Events
Spring Symposium
The State of Water in Texas
Presented by the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and Native Plant Society of Texas (NPSOT). The 11th annual Spring Symposium will focus on a critical concern for all of us – water conservation challenges and landscape use. The current and forecast weather conditions in Texas are dire – high temperature and low precipitation records are being made across the state, surface reservoirs and aquifer levels are reaching critically low levels, and with a return and forecasted strengthening of the La Niña climate phenomenon, the Texas drought is expected to persist through at least the summer of 2012. Come learn what you can do to prepare for water shortages now and in the future.
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To view program and registration (pdf) Read Abstracts and Speaker Bios (pdf) Saturday, February 25, 2012 (Morning Session) |
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| 8 - 9 a.m. | Registration | |
| 9 - 9:10 | Welcome | |
| 9:10 - 10 |
Keynote Speaker: Global Water Challenges |
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10 - 10:15 |
BREAK |
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| 10:15 - 10:45 | Water for Texas: Principal Challenge of the Coming Generation Dr. Andy Sansom, Executive Director River Systems Institute, Texas State University-San Marcos |
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| 10:45 - 11:15 | Through the Riparian Zone: Texas Riparian Ecology and Ecosystem Functionality Kevin Anderson, Ph.D. Austin Water Utility - Center for Environmental Research (CER) |
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| 11:15 - Noon | Exotic Aquatic and Wetland Plants: Alien Invaders in Texas Waters Robert G. Howells, BioStudies, TPWD, retired |
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| 12 - 12:45 |
LUNCH |
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Saturday, February 25, 2012 (Afternoon Session)Workshops will be filled on a first come first served basis. |
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| 12:45 – 2:45 p.m. | Session 1 (concurrent workshops – select one): Using Naturalistic Water Features and Native Plants in the Landscape Kevin Wood & Sheryl McLaughlin, Kevin Wood Landscapes Rainwater Harvesting for Landscape Irrigation Dick Peterson, City of Austin, retired |
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| 3 - 5 p.m. | Session 2 (concurrent workshops select one): | |
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Create a Rain Garden |
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| Recognizing Common Texas Aquatic and Wetland Plants: A Plant Identification Workshop Joe R. Snow, MS Environmental Science, University of North Texas |
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Sunday, February 26 (Morning Field Trips) |
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| 9 a.m. - Noon | Yegua Knobs Preserve, Bastrop Field Trip Leader: Jason Singhurst, TPWD Birding Hornsby Bend, Austin Field Trip Leader: Dr. Kevin Anderson, City of Austin Wildflower Center Water Features, Austin Field Trip Leader: Dick Peterson, City of Austin, retired Domestic Rainwater Harvesting System, Dripping Springs Field Trip Leader: Keenan Smith, Architect |
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SYMPOSIUM LOCATION
The 2012 Native Plant Spring Symposium will be held at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, 4801 La Crosse Ave, Austin, Texas, 78739. This special place exists to introduce people to the beauty and diversity of wildflowers and other native plants. The Center's gardens display the native plants of the Central Texas Hill Country. Our 16 unique gardens are designed to inspire, educate and demonstrate the beauty of native plants. More than four miles of trails illustrate the inspiring beauty of the Texas Hill Country as it might have been hundreds of years ago.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Many options for lodging are available in Austin. We recommend you try making reservations at the following two hotels as they are closest to the Wildflower Center.
| Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites Austin-Sunset Valley 4892 Highway 290 West Austin, Texas 78735 512.891.9500 Rates: $129 - $139 |
La Quinta Inn and Suites Southwest Mopac, Austin 4424 Southwest Mopac Expressway Austin, Texas 78735 512.899.3000 Rates: $99-$129 |
Inquire about the state or government rate when you register.
For more accommodation options in and around Austin, go to the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau Chamber of Commerce website or call 512.474.5171.
MEALS
Morning snacks will be provided for participants during morning registration. An afternoon boxed lunch is provided as part of advanced registration.
For those of you that will be staying for a weekend getaway, there are a number of fine restaurants located in Austin. For a complete local restaurant listing, browse online at the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau website, or The Austin Restaurant Guide.
These are a few of our favorite restaurants:
| Baby Acapulco Restaurant y Cantina 1628 Barton Springs Rd. Phone: 512.474.8774 |
Catfish Parlour 4705 E. Ben White (one mile East of IH35) Phone: 512.443.1698 |
| Matt's El Rancho Mexican Restaurant 2613 South Lamar Boulevard Phone: 512.462.9333 |
Brick Oven Brodie & Slaughter Phone: 512.292.3939 |
| Evangeline Café 8106 Brodie Lane Austin, TX 78745 Phone: 512.282.2586 |
Salt Lick Barbecue Restaurant 18001 FM 1826 Driftwood, Texas 78619 Phone: 512.858.4959 |
Registration
Advanced symposium registration must be made by Friday, February 10, 2012. Advanced registration of $60 will include 1 box lunch per registrant. Please inform the registrar if you prefer vegetarian box lunch.
Those participants wishing to attend workshops must register for each session. Registration for workshops is $10 per session. Workshops will be filled on a first come, first served basis. YOU MUST PRE-REGISTER FOR WORKSHOPS. No workshop registrations will be accepted after February 10.
Registration after February 10 will be $75. Walk-in registration will begin Saturday morning, February 25 at 8:00 a.m. The walk-in registration fee is $75 and will not include a box lunch or afternoon workshop sessions.
Register by mail, FAX or online. Make checks payable to: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Mail payment and registration forms to:
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
4801 La Crosse Avenue
Austin, Texas 78739
ATTN: 2012 Spring Symposium, Registrar
