Spring Lake Preserve – 251 acres
It was clear from field work and dye studies that creating greenspace around the northern edge of San Marcos, north and west of the springs, would have the most impact in regard to protecting the water quality and flow, as well as helping to mitigate some of the flooding that affects San Marcos. SMRF’s initial step was to successfully push for a city bond proposal to fund the purchase of 251 acres, now known as Spring Lake Preserve– a sensitive recharge area directly above Spring Lake and the San Marcos Springs and now one of the most popular hiking trails in the city, cresting high above the lake on the first hills of the Hill Country. During this time, recharge-protective land codes were put forth by city officials, requiring future development in and around the recharge zone to set aside specific green space to counter their impact and add to the existing preserves.
