Tag Archives: Watershed Protection Department

Balancing conflicting public interests, Watershed Protection aims to promote native aquatic vegetation

Austin’s reservoirs do a lot of double duty. They’re known both as top-tier recreation spots for Central Texans and our source of dwindling drinking water. Subject to invasive species, drought and big rainfall events that bring in pollutants, they’re still…

Environment • By Lina Fisher • Jul 22, 2024

Water quality plan draws opposition from Reed Park neighbors

A water quality improvement project slated for a West Austin neighborhood park has sparked controversy among Tarrytown neighbors opposed to the prospect of losing an informal ball field to a biofiltration pond for stormwater runoff. Reed Neighborhood Park, given to…

Water • By Amy Smith • May 22, 2024

Environmental report points to the city limits and parkland challenges ahead

The 2023 “State of Our Environment” report from the Austin Watershed Protection Department presents a mix of positive and negative findings, but optimistically underscores the city’s proactive efforts in addressing the impacts of urban development and climate change. As in…

Environment • By Amy Smith • May 16, 2024

Watershed Protection Department releases 2023 annual report

Last week, the city’s Watershed Protection Department released its 2023 annual report. The report breaks down the department’s work to manage the city’s creeks, drainage systems and water quality programs. Regarding building and maintaining drainage infrastructure, the department completed eight…

Environment • By Nina Hernandez • Jan 25, 2024

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Environmental Commission recommends code variances for Old Lampasas Dam modernization project

At its meeting on Wednesday, the Environmental Commission voted to approve a set of Land Development Code variances to accommodate the Watershed Protection Department’s Old Lampasas Dam #3 Modernization Project. The Northwest Austin dam was built in the early 1980s…

Environment • By Nina Hernandez • Nov 3, 2023

Planning Commission recommends airport master development plan update

The Planning Commission voted Tuesday to recommend an update to the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport’s Master Development Plan Ordinance. The airport’s Master Development Plan Ordinance must be updated every 10 years. It allows the city to look at the site comprehensively,…

Planning • By Nina Hernandez • Aug 24, 2023

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Austin's Blackland Prairie reforestation project underway

The work to restore Austin’s heavily degraded Blackland Prairie floodplain has begun with the help of local urban forestry nonprofit TreeFolks. The Environmental Commission heard an update on the results of the city’s Blackland Prairie ecoregion study at its regular…

Environment • By Nina Hernandez • Aug 10, 2023

Austin Water and Watershed Protection Department seeking small rate hikes

Neither Austin Water nor the Watershed Protection Department have asked for an increase in their rates in many years, but both are doing so in the upcoming budget. Austin Water has not asked for an increase in its rates since…

Budget • By Jo Clifton • Aug 4, 2023

A lot of that green sludge in Lady Bird Lake is actually a sign of a healthy waterway

If you’ve been near Austin’s Lady Bird Lake lately, you might have noticed a little less water is visible. Parts of the lake, especially along the shores and inlets, are covered in mats of green vegetation. It can look goopy,…

Environment • By Mose Buchele, KUT • Jul 26, 2023

City advised not to assist flood victims from April 20 storm

The head of the Watershed Protection Department has advised the city against offering direct assistance to homeowners flooded during an April 20 storm, due to concerns that action could set a precedent for future natural disasters. In a memo dated…

Environment • By Chad Swiatecki • Jun 15, 2023

'There is no cure': Austin urges people to keep dogs away from possibly toxic blue-green algae

Blue-green algae is back in Lady Bird Lake and Lake Austin, according to Austin’s Watershed Protection Department. The department says test results will be posted next month revealing whether the algae is toxic. In the meantime, the city recommends avoiding…

Environment • By Corey Smith, KUT • May 30, 2023

Watershed Protection wants code change to allow funding for floodplain restoration projects

The Environmental Commission approved a resolution last week recommending a change to the city’s Watershed Protection Ordinance. The change is intended to clarify that the Riparian Zone Mitigation Fund may be used for floodplain restoration projects. Ana Gonzalez, manager of…

Environment • By Nina Hernandez • Apr 26, 2023

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Tag Archives: Watershed Protection Department

Balancing conflicting public interests, Watershed Protection aims to promote native aquatic vegetation

Environment • By Lina Fisher • Jul 22, 2024