LCRA, PEC award $25,000 grant to Great Springs Project for new trail, trailhead
New trailhead will expand access to regional trail system and support ongoing conservation of Presa Grande tract
June 13, 2025
LCRA and Pedernales Electric Cooperative representatives present a $25,000 grant to the Great Springs Project for a new trail and trailhead on the Presa Grande tract. The grant is part of LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program. Pictured, from left to right, are: Carmen Whitten, GSP community engagement coordinator; Elizabeth Ehlers, LCRA Regional Affairs representative; Celeste Mikeska, PEC community relations manager; Phil Wilson, LCRA general manager; Margaret D. “Meg” Voelter, LCRA Board member; Diana Gonzales, PEC external relations representative; Garry Merritt, GSP chief executive officer; Emma Lindrose-Siegel, GSP chief development officer; and Madison Lozano, GSP grants manager.
SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Great Springs Project soon will construct a 3-mile public trail and trailhead on the Presa Grande tract northwest of San Marcos Springs, thanks to a $25,000 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and Pedernales Electric Cooperative.
The Community Development Partnership Program grant, along with $585,000 in matching funds from the Great Springs Project, will enable the organization to develop a new access point to the growing Great Springs trail, a planned 100-plus-mile corridor from the Alamo to the state Capitol in Austin. The trail segment will be part of a 17-mile trail around San Marcos that will provide increased opportunities for recreation.
“Access to green space plays a vital role in the physical and mental well-being of residents in a community,” said Emma Lindrose-Siegel, chief development officer of Great Springs Project. “The trail will improve the overall quality of life for local residents and visitors by encouraging more walking, biking and time spent outdoors. Increased physical activity can lead to better health outcomes, all while connecting people to the land and springs that make this part of Texas so unique.”
In addition to promoting wellness, the new trailhead supports the long-term conservation efforts of the Presa Grande tract.
“The trail and surrounding greenway will protect water quality, improve air conditions, reduce the risk of flash flooding and preserve habitat for threatened and endangered species,” Lindrose-Siegel said. “This grant allows us to continue preserving the natural beauty that defines this state and connects the trail. Our plan is to complete the project by the Texas Bicentennial in 2036, a meaningful milestone that encourages all Texans to rediscover the land that has shaped our past and will guide our future.”
LCRA General Manager Phil Wilson said the project is a significant effort that will help conserve land as well as protect water quality as it provides a unique outdoor recreation area.
“This trail will connect San Antonio to Austin in a way that’s never been done before,” he said. “LCRA is proud to support the Great Springs Project, which will provide health and economic benefits to the area in addition to helping to protect land and water quality.”
Great Springs Project leaders estimate the project could generate $55.9 million in annual benefits to the region, including more than $23 million a year in estimated spending from non-local visitors to the trail on goods, services and lodging.
The community grant is one of 45 grants awarded recently through LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program, which helps volunteer fire departments, local governments, emergency responders and nonprofit organizations fund eligible capital improvement projects in LCRA’s wholesale electric, water and transmission service areas. The program is part of LCRA’s effort to give back to the communities it serves. Pedernales Electric Cooperative is one of LCRA’s wholesale electric customers and is a partner in the grant program.
About LCRA
The Lower Colorado River Authority serves customers and communities throughout Texas by managing the lower Colorado River; generating and transmitting electric power; providing a clean, reliable water supply; and offering outdoor adventures at more than 40 parks along the Colorado River from the Texas Hill Country to the Gulf Coast. LCRA and its employees are committed to fulfilling our mission to enhance the quality of life of the Texans we serve through water stewardship, energy and community service. LCRA was created by the Texas Legislature in 1934 and receives no state appropriations.
About PEC
Founded in 1938 by then-Congressman Lyndon B. Johnson, Pedernales Electric Cooperative Inc. is a member-owned electric cooperative serving more than 425,000 meters across the Texas Hill Country. An industry-recognized leader providing outstanding member service and reliable electricity, PEC conducts its business via a transparent and democratic process and encourages member participation.
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