Most Austin residents are aware of the sometimes economically painful reality of fixed stormwater drainage charges adding up on their monthly bills. However, after years of operating under this system, the Watershed Protection Department is changing its approach by rolling out a stormwater discount program. Currently, the program is in a pilot phase that has […]
City of Austin Environmental Commission
An advisory board to members of the Austin City Council. Its purview includes “all projects and programs which affect the quality of life for the citizens of Austin.” In many cases, this includes development projects.
Posted inBicycles
Upper Boggy Creek Trail one step closer to reality
After a contentious debate among the commissioners, the Environmental Commission approved a variance request submitted by the Public Works Department to widen the design of a concrete trail from 12 feet to 14 feet on Sept. 20 with only Vice Chair Peggy Maceo dissenting. Currently, the Public Works Department and the Urban Trails Program are […]
Posted inWater
Watershed Protection begins testing to change Waller hydrology
After two years of toying with the possibility of emulating the natural hydrology of Austin’s pre-urbanized watersheds through man-made controls, the Watershed Protection Department is finally putting its theories to the test at Reilly Elementary School. Reilly Elementary sits at the head of the Waller Creek Watershed, a fully urbanized headwaters zone. Due to its […]
Posted inEnvironment
Austin’s Blackland Prairie remains unexpectedly unrecovered
On Wednesday, graduate engineer Lindsay Olinde and Mateo Scoggins, a senior environmental scientist from the Watershed Protection Department, presented the Environmental Commission with the unexpected findings on Blackland Prairie riparian corridors. Contrary to the hypothesis that this historically less-urbanized and – protected watershed would be covered in woody wetland vegetation, it appeared that there is […]
Posted inEnvironment
Concerned citizens and commissioners display disapproval at SOS amendments
On Wednesday night, it was standing room only at the Environmental Commission meeting as concerned citizens gathered to express their dissent over the Watershed Protection Department’s seven proposed amendments to the current Land Development Code. Six of these stand-alone amendments were part of a collection of 47 amendments to the development code that were presented […]
Posted inEnvironment
Watershed Protection reports on youth outreach successes
Just as it does every year, the Watershed Protection Department came to present a summary of its Youth Education outreach program to the Environmental Commission. Susan Wall, who is the department’s conservation program coordinator, on Wednesday updated the commissioners on what she considered an impressive school year. The department reached out to 109 of the […]
Posted inEnvironment
City puts environmental inequity under the lens
Austin’s first chief equity officer has hit the ground running. Last year, Brion Oaks took the position as head of the new Equity Office, and he is now hard at work introducing an “equity lens” intended to focus city departments and commissions on serving all of Austin’s populations effectively and fairly. In April, when the […]
Posted inEnvironment
City discusses the future of Austin waterways in the face of zebra mussel infestation
The city needs to batten down the hatches and get ready for the zebra mussel invasion, according to Liz Johnston, environmental program coordinator for the Watershed Protection Department. On Wednesday, Johnston brought the Environmental Commission up to speed on the forecasted consequences of the new zebra mussel population found in the waters of Lake Travis. […]
Posted inWater
City looks to bond to protect water, reduce flooding
The city needs to do a lot more to protect its water supply from contamination and its residents from flooding, officials from the Watershed Protection Department told members of the Environmental Commission Wednesday. They believe that a bond package that is currently being reviewed by a city commission offers the best opportunity for the city […]
Posted inLand Development Code
Commission considers flood survivors in CodeNEXT recommendation
CodeNEXT will make floods worse and displace more low-income Austin residents: That was the opinion of several residents and former residents of Dove Springs, a community that bore the brunt of the 2013 and 2015 Onion Creek floods, who spoke at the Environmental Commission’s May 17 meeting. In response, commissioners voted to amend their draft […]
Posted inEnvironment
Environmental Commission calls for investigation into hidden junkyards
In the same way that it’s hard to pinpoint how many pieces of garbage it takes to make a heap, the Environmental Commission deliberated Wednesday night how many instances of localized dumping in the city would amount to a serious problem. Several residents from Ebony Acres in East Austin, off the northwest side of Givens […]
Posted inEnvironment
Environmental Commission holds off on water quality requirements (again)
Despite the Environmental Commission’s efforts to remove controversial amendments to the Watershed Protection Ordinance at previous meetings, the commission was unable to resolve an amendment relating to water quality control at its regular meeting May 3. Andrea Bates, the environmental program coordinator at the Watershed Protection Department, presented various proposed amendments to the Watershed Protection Ordinance, […]