By the time winter hits San Marcos, the river looks calm. The tubes are gone. The crowds thin out. The water moves quietly through the city. But for volunteers and river workers, this is when the real damage becomes easier to spot.
Trash that went unnoticed during busy months collects along the banks. Plastic bottles get caught in roots. Food wrappers settle into plant beds. The cold weather doesn’t stop the problems, it just makes them easier to see.
Winter creates a different view of the river. With fewer people on the water, the effects of litter and changing water levels become more visible. This is also when volunteers and local workers do much of the behind-the-scenes work that helps prepare the river for the next busy season.
Volunteers clean up when tourism slows down
Jordan Hennette has volunteered with local cleanup efforts through the San Marcos River Foundation while attending Texas State. She said winter makes the leftover damage more visible.
“I’ve been able to help out a lot with volunteer activities through the San Marcos River Foundation while at Texas State,” Hennette said. “We were at the river for about 3 hours, and we ended the day with well over 20 plus bags of trash that was found around the river, which is sad to see, but it’s amazing to know there are people in the area who want to help out.”
She said the organization’s dedication stands out during colder months, when fewer structured cleanups are happening.
“The entire organization, they just love what they do, they care a lot about protecting the river especially the endangered species that reside in the river,” she said.
Her experience shows how volunteer groups fill the gap when professional crews are less active and visitors are gone.
River businesses see the aftermath in winter
While the busy season focuses on customers, winter shows business workers the long-lasting effects of tourism.
Timothy Field, who works with Texas State Tubes, said the offseason reveals trash that visitors leave behind.
“Tourists come to float the river in the busy season and they don’t think about their impact it will leave during the colder months,” Field said. “We have employees that will ride kayaks down the river to try and pick up trash, but sometimes they miss things and once we close for the season, the trash stays.”
He said the winter season puts more responsibility on volunteers and community groups.
“It’s important that we have people that volunteer to help clean during the slower season because Texas State Tubes is closed until warmer weather,” Field said.
His comments reflect the business side of the issue, where cleanup efforts slow down when companies are no longer operating.
Environmental staff warn winter doesn’t mean recovery
Even without crowds, the river still faces environmental stress. Mark Enders, the Habitat Conservation Plan manager, said drought conditions make winter especially difficult.
“We’re in a drought cycle we’ve been in for a long time now,” Enders said. “It’s one of the lowest flows in the past 60 or 70 years, and we’re going to need above average rainfall for a long time to replenish the aquifer.”
He said lower flows make it harder for native plants and animals to survive.
Enders said the rise in visitors over recent years has added pressure to the river.
“More and more people are showing up,” he said. “Volunteers are huge. We rely so much on people to come out into the watershed and help with litter removal and habitat restoration work.”
He also said long-term conservation work is continuing.
“We’re renewing our permit for another 30 years, from 2028 to 2058,” Enders said.
Why winter matters for the river
Winter is not just a quiet break for the river. It’s when the leftover impacts of tourism become the most visible. Fewer people in the water doesn’t mean less work to do.
Key winter challenges include:
- Trash left behind from the warmer months
- Lower water levels due to drought
- Damage to plant beds and wildlife habitats
- Fewer organized cleanups
Without volunteer support, much of this trash would stay in the river until the next busy season pushes it further downstream.
You can learn more about conservation work through the San Marcos Habitat Conservation Plan at:
https://www.sanmarcostx.gov/hcp
A quiet river still needs protection
The San Marcos River may look peaceful in December, but the work to protect it doesn’t stop. Volunteers, seasonal workers, and environmental staff all describe winter as one of the most important times of the year.
The damage is quieter. The river is calmer. But the responsibility remains.
