Sections

About Us

 
Make a Donation
Local • Independent • Essential News
 

Environment

Reservations required for a dip in Barton Springs Pool

Folks looking to cool off with a dip in Barton Springs Pool will need a reservation starting May 21. The change is meant to limit the number of people for safety reasons because there are fewer lifeguards. The reservation system, which…

Environmental commissioners review emissions reduction plan

The Environmental Commission fielded discussion Tuesday on the Austin Emissions Reduction Plan. Phoebe Romero, the environmental program coordinator with the Office of Sustainability, presented alongside Christiane Alepuz, the services program coordinator with the Capital Area Council of Governments Regional Planning…

Hotter, stormier, droughtier: What to look for as meteorologists update 'normal' weather for Austin

Lee esta historia en español. When you hear a weatherperson mention Austin’s average high temperature or rainfall next month, the numbers will be different. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is updating what it considers “normal” weather throughout the country.…

Collaborative process yields innovative design for Williamson Creek greenway

The Environmental Commission has recommended conditional support of the Central Williamson Creek Greenway Vision Plan provided that the project reaches out to additional neighborhood associations and working groups and that the trails and improvements avoid areas marked as critical environmental…

Travis County Commissioners field 2020 sustainability report

Tom Gleason, sustainability project manager with Transportation and Natural Resources, presented the 2020 annual sustainability report to the Travis County Commissioners Court on Tuesday. While the report has historically focused on solid waste and TNR’s diversion efforts, it has expanded…

Gas companies seek interim rate hikes

The three companies that supply natural gas to Austin residential and commercial customers are each seeking a rate increase under the Gas Reliability Infrastructure Program, or GRIP. City Council acted on April 8 and again on Thursday to temporarily suspend…

Subscribe to our newsletter

Austin Resource Recovery reworking Zero Waste Master Plan

When City Council unanimously adopted the Austin Resource Recovery Master Plan in 2011, it was a bold step toward making Austin “the most livable city in the country.” At more than 300 pages, the plan laid out a number of environmental…

County launches Civilian Climate Corps to create green jobs

The Commissioners Court approved a resolution Tuesday to create the Travis County Civilian Climate Corps, sharing the goals of a city initiative created last May, the Austin Civilian Conservation Corps, to create green jobs and redress pandemic-era unemployment. Commissioners Anne…

Park rangers continue reworking operations ahead of summer season

In a memo sent to City Council last week, Parks and Recreation Director Kimberly McNeeley provided an update about PARD’s upcoming summer operations, detailing “Covid-19 modified protocols, winter storm recovery challenges and general operational details for the season.” The update…

Environmental Commission recommends removal of two West Campus heritage trees

The Environmental Commission has recommended the conditional removal of two heritage trees from a property near UT Austin that is being developed as student housing. The 32-inch red oak, in “fair” condition, and a 25-inch pecan tree in poor condition…

Before Uri, Austin Water didn’t see winter weather as a threat

Austin Water deemed winter weather a low risk to the city’s water supply before Winter Storm Uri, the utility told the Water Oversight Committee on Wednesday.  Multiple climate and disaster preparedness plans failed to mention the threat of extreme winter…

Environmentalists, city say sewage will harm Barton Creek

Houston developer Stephen Cleveland has requested a permit from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to dump partially treated sewage into Long Branch, a tributary of Barton Creek. Although TCEQ has issued a draft permit, environmental organizations and the city…

Back to Top