Highland Lakes Chapter

Water Conservation Practices and Programs-May 16

Jacey Stewart, a Water Conservation Coordinator II with LCRA, is the speaker for the Highland Lakes Native Plant Society of Texas’ Chapter Meeting on Saturday, 16 May from 1:00-3:00 pm at the Marble Falls Library, 101 Main Street.

Jacey Stewart is a Water Conservation Coordinator II with five years of experience in water conservation. She serves as a liaison between LCRA and local customers throughout Central Texas, helping promote water-efficient practices and advancing participation in the WaterSmart incentive programs. 

Jacey supports LCRA’s domestic water use team by assisting in lake patrols to help protect and manage water on the Highland Lakes. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Geography Natural Resources and Environmental Studies from Texas State University.

Outside of work, Jacey enjoys spending time on the water and taking advantage of Austin’s live music scene.

Jacey’s presentation, “Water Conservation Practices and Programs” will cover:

  • LCRAs water management
  • What we can do indoors/outdoors to conserve water
  • Conservation landscaping
  • How to offset the cost of water conservation practices.

This presentation will count as one hour of Advanced Training credit for Master Gardeners, and one hour of Advanced Training credit for Master Naturalists.

Chapter business occurs during the first 30 minutes of the meeting, followed by Jacey’s demonstration. 

Upcoming Highland Lakes-NPSOT Chapter Meetings:

July: No meeting. Enjoy your summer!

19 September: Travis Rhames, Drainage Operations Manager, Marble Falls Parks and Recreation Department, will discuss the importance of using native Texas plants in the built environment.

21 November: Alex McClellan, Ph.D., Seed Bank Coordinator, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, will discuss how the Wildflower Center collects and stores seed from keystone species in Texas for use by research scientists, conservationists, and long-term storage.

About the Region

2026 Fall Symposium Logo

This low-elevations region of Texas extends inland from the barrier islands, about 60 or so miles, and stretches from Brownsville to Louisiana. In total, it covers about 9.5 million acres, with a high point of 150 feet in elevation. More than 1000 species of plants can be found in this region. On the southern end, species more common in Mexico (such as Sabal mexicana) and Central America occur.

The barrier islands provide us with dune systems, and clay flats to the inland side, which have species found in these areas alone. Many plants here, such as Ipomoea pes-caprae (beach morning glory), can be found throughout tropical regions of the globe. I’ve encountered the same species on the beaches of Guam.

Once inland, vast marshes and wet prairies occur. Occasionally, oak (Quercus fusiformis) groves can be found. Common grasses include species of Bothriochloa, Paspalum, and Sporobolus; eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides); and switchgrass (Panicum species). Many rivers and creeks cut through the Gulf Prairies, and along these riparian areas various species of trees, Sabal minor, and other plants adapted to clay soils can be found. Due to overgrazing, farming, and fire suppression, woody species such as mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and huisache (Acacia farnesiana), and invasive species such as chinaberry (Melia azedarach), Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), and Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum) have increased and displaced our native flora.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason