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August 2025
Building a more sustainable, resilient and equitable Waco.
I would imagine everyone reading this is aware of the tragic flash flooding that occurred last month not far from us here in Waco. What you might not be aware of is that the City of Waco has some resources to help our community be better aware of potential flooding risks. There is a Floodplain Viewer you can use to identify if your property is now located in the updated 100-yr floodplains. You can also find some useful flooding information by clicking on "Creek Flooding" on this Watershed Engineering page.
Katharine Hayhoe is a climate scientist at Texas Tech who wrote this interesting article about the impact climate change is having on the increasing amount of severe flooding events (as well as heatwaves, hurricanes, and wildfires). Recently, there have been 1-in-1000 year floods in Texas, New Mexico, Illinois and North Carolina. The City of Waco has developed some critical emergency resources to help prepare our community for the escalating impact of climate change. If you haven't, be sure to Register for Emergency Notifications here.
Stay safe out there,
Eric Coffman
Sustainability Programs Manager
ericc@wacotx.gov
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Green Communities Conference
 Be sure to register for a tour before they sell out. Kayak Tour, Behind-The-Scenes at the Zoo Tour, Waco Industrial Alliance Tour, and many others. Tour add on tickets are only $10. The Tours will be on the first day (September 17) this year and the keynote will kick off day two (September 18) at the Waco Convention Center.
Solar For All Workshop August 28
The next Solar For All Workshop will be Thursday, August 28, at 5:30pm at the South Waco Community Center. Come find out about this new grant program and see if you might qualify for a free solar installation on your house. Please RSVP HERE so we know you are coming.
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Water Conservation Reminder
 Waco residents are limited to watering their lawns only 3-days per week (both businesses and residential). The allowed days are by address:
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Odd numbered addresses water Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday
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Even numbered addresses water Monday, Wednesday and Saturday
- No outdoor watering on Fridays
- No outdoor watering between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.
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Report violations with the MyWaco app. Create a request (anonymously or not) and choose "Report a Possible Water Restriction Violation"
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Cedar Ridge Neighborhood Association Garden
 Cedar Ridge Neighborhood Association was awarded a 2025 City of Waco Neighborhood Grant to create a Community Garden in their Neighborhood. Cedar Ridge recently held a Green Garden Gathering at the garden where neighbors were able to see the progress in their hard work. Plants are thriving and harvests are underway! Neighbors have been able to pick okra, tomatoes, green beans, cucumbers, cantaloupe, squash, and zucchini. The herb garden also contains dill, oregano, and basil that are ready for use. Encourage your Neighborhood Association to apply for a grant to start a garden.
Apply for a Board, Commission, or Committee
 Are you passionate about making a difference in your community? The City of Waco is now accepting applications for volunteers to serve on a variety of boards, commissions, and committees. Joining is a meaningful way to:
- Help guide city planning and decision-making
- Share your expertise and perspective
- Connect with other engaged residents
- Contribute to the future of Waco
We're looking for residents of all backgrounds, professions, and experience levels to serve on boards ranging from historic preservation, parks & recreation, aviation, and especially the Sustainable Resource Practices Advisory Board!
Grow as a Leader with Waco Youth Council
 Do you have a high school student passionate about your community? Apply today for the Waco Youth Council! The City of Waco is seeking dedicated, enthusiastic, and motivated teens to join the 2025-26 Waco Youth Council. This is more than a student program — it’s a chance to impact your community, build leadership skills, and represent your peers as ambassadors for the City. And they also partner with the Office of Sustainability on our Earth Day event called the Care for Waco Carnival!
Applications are due by Friday, Aug. 29. For questions, email WacoYouthCouncil@wacotx.gov.
BFF Mondays at Cameron Park Zoo
 Every week, enjoy BFF Mondays at Cameron Park Zoo!
BFF stands for "Bring Friends and Family" – if a guest purchases one full admission ticket, they will receive a 50% discount for two additional guests! The discount is for tickets bought at the gate only, and guests must enter the Zoo at the same time.
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Waco Downtown Farmers Market
SATURDAY MORNINGS, 9am-Noon, 200 E. Bridge St.
The Saturday Waco Downtown Farmers Market is now located at 200 E. Bridge Street. They are also on summer hours with the market ending at noon instead of 1pm. The Wednesday evening market is on hiatus for the summer but will start up again September 3.
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AUGUST 9: SHOP THE SUMMER GIVEAWAY! National Farmers Market Week! Free Photo Booth from Photos by Kale. Music: Zachary Hill Duo. Master Gardeners.
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AUGUST 16: Music: Eric & Thomas. Waco Mammoth Site.
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AUGUST 23: Music: Stephany Chavira Band. Caritas. Junior League of Waco.
Discovery Activity: Scavenger Hunt
AUGUST 7-9, During open hours at Urban REAP, 1509 N 15th St.
For this month we are bringing back our Scavenger Hunt! Come find clues that lead you through Urban REAP’s top hits. Once you get to the end you win a packet of seeds! Our Discovery Activities are free and family-friendly DIY activities available the second week of every month. Supplies are available during our open hours, with staff available to answer questions as needed. Grab a beverage or paleta from one of our neighborhood shops and explore nature with us!
Lunch with the Masters: Spiders of Central Texas
AUGUST 20, Noon-2pm, Emergency Services Education Center,
7601 Steinbeck Bend Dr., Room 105
Sheryl Smith-Rodgers will be speaking to us about the Spiders of Central Texas- the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly! She is a sixth-generation Texan who has written about and photographed a variety of topics. An award-winning writer, she’s been published in numerous state and national newspapers and magazines. She blogs about the native habitat they tend at their home, and so far, Sheryl has documented approximately 1,440 species in their yard using iNaturalist! She is a Texas Master Naturalist and a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Although the subject may be creepy to some, it promises to be both informative and entertaining. It’s one you don’t want to miss. It's FREE to attend. Everyone is welcome. Bring your lunch or snack and learn something new!
Sustainable Resource Practices Advisory Board Meeting
AUGUST 21, 3pm, Fire Station 6 Community Room
The general public is welcome to attend this monthly meeting of the citizen board that makes policy recommendations to the Waco City Council. Consider becoming a member of the board. More information found here.
Solar For All Workshop
AUGUST 28, 5:30pm at South Waco Community Center, 2815 Speight Ave
Join us for a free and informative workshop on how to get rooftop solar for your home! Discover how the new "Solar For All" grant program can help you save money and power your house with clean, renewable energy.
Please REGISTER HERE to let us know you're coming.
Community Workshop: Planning Your Fall Garden
AUGUST 30, 11am-noon at Urban REAP, 1509 N. 15th Street
Attend this workshop to learn from garden guru April Strickland and Urban REAP's Emily Hills how to prepare your fall garden to get the best out of a Texas fall and winter growing season. We will learn about what crops grow best September through March, discuss how to extend your summer crops as long as possible, and share best practices to ensure you have produce all winter long. Please REGISTER HERE for this event.
Waco Friends of the Climate Styrofoam Recycling Drive
SEPTEMBER 6, 9am-1pm, Corner of Valley Mills & Waco Dr.
SAVE THE DATE: Drive-thru Styrofoam recycling by Waco Friends of the Climate. September 6, 2025, 9am-1pm, in the parking lot at the corner of Valley Mills & Waco Drive, near Ocean Buffet. ALL Styrofoam accepted except peanuts. Questions: anorthc@aol.com
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Articles
I'm a Climate Scientist in Texas. Here's What the Floods Tell Us
By Time Magazine
Austin, Texas, tests autonomous transit bus
By Smart Cities Dive
Hundreds of old EV batteries have new jobs in Texas: Stabilizing the power grid
By The Texas Tribune
Books
We Are Eating the Earth: The Race to Fix Our Food System and Save Our Climate
By Michael Grunwald
Podcasts
How to Stop Eating the Earth: Rob and Jesse talk with Michael Grunwald about his new book
By Shift Key from Heatmap News
Send us your suggestions for articles, books, podcasts, or videos, so that we can share them with our community.
Postscript
Centerville, Ohio, rolled out high-tech recycling trucks that will use AI to scan the contents of residents’ bins and flag when items have been improperly sorted. “Reducing contamination in our recycling system lowers processing costs and improves the overall efficiency of our collection,” City Manager Wayne Davis said in a statement about the AI pilot program, per the Dayton Daily News.
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Have Something to Share?
Submit your announcements and ideas to Eric Coffman by SEPTEMBER 1 to be included in next month's newsletter.
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