The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment

09/02/2026

Sometimes the last minute boat rides are the most peaceful moments of the day. Come take a breather with us out on the water. 🧘

09/01/2026

Join the restoration crew! Sign up to volunteer with on Sept. 12 and help restore habitat at Spring Lake.

Volunteers may remove invasive aquatic plants, plant native species, manage vegetation along the boardwalk, or assist with kayak-based restoration.

📅 Sept. 12 | 9–11:30 a.m.
🙌 No experience needed
🌿 Good deeds guaranteed

Come lend a hand and help keep this one-of-a-kind ecosystem thriving!

🔗 Sign up: https://bit.ly/4h3AJ5F

08/29/2026

⭐️ Visitor Review ⭐️

"The Meadows Center is such a peaceful and interesting place to visit in San Marcos. The glass-bottom boat tour was definitely the highlight. The water is beautiful. You can see the fish and springs below, and the students who guide the tour do a great job sharing the area's history and ecology. There’s also plenty of nature to explore and an aquarium to visit afterward. Great for adults and families alike, and we came away with some wonderful memories and pictures. Definitely worth visiting!"

Thank you for the 5-star Google review, Raj H! 💙

Plan your visit: www.ExploreSpringLake.org

08/28/2026

Back by popular demand: More Spring Lake otter content! 🦦 Apparently, this log is the place to be at Spring Lake! Big thanks to our environmental interpreter, Heath Ratermann, for sending us this new clip!

What Spring Lake wildlife should we keep an eye out for next? 👀

08/27/2026

📸 SPOTTED: Yellow Garden Spider (Argiope aurantia)!

This spider is commonly found across North America in open grassy areas or woodlands. Its circular web can reach up to 2 feet in diameter and features a bold zigzag pattern at the center, where the spider waits for prey.

These spiders are large but not aggressive! They might bite if grabbed, but their bite is comparable to a bee sting and may cause redness or swelling.

Female yellow garden spiders have bold black-and-yellow bodies and long, striped legs. They can be 3-4 times larger than males, one of the most extreme size differences among North American spiders (girl power!).

With the males being significantly smaller and less colorful, the two spiders' genders almost look nothing alike!

Comment if you have ever seen a yellow garden spider before!

08/26/2026

Congratulations to Tiara Thompson, the 2026 recipient of the Don & Reba Blaschke Scholarship for the Protection of the San Marcos River! 🎉

Tiara is a doctoral student in Aquatic Resources & Biology at Texas State University. Her dissertation is exploring how residents and students in the Edwards Aquifer region understand drought, water scarcity, and conservation, and how these understandings shape their water-use decisions.

Tiara also serves as the Education and Outreach Manager for the student organization River Education and Stewardship Alliance (RESA). Most recently, she helped lead RESA’s first campaign focused on Texas wild-rice, a federally endangered plant found only in the San Marcos River.

Congratulations, Tiara… keep making waves! 👏💙

08/25/2026

🚌 Skrrrrt–next stop: the Meadows Center! Start your morning with a stroll around Spring Lake, or stop by for a nature reset on your way home. Thanks to TXST Transportation, we’re now on Route 23 of the Bobcat Shuttle, making it even easier for Texas State University students, staff, and faculty to enjoy glass-bottom boat tours, recreation tours, and everything Spring Lake has to offer!
 
Swing by and say hi! 👋
 
Download the ETA Spot app for shuttle times!

08/24/2026

🤸 🌊 Make a SPLASH this September at Spring Lake! We're offering special opportunities to plunge into the crystal-clear headwaters of the San Marcos River!

Join us for guided Snorkeling, Kayaking, and Stand-Up Paddling tours. Choose your adventure and book your excursion today!

🔗 Register Here: https://www.meadowscenter.txst.edu/education/eco-adventures.html

08/22/2026

08/20/2026

Take a scroll break with the turtles of Spring Lake! Let us know how many you can count in the comments!

🔎 HINT: They may be hiding in the vegetation…