Lily Lucas - Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District

Precinct 3 Director
Term: 2012 -2022

Director Profile

Lily Lucas – Originally from Northeast Texas, Ms. Lucas moved to Central Texas after graduating from Texas A&M University and currently resides in Buda. She began volunteering by running water quality tests with the San Marcos River Rangers after completing the Texas Stream Team’s Water Quality Training program. Ms. Lucas says she understands how important it is to have consistent and long-term data about the springs and aquifers that we rely on as a community so we can make important decisions about the future of our water resources.

“Serving on the board allows me to be an active steward to the aquifers and springs that supply our rapidly growing communities,” said Ms. Lucas. “My goal is to maintain our aquifers’ water quality and availability. We will achieve this by taking data-driven approaches and educating the residents within the District on the importance of their water source.”

What brought you into the environmental and groundwater resources management world?

I was introduced to the BSEACD through my volunteer work with the San Marcos River Rangers. I have lived in the Austin/Buda area for about 5 years and wanted to find a way to give back to the Springs and Aquifers that provide us so much. I found the San Marcos River Rangers and began volunteering by running water quality tests after completing the Texas Stream Team’s Water Quality Training program. I found out that the BSEACD had a vacancy in my Precinct and but my name in the ring. I look forward to representing the residents and well owners in Precinct 3.

What would you like to see the District accomplish in the next 5 to 10 years?

I would like to see the District continue with community outreach to educate all residents within the district about where our water comes from and ways to decrease pollution from fertilizers, chemicals and household hazardous materials as well as increase awareness of droughts and limitations of our resource and how we should utilizing our water affectively to ensure it’s viability.

What do you see as the biggest challenge for the District?

Our largest challenge is educating the residents within the District where their water comes from and the limitations of this resource. Drought periods are trending longer through the years and we as a community will need everyone’s help and attention in using our resource wisely.

How do you and your family conserve water?

We use drip irrigation instead of sprinklers on a smart timer which allows for weather patterns, we hand water our yard only as needed. We have low flow faucets, shower heads, and toilets.

We hope in the next year to update our landscaping entirely to eliminate our grass altogether and use only native/drought tolerant plants.

What would people be surprised to learn about you?

I love to cook and bake breads. Cooking dinner is my time to relax after a long day’s work. I started baking breads, like most of the population, during the start of the pandemic and just never stopped. To date, I have sent off at least 30 portions of my sourdough starter to friends and family to try their hand at it! If I could live on bread and butter alone…I would!