Residents in Hays County and a southwestern portion of Travis County hope the possibility of a civil case against a California development company will stop plans to construct a 5,000-seat concert venue on a two-lane country road near Dripping Springs. Traffic concerns are important for the Fitzhugh Neighbors group that has formed to fight the […]
Water
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Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District installing two monitoring wells at Garrison and Zilker parks
This month, the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District will install two new scientific monitoring wells in Garrison and Zilker parks. The new wells will be used to collect information about Edwards Aquifer water level and quality, as well as further the city’s federally mandated task of protecting the health of the endangered Barton Springs and […]
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Austin declared new drought restrictions in August. Water use stayed the same.
Lee esta historia en español On Aug. 15, Austin was 39 days into its longest triple-digit heat wave ever recorded. The extreme heat had created a “climate feedback loop,” locking in the worst drought the city has seen in 113 years. By mid-August, reservoirs on the Colorado River – which provide the city with water […]
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Reclaimed water rule postponed till April
On Thursday, City Council voted to postpone adoption of a long-planned ordinance requiring certain large developments to hook up to the city’s reclaimed water system. Bill Bunch, executive director of the Save Our Springs Alliance, asked Council not to agree to the delay. “This has been in the making for several years, based on our […]
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Permit for controversial private dam on South Llano River withdrawn
A Houston-based landowner has withdrawn his request for a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality permit that would’ve paved the way for a private dam on the South Llano River. The TCEQ permit database shows that the application from Waterstone Creek LLC is now closed. The application was withdrawn on Oct. 20. The application for a […]
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Austin joins fight against proposed private dam on South Llano River
Austin is joining the fight against a proposed private dam on the South Llano River that experts say could have an impact on the city’s water supply. City Council voted last week to approve a resolution directing the city manager to seek a contested case hearing regarding an application by Waterstone Creek LLC to the […]
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Hundreds of Steiner Ranch properties get water cut off for violating restrictions
Several hundred customers in the Steiner Ranch community were fined or had their water shut off over the past week for violating restrictions meant to conserve water. Travis County Water Control and Improvement District No. 17 said it has been trying since July 5 to get violators in compliance of the restrictions, which include limiting irrigation […]
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Council committee gets drought update
Austin Water Utility officials didn’t promise any miracles during a briefing on the city’s drought response and water supply at last week’s Austin Water Oversight Committee meeting. As of Aug. 14, the city was in exceptional drought conditions that pushed the community into Stage 2 water restrictions. Assistant Director Kevin Critendon said that while he […]
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Leslie Pool takes question of water extension requests off Council agenda
City Council Member Leslie Pool notified her colleagues that she has withdrawn her request that the group consider a controversial item related to the extension of water and wastewater service in the city’s Drinking Water Protection Zone and outside the city’s jurisdiction. A service extension request is required when a property owner or developer wants […]
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Austin announces new water restrictions on everything from lawns to dining out
With water levels continuing to drop in the Highland Lakes reservoirs that supply Austin, the city announced Stage 2 water restrictions to take effect Tuesday. Even if you don’t have a lawn or don’t bother watering the lawn you have, you could notice the new rules affecting daily life in Austin. Here are some of […]
Posted inPlanning
Upgrades coming to a trail near East Riverside neighborhood
One of the last segments to make a continuous trail from Lady Bird Lake to Mabel Davis Park is another step closer to becoming a reality. The Planning Commission last week approved an environmental variance for construction work expected to start in 2024, a portion of which involves a trail underpass at East Riverside Drive […]
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Residents concerned proposed private dam on South Llano River could affect Austin’s drinking water supply
Residents of Llano and Edwards counties are fighting a pending Texas Commission on Environmental Quality permit that could have implications on Austin’s drinking water supply. An application filed by Waterstone Creek LLC seeks authorization to “construct and maintain a dam and reservoir on the South Llano River, Colorado River Basin, impounding 12.02 acre-feet of water […]