The Upper Guadalupe River Authority's EduScape receives the Texas Water Development Board's Texas Rain Catcher Award

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

AUSTIN – (March 28, 2019) – 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 Upper Guadalupe River Authority's EduScape was recognized in the educational/governmental 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 Upper Guadalupe River Authority's (UGRA) EduScape, located on the grounds of UGRA's Guadalupe Basin Natural Resources Center in Kerrville, Texas, was designed as a teaching tool and is open to the public for organized and self-guided tours year-round. The EduScape includes rooftop rainwater collection, air-condensate collection, and managed stormwater collection. The rainwater and condensate are stored in a 30,000-gallon collection tank, a 3,000-gallon condensate collection tank, and a 50-gallon rain barrel.

The EduScape includes 33,000 square feet of water-conserving landscaping that was converted from traditional, high-water-use turf-grass monoculture. In addition, it includes 15 water-saving features and 30 interpretative and water conservation tip signs. A quarter-mile walking trail allows visitors to explore all the features of the EduScape.

The Hill Country Master Gardeners, with input from Dr. Fouad Jaber of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, developed the design for the EduScape with the idea of including as many green stormwater infrastructure strategies as possible. The Hill Country Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalists helps maintain the landscape, and the Riverside Nature Center conducts tours of the EduScape.

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 UGRA EduScape is one of four 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.