Sixty-Plus Attend Spanish Water, Anglo Water Event

In 1718, the Spanish developed one of the earliest and most extensive municipal water systems in North America ─ in Texas.

In Spanish Water, Anglo Water: Early Development in San Antonio, Charles Porter chronicles the origins and often-contentious development of water rights in San Antonio.

Here, Porter talks about the recent launch for his book, held at Mozart's Coffee Shop in Austin and sponsored by State Rep. Mark Strama (D-Austin), Texas State Library and Archives Commissioner Martha Doty Freeman, and Publisher Emeritus of the Texas Observer Charlotte McCann. More than 60 people were in attendance:

"Mozart’s Coffee Shop, on the shores of Lake Austin, was the ideal setting for a book about water and the weather was wonderful.

"It was a fitting setting for a book in which George W. Brackenridge plays a major part during the time he owned the first municipal water company in San Antonio, The San Antonio Waterworks Company. Why? Mozart’s sits atop land once owned by Brackenridge which he donated to the University of Texas at the beginning of the 20th century.

Porter (center) talks to Dr. Patrick Cox of the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History (left) and Kirk Holland, general manager of the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District (right).

"I gave a brief talk about the significance of the book, a history of the earliest development of water rights in Texas which evolved from Spanish Colonial Texas on the San Antonio River. I discussed the evolution of water in San Antonio from Spanish water to Anglo water under Spain, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, and the State of Texas covering the time period from 1718 to 1902."

Among the dignitaries in attendance were Kirk Holland, general manager of the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District, Dr. Patrick Cox of the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, Peggy Rudd, director and librarian of the Texas State Library and Archives, Bill Black, legal counsel to Texas Railroad Commissioner Elizabeth A. Jones, David Foster, executive director of the Austin Board of Realtors, Mark Lehmann, government affairs director of the Texas Association of Realtors, Mike Ward of the Austin-American Statesman and Pioneer Farms, Chris Tomlinson, Managing Editor of the Texas Observer, and Author Lou Dubose.

The beautiful sunset over Lake Austin.