I had a conversation with a group of folks recently about the comfort we feel in enjoying our local lakes, rivers, streams and creeks once again. It’s as if an old friend we missed for years has come back to town, and you rekindle that closeness like he or she never left.

If you have lived here only a few years, you may just now have the opportunity to explore the natural waterways of Central Texas, as the lack of normal precipitation and drought plagued the region for years. We’re also seeing that legislators and water conservation groups are busy during the 2017 legislative session discussing water-planning bills and groundwater conservation regulations.

Preventing large commercial users from drawing large amounts of the valuable groundwater from southwest Travis County aquifers is the driving force behind state Rep. Paul Workman, R-Austin, filing of HB 922 in January. This topic becomes more critical for discussion as continued development on West Hwy. 71 and Hamilton Pool Road will affect water use and availability in the coming years. You can learn more from reporter Nicholas Cicale’s front page story in this issue.

But while it’s here, get out and enjoy our beautiful, natural surface waters.