San Marcos River Foundation
About San Marcos River Foundation
If you care about the San Marcos River, this is the group doing the unglamorous, essential work of keeping watch. Volunteers monitor water quality, remove invasive species, clean up the river and watershed, and help protect the land and springs that keep the system healthy. The result is a local organization with a very practical focus, protecting the river’s flow, water quality, and habitat with hands-on work and public advocacy.
San Marcos River Foundation stands out for how much of its work is powered by trained volunteers, especially through River Rangers and Texas Stream Team monitoring. That monitoring has been going on for more than 28 years, making it one of the oldest and largest groups of its kind in Texas. It also brings together river restoration, land conservation, and policy advocacy with a clear focus on the San Marcos Springs and river.
Programs
The concrete work this nonprofit runs. Each program may later become a fundable project.
Water Quality Monitoring
Texas Stream Team trained volunteers collect monthly scientific data and observations at 30+ sites along the San Marcos and Blanco rivers.
Invasive Species Removal
Volunteers remove invasive species such as water hyacinth, restore riverbanks, and replant native species.
EastSide Preserve Workdays
Volunteers help restore a 30-acre riverside property by stabilizing eroding banks, replanting native trees and shrubs, and cleaning up trash and flood debris.
Aquifer and Land Education
Education and land-conservation work focused on protecting the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone, springs, and river flow.
Wastewater Treatment Standards
Advocacy and permit review work focused on higher wastewater discharge standards and cleaner effluent for the river ecosystem.
Parks & Greenspaces
Planning and conservation work for parklands, conservation easements, buffer zones, and trail connections around the springs.
River Cleanups
Community cleanups along the river and watershed to remove litter and support river stewardship.
About this work
In their own words — what they do, who it reaches, and what your dollars actually fund.
Mission
Protect and preserve the San Marcos River through water and land conservation, advocacy, and community engagement.
Who they serve
Residents, volunteers, students, landowners, and other community members involved in protecting the San Marcos River and watershed.
Their impact
- The River Rangers have collected and tested water quality samples along the San Marcos and Blanco rivers for 28+ years.
- More than 50 monitors go out monthly to collect samples.
- In 2024, SMRF conducted about 40% of Texas Stream Team's 67 trainings.
- In 2024, SMRF trained about 50% of the 571 Community Scientists trained by Texas Stream Team.
- In 2024, SMRF did about 20% of Texas Stream Team's 2,042 monitoring events.
- In 2024, SMRF's local River Ranger volunteers conducted about 400 monitoring events.
- In 2024, 285 volunteers passed through SMRF's training programs to become water quality monitors.
How your donation helps
- Water quality monitoring and River Ranger training
- Invasive species removal and native replanting
- River cleanups and habitat restoration
- Land conservation and conservation easements
- Public education, newsletters, and community outreach
- Advocacy on wastewater and water rights issues
Our story
San Marcos River Foundation was formed in 1985 to keep the San Marcos Springs flowing, improve water quality, and protect the river’s natural beauty through parks and habitat restoration. It started with annual river cleanups, then grew into advocacy, research, education, water rights work, watershed planning, and volunteer monitoring.
In their words
I would go back to Virginia and tell my friends about this amazing river in Texas, where you could see all the way to the bottom and observe thrillingly exotic plants and animals.
Events
SMRF Riverside Social
annualAnnual fundraiser featuring live music, food and drinks, and a silent auction in support of river protection work.
Annual Member's Meeting
annualMember meeting tied to active SMRF membership.
Board Meetings
monthlyBoard meetings held once a month.
Ways to help
Concrete needs and volunteer roles San Marcos River Foundation has shared.
Current needs
- Volunteers for water quality monitoring
- Volunteers for invasive species removal
- Volunteers for EastSide Preserve workdays
- Sponsors for yearly events
Volunteer opportunities
- Collect monthly scientific data and observations as a River Ranger
- Join invasive species removal workdays and help remove water hyacinth and other invasive plants
- Help restore the EastSide Preserve by stabilizing banks, replanting native trees and shrubs, and cleaning up debris
- Attend Texas Stream Team training sessions to become a certified monitor
Partners & funders
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this nonprofit and how its work happens.
How does someone become a River Ranger volunteer?
You sign up for a training session, attend the training, complete the training phases, and then receive a monitoring-level certificate from Texas Stream Team.
What does the River Ranger program do?
River Rangers are Texas Stream Team trained volunteers who collect monthly scientific data and observations at sites along the San Marcos and Blanco rivers.
What kinds of invasive species volunteer work are available?
Volunteers help remove invasive species from riverbanks and waterways, plant native species, and assist with monthly water hyacinth removals when available.
Similar nonprofits
Other water resources, wetlands conservation & management nonprofits in TX.