When a University such as Texas State teams up with the surrounding community to protect and serve the environment, they do so with fervor and drive. Such a partnership introduces children to the benefits of an advanced education, caring for the land, the importance of conservation and the impact on the planet that our footprint leaves behind. The results can have positive effects for generations to come.

The Texas Rivers Center is a partnership between the River Systems Institute located at Texas State University, along with branches of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and the National Park Service. Their educational and research facility located on the grounds of the Aquarena Center at Texas State celebrated a grand reopening in April 2007 to mark the completion of more than $3 million in renovations.

“This unprecedented partnership…has resulted in a kind of rivers incubator, with scholars, researchers and biologists from Texas Parks and Wildlife, the National Park Service and the university all working together in the same building,” says Texas State University President Denise M. Trauth. “The partnership is evolving toward permanent protection for one of the largest springs in the United States and a state-of-the-art environmental education program for rivers and springs.”

The River Systems Institute at Texas State University-San Marco overlooks San Marcos Springs and Spring Lake, which are the waters that begin the San Marcos River. The river winds its way through the beautiful campus of Texas State University. Programs to educate the public and school children k-12, are available at the facility. Glass Bottom Boat Tours show visitors the underwater environment of nearly 200 artesian springs, live aquatic plants in full bloom, turtles and fish, all without disturbing the balance of the eco-system of Spring Lake. Keeping that balance and preserving the delicate nature of the environment is critical to the survival of the endangered species that are nurtured and protected within the watershed of the San Marcos Springs and Spring Lake junction.

With their service to the community, the ecology and the drive to continuously educate the public at large about the river; Texas State University lives up to its mission of remaining, “dedicated to excellence in serving the educational needs of the diverse population of Texas and the world beyond.”

Resource Box: The Texas State Parents Association offers some great discounts on products and services for members of the organization. For more information, visit their Auto and Home Services page, or their