Austin Water Center for Environmental Research at Hornsby Bend

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Austin Water Center for Environmental Research at Hornsby Bend We are an City of Austin urban ecology research center focused on Community, Ecology, Research

The AWU Center for Environmental Research at the Hornsby Bend Biosolids Management Plant is a partnership formed in 1989 with the University of Texas and Texas A&M University to support urban ecology and sustainability studies for Austin. Numerous Texas universities along with federal and state agencies work through the CER to utilize the Hornsby Bend site for education and research. The CER auditorium and classrooms are used by a wide range of academic institutions, government agencies, and non-profit organizations for workshops, classes, and meetings. Hornsby Bend is nationally known as a research site for sewage, soil ecology, biodiversity, riparian ecology, and more.The biodiversity is present both because the sewage treatment plant is managed to encourage wildlife and because of the diversity of habitats at the 1200 acre site stretching along 3.5 miles of the Colorado River. One measure of this biodiversity is that Hornsby Bend is one of the best birding sites in Texas – harboring over 370 species of birds and an abundance of other wildlife which is monitored through the CER’s citizen science programs and university researchers. Hornsby Bend is, also, a destination on the TPWD Central Texas ecotourism trail.

Our first truly autumnal morning 49F and a spectacular sunrise for the October Hornsby Bend Birding Field Trip (and Trav...
10/17/2026

Our first truly autumnal morning 49F and a spectacular sunrise for the October Hornsby Bend Birding Field Trip (and Travis Audubon Society Beginning Birder class in the parking lot)! A great day for birding with loads of migratory birds arriving. Grab your bins and get out here!

10/16/2026

Migration Alert: Over 443 million birds are forecast to fly across the East Coast and eastern Midwest tonight. To help birds make their journey safely, turn off all off all nonessential lights from 11 PM to 6 AM to keep them from becoming disoriented. Make windows safer with bird-friendly treatments to prevent collisions. More than a billion birds die in glass collisions every year. Learn more about migration and sign-up to get alerts: https://birdcast.org/migration-tools/

10/15/2026

Learn more about upcoming elections and important resources for voters, including how to register to vote, how to learn about candidates, where to vote, and important election dates.

10/15/2026
10/15/2026

🔥 Reminder: Travis County is still under a burn ban! Even a small spark can grow into a devastating wildfire.

❌ No brush or trash burning
🚘 Do not park on dry grass
🔗 Secure trailer chains
🍔 Use caution with grills and outdoor equipment

Every action counts: https://www.traviscountytx.gov/fire-marshal/burn-ban

10/15/2026
10/15/2026

Burn Ban Reminder: The Travis County burn ban remains in effect.

Please continue to follow all burn ban restrictions and avoid outdoor burning.

10/15/2026

🔥💨 HIGH WINDS = NO BURNING.

Although Hays County is not currently under a burn ban, strong winds forecast from Friday, October 16, into Saturday, October 17, mean all controlled outdoor burning is prohibited during this period.

The Hays County Fire Marshal’s Office reminds residents that state outdoor burning rules are always in effect and enforceable, regardless of whether a county burn ban is in place.

Under Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Outdoor Burning Rules, 30 TAC § 111.219(6)(B), you may not start a controlled burn when surface wind speeds are predicted to exceed 23 mph during the burn period. Violations of outdoor burning rules may result in misdemeanor criminal charges under Texas law.

Strong winds can turn a controlled burn into an uncontrolled fire in moments, threatening homes, property and lives.

No burn ban doesn’t mean burning is always allowed. When the winds are high, don’t light the fire.

Following outdoor burning rules helps protect our community, our neighbors and the firefighters who respond when fires spread.

The Hornsby Bend paper is getting attention
10/13/2026

The Hornsby Bend paper is getting attention

Nitrogen regulates primary productivity across much of the biosphere, yet fixed nitrogen loss remains poorly constrained because existing methods rely on indirect proxies or ex situ experiments. In this study, we show that natural abundances of the rare ...

Address

2210 S FM 973
Austin, TX
78725

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm
Saturday 8am - 5pm

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(512) 972-1960

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