Austin Water Utility's Center for Environmental Research is active in various environmental and sustainability efforts. Contact the CER Coordinator for more information. 

Research Projects

  • Biosolids, Compost, and Soil Ecology Research – Study the effects of biosolids and compost on soil ecology (in cooperation wtih the USDA, USGS, TCEQ, and TPWD)
  • Hydrogeology of the Colorado River and the Alluvial Aquifer – in cooperation with the University of Texas Jackson School of Geosciences to study the hydrology of the Colorado River and its alluvial aquifer at Hornsby Bend.
  • Riparian Ecology and Restoration Research – a program to research and restore the 3.5 miles of riparian habitat and bottomland forest along the Colorado River at the Hornsby Bend site.
  • Avian Ecology – a database of over 50,000 bird records from Hornsby Bend dating back to 1959 is constantly updated through the Hornsby Bend Bird Observatory monitoring programs and university researchers.  

Partnerships

  • The Texas Riparian Association - a statewide organization to promote awareness for protection and restoration of Texas riparian areas hosted by the CER.
  • Austin-Bastrop River Corridor Partnership - a stakeholder partnership of nonprofit organizations, governmental agencies, businesses, and citizens concerned with the future of 90-miles of the Colorado River in Travis and Bastrop County.
  • EcoHouses Partnership - a partnership with local non-profit environmental organizations that have used green remodeling to convert houses on the Hornsby Bend site into their offices
  • Public Safety Training Houses – a partnership with City of Austin and Travis County public safety agencies to use houses at the facility site for training.

Programs

  • The Hornsby Bend Bird Observatory - Supports "citizen science" researching and monitoring Central Texas bird populations to promote habitat conservation.
    • Monthly Bird Survey (second Saturday of every month, 7a.m.)
    • Fieldtrips with Travis Audubon Society (third Saturday of every month, 7:30a.m.)
    • Monitoring Workshops
  • Ecological Mentorship Program – offers academic internships in natural resource management, environmental engineering, ecology, and geography to undergraduates.
  • Lunchtime Lecture Series – a free monthly public lecture about different aspects of Austin’s ecology by environmental professionals involved with the CER, the first Tuesday of the month at Waller Center, 625 East 10th Street between Red River and I-35, Room 104 NOON - 1p.m. – bring a lunch and learn!
  • Ecological Literacy Days – three hours of outdoor volunteer work and an hour of ecological education on the last Saturday of every month at Hornsby Bend (9 a.m. - 1p.m.)