The Luci and Ian Family Garden receives TWDB's Texas Rain Catcher Award

For immediate release. Contact: Media Relations at 512-463-5129

AUSTIN – (March 21, 2016) – The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) announced today the recipients of its annual Texas Rain Catcher Award, a rainwater harvesting competition and recognition program. The Luci and Ian Family Garden at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center was recognized in the educational category.

The TWDB's Texas Rain Catcher Award recognizes excellence in the application of rainwater harvesting systems in Texas, promotes rainwater harvesting technology, and educates the public on this important water-saving practice.

The Luci and Ian Family Garden educates visitors about water and energy conservation through numerous interactive features. Water Storage Tanks Inc. worked with TBG Partners Architects to design and build an 8,000 gallon inverted roof tank. The tank collects rainwater from a wooden pavilion and adjacent restroom facility.

The collected rainwater is used to replenish Dinosaur Creek, an artificial water feature that provides habitat for fish, frogs, turtles, and aquatic invertebrates. The rainwater also feeds the waterfall in the Hill Country Grotto. This project is Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES) certified, which means it helps reduce water demand, filters and reduces stormwater runoff, provides wildlife habitat, reduces energy consumption, improves air quality and human health, and increases outdoor recreation opportunities. The Wildflower Center estimates the system and other on-site cisterns contribute to an annual savings of $24,226 in water fees and $10,462 in wastewater fees.

The Texas Rain Catcher Award competition began in 2007 and is open to all individuals, companies, organizations, municipalities, and other local and state governmental entities in Texas. It recognizes entities and individuals in the rainwater harvesting community and beyond and establishes award recipients as dedicated water conservation leaders in Texas. The Luci and Ian Family Garden is one of five awardees being recognized statewide this year.

The TWDB is the state agency charged with collecting and disseminating water-related data, assisting with regional planning, and preparing the state water plan for the development of the state's water resources. The TWDB administers cost-effective financial assistance programs for the construction of water supply, wastewater treatment, flood control, and agricultural water conservation projects.