Center for Environmental Research

Lunchtime Lectures

• Full 2025 Schedule (PDF)
• July 2025 Events (PDF)
• Previous Lectures Archive

Hornsby Bend

The Hornsby Bend Biosolids Management Plant plays a key role in sustaining Austin’s environment by recycling Austin's biosolids and yard trimmings. Hornsby Bend is also nationally known for its biodiversity, ecotourism, and one of the best birding sites in Texas.

• Hornsby Bend Bird Observatory
• Site Map of Hornsby Bend (Updated September 2024)
• Hornsby Bend Tree Removal Plan
• Hornsby Bend Vegetation Management Plan
• Hornsby Bend Stakeholders Public Meeting Update October 2022

Dillo Dirt

The biosolids recycled at Hornsby Bend get mixed with compost and yard trimmings and turned into an EPA-certified soil conditioner called Dillo Dirt™. Dillo Dirt is donated to landscape public places and sold through commercial vendors. Learn more here.

Research Projects

• Biosolids, Compost, and Soil Ecology Research – a program in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service, Grassland Soil and Water Research Laboratory to study the effects of biosolids on soil ecology supported by a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Experimental Exemption for Land Application Permit. The following annual research reports are associated with the exemption are submitted annually to TCEQ.
• Annual Research Report 2009-2010
• Annual Research Report 2008-2009
• Annual Research Report 2007-2008
• Annual Research Report 2006-2007
• Hydrogeology of the Colorado River and the Alluvial Aquifer – studies the alluvial aquifer of the Colorado River at Hornsby Bend in cooperation with the University of Texas Department of Geological Sciences.
• Riparian Ecology and Restoration Research – a program to research and restore the 3.5 miles of riparian habitat and bottomland forest along the Colorado River at the Hornsby Bend site.
• Avian Ecology – a database of over 50,000 bird records from Hornsby Bend dating back to 1959 is constantly updated through the Hornsby Bend Bird Observatory monitoring programs and university researchers.

Partnerships

• The Texas Riparian Association - a statewide organization to promote awareness for protection and restoration of Texas riparian areas hosted by the CER. To learn more, visit their website.
• Austin-Bastrop River Corridor Partnership - a stakeholder partnership of nonprofit organizations, governmental agencies, businesses, and citizens concerned with the future of 90-miles of the Colorado River in Travis and Bastrop County.
• Monthly river monitoring trips [first Saturday of every month]
• Discovering the Colorado - A Vision for the Austin-Bastrop River Corridor
• EcoHouses Partnership - a partnership with local non-profit environmental organizations that have used green remodeling to convert houses on the Hornsby Bend site into their offices
• Treefolks
• Austin Youth River Watch
• Public Safety Training Houses – a partnership with City of Austin and Travis County public safety agencies to use houses at the facility site for training.

Programs

• The Hornsby Bend Bird Observatory - Supports "citizen science" researching and monitoring Central Texas bird populations to promote habitat conservation.
• Monthly Bird Survey (second Saturday of every month, 7a.m.)
• Fieldtrips with Travis Audubon Society (third Saturday of every month, 7:30a.m.)
• Monitoring Workshops and More, www.hornsbybend.org
• Ecological Mentorship Program – offers academic internships in natural resource management, environmental engineering, ecology, and geography to undergraduates.
• Lunchtime Lecture Series – a free monthly public lecture about different aspects of Austin’s ecology.
• Ecological Literacy Days – three hours of outdoor volunteer work and an hour of ecological education on the last Saturday of every month at Hornsby Bend (9 a.m. - 1p.m.)

For more info, please contact the CER Coordinator at 512-972-1960 or via e-mail.