Barton Springs is the only known home to the endangered and federally protected Barton Springs and Austin Blind salamanders. Unfortunately, for these unique creatures, the level of life-sustaining dissolved oxygen in their ecosystem has dropped on average over the past 35 years. Watershed Protection Department engineer Abel Porras brought the issue to the Wednesday meeting […]
Water
Posted inResources, Water
Aquifer district ends six-year dispute with Kyle
Board members with the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District wrapped up a six-year dispute with the City of Kyle on Thursday night at their regular meeting, pending a few issues. “This means we can move on,” said John Dupnik, general manager with the district. He commented that everyone had spent “entirely too long on the matter” anyway. The […]
Posted inTexas State Legislature, Water
Austin Water reports on water-related legislation
As Central Texas continues to face its worst drought on record, state legislators are considering several bills this session that could affect water supplies in Austin and throughout the state. Austin Water Utility Legislative Coordinator Heather Cooke briefed the Water and Wastewater Commission Wednesday about some of the water-related bills making their way through the […]
Posted inEnvironment, Hays County, Local Government, Resources, Travis County, Water
Aquifer board backs annexation of unregulated area
At its Thursday meeting, the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District board of directors voted unanimously to support proposed legislation that would expand the district’s territory and give the board authority over part of an unregulated area where water supply company Electro Purification has set up shop. Electro Purification acquired three contracts for water supply in […]
Posted inCity Council, Environment, Uncategorized, Water
Riverboat contract has a sewage problem
Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo and City Council Member Leslie Pool raised concerns last week about Lone Star Riverboat’s practices at the regular Council meeting Thursday, postponing the vote on a revenue contract until March 26. A memo to Council regarding the contract outlined sewage and marine toilet compliance issues and questioned whether Lone Star’s […]
Posted inAustin, Parks, Resources, Uncategorized, Water
Plans for Decker golf course divide Parks board
A proposed golf course split Austin’s Parks and Recreation board down the middle Wednesday night when members landed undecided on whether to recommend to City Council a 50-year license with Decker Golf LLC to build a high-end golf complex in East Austin. “It goes forward split to the City Council, and they will be making […]
Posted inParks, Water
Staff says Decker golf plan may limit water hazard
A proposal to construct a set of golf courses in Austin in the midst of a record drought has whipped up controversy over the past few months, but city staff has indicated that a plan the prospective developer floated last week may address some major environmental concerns. City Environmental Officer Chuck Lesniak told the Austin […]
Posted inResources, Water
LCRA says Central Texas drought worst on record
The Lower Colorado River Authority announced Wednesday that, based on preliminary data from last year, it now considers the drought that has been afflicting Central Texas since 2008 to be the worst on record. LCRA Executive Vice President of Water John Hoffman delivered the news to the public utility’s board of directors at a committee […]
Posted inAustin, City Hall, Development, Environment, Water, Zoning
ZAP shoots down variances for Far West parcel
The Zoning and Platting Commission took a hard stance against several requested environmental variances that would allow an Austin resident to build a 3,500-square-foot home on a steep slope at 4316 Far West Blvd. Property owner Ali Tabrizi sought to build a single-family home on the parcel located within the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone and […]
Posted inAustin, City Council, Resources, Water
Developers propose brackish water for Decker Golf
In a major shift, Decker Lake Golf LLC representatives have proposed a new plan they say would not use reclaimed water to irrigate a PGA-class golf course proposed for Walter E. Long Metropolitan Park. The company’s vice president, Warren Hayes, told the Water and Wastewater Commission on Wednesday that he and his associates would pump […]
Posted inCity Council, Water
Council discusses water scarcity
With the current central Texas drought showing no signs of abating, City Council sat down with staff and water experts on Monday to discuss the severity of the issue. Sharlene Leurig, who chaired the Austin Water Resource Planning Task Force, told Council at the policy workshop that the conversation about water scarcity is coming at […]
Posted inHays County, Local Government, Resources, Water
Many on alert over water drilling plan in Hays
Hays County officials and residents concerned over the proposed pumping of 1.8 billion gallons of water per year from the Trinity Aquifer are calling for the Texas Legislature’s help. “Immediate action needs to be taken to fill in that white zone, that white area, and that can only be done by our legislature,” Pct. 3 […]