Center for Environmental Research
Discover Nature, Science & Community at Hornsby Bend
The Austin Water Center for Environmental Research (CER) at Hornsby Bend is a partnership formed in 1989 with the University of Texas and Texas A&M University to support urban ecology and sustainability studies for Austin. Set along 3.5 miles of Colorado River habitat, the site is one of the best birding locations in Texas and a hub for ecological research.
Hornsby Bend is nationally recognized for its biodiversity. The site hosts the Hornsby Bend Biosolids Management Plant, miles of riparian habitat along the Colorado River and some of the best bird watching in Central Texas. Biosolids recycled at Hornsby Bend are processed into Dillo Dirt™, an EPA-certified soil conditioner made from compost and yard trimmings.
All CER programs at Hornsby Bend are free and open to the public. For more info, please contact the CER Coordinator at 512-972-1960 or via e-mail.
Programs and Events
Lunchtime Lecture Series
A free monthly public lecture on different aspects of Austin's ecology. No registration is required.
- 2026 Lunchtime Lecture Series: The Geography of Rivers (PDF)
- March 2026 Events (PDF)
- Previous Lectures Archive
Hornsby Bend Bird Observatory
The Bird Observatory supports community science research and monitoring of Central Texas bird populations to promote habitat conservation. A database of more than 50,000 bird records from Hornsby Bend dating back to 1959 is continuously updated through monitoring programs and university researchers.
- Monthly Bird Survey — Second Saturday of every month, 7 a.m.
- Fieldtrips with Travis Audubon Society — Third Saturday of every month, 7:30 a.m.
- Visit hornsbybend.org for monitoring workshops and more.
Other Programs
- Ecological Literacy Days — Three hours of outdoor volunteer work followed by an hour of ecological education, held the last Saturday of every month at Hornsby Bend, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
- River Monitoring Trips — Monthly river monitoring trips along the Colorado River corridor are held the first Saturday of every month through the Austin-Bastrop River Corridor Partnership.
- Ecological Mentorship Program — Academic internships in natural resource management, environmental engineering, ecology and geography for undergraduate students.
Research
The CER conducts ongoing research in four areas in partnership with the University of Texas, Texas A&M University and the USDA Agricultural Research Service.
- Soil Ecology — Studies the effects of biosolids on soil ecology in partnership with the USDA Agricultural Research Service, Grassland Soil and Water Research Laboratory, supported by a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Experimental Exemption for Land Application Permit.
- Aquifer Hydrogeology — Studies the alluvial aquifer of the Colorado River at Hornsby Bend in cooperation with the University of Texas Department of Geological Sciences.
- Riparian Ecology and Restoration — Researches and restores the 3.5 miles of riparian habitat and bottomland forest along the Colorado River at the Hornsby Bend site.
- Avian Ecology — Long-term monitoring and research of bird populations at Hornsby Bend through the Bird Observatory and university research partnerships.
Partnerships
We work with a range of organizations to advance environmental research, river stewardship and ecological education in the Austin area.
- Texas Riparian Association — A statewide organization promoting awareness, protection and restoration of Texas riparian areas, hosted by the CER. Learn more at the Texas Riparian Association website.
- Austin-Bastrop River Corridor Partnership — A stakeholder partnership of nonprofit organizations, government agencies, businesses and community members focused on the future of 90 miles of the Colorado River in Travis and Bastrop counties. Download Discovering the Colorado: A Vision for the Austin-Bastrop River Corridor (PDF).
- EcoHouses Partnership — Local nonprofit environmental organizations — including TreeFolks and Austin Youth River Watch — have converted houses on the Hornsby Bend site into their offices using green remodeling practices.
- Public Safety Training — City of Austin and Travis County public safety agencies use facility buildings at Hornsby Bend for emergency training exercises.