled. We’ve been working on this for a decade,” said Baker in a conversation with the Wimberley View. “It is truly an extraordinary development, a historic deal. We heard in November that Hays County Commissioners approved the purchase.”
In 2020, Hays County residents voted for the Parks and Open Spaces Bond, known then on the ballot as Proposition A, which called for the issuance of $75 million in general bonds to fund parks, open spaces, conservation lands and other recreational opportunities over the next several years. Their advisory committee, known by their acronym POSAC, ranked the purchase of the Karst Canyon Preserve as their number one priority.
The preserve is also home to Mexican Freetail Bats, the endangered golden-cheeked warbler and the Cypress Creek tributary of the Blanco River. Once the Jacob’s Well trails are linked with those of the preserve, roughly six miles of trails will be available for hikers.
