Environment
Monday, March 9, 2020 by Jessi Devenyns
Environment
Environmental Commission recommends city develop holistic resilience plan
In many respects, Austin city officials are striving to create an environmentally sustainable city. However, according to the Environmental Commission, the city is not as resilient as it needs to be.“Right now, we don’t have a resilience plan,” Commissioner Katie…
Friday, March 6, 2020 by Ryan Thornton
Environment
Watershed Protection to begin multiyear study of trash in waterways
With trash and contaminants like dockless scooters rapidly accumulating in city creeks and rivers, Watershed Protection is kicking off a two-year, three-part study to better understand the impact of litter on city waterways.The study begins this month with a background…
Friday, March 6, 2020 by Andrew Weber
Environment
White-nose syndrome has been found in Texas. Here’s what that means.
Texas’ first case of white-nose syndrome in bats has been confirmed.The fungus that causes the disease was first detected in Texas bats in 2017, but the disease itself, which has killed millions of bats on the East Coast, hadn’t been…
Monday, February 24, 2020 by Ryan Thornton
Environment
Land use code to protect transit-oriented trees and increase canopy cover
A recent amendment to the draft Land Development Code could change how heritage tree preservation impacts new development on corridors.Council Member Paige Ellis offered a concept last week, the Supplemental Heritage Tree Preservation Program, that she said would help keep…
Friday, January 24, 2020 by Jo Clifton
Environment
Just figuring out how to clean up creeks may be costly
When Council Member Paige Ellis and three of her colleagues decided to do something about contamination of Austin’s creeks and rivers from trash as well as scooters, they focused on how the Watershed Protection Department should prepare an extensive study…
Thursday, January 23, 2020 by Jessi Devenyns
Environment
Monetizing the carbon cycle may lead to ecological solutions
In the very near future, there is a possibility that Texas landowners will be able to reduce carbon emissions while earning money on their unused land.Jim Blackburn, a professor at Rice University and the president of the Trinity-Edwards Springs Protection…
