After more than 20 years with the state of Texas and nearly 10 years with the city of Austin, Watershed Protection Director Victoria Li has retired. She said some of her proudest achievements include introduction of value engineering to the department, creation of the city’s flooding website and development of a rain garden program for […]
Watershed Protection Department
The city’s Watershed Protection Department works to reduce the impact of floods, erosion and water pollution in the city. The department is mostly funded by the city’s drainage fee.
Posted inWater
Regional leaders work on wastewater issues
Austin Mayor Steve Adler and Dripping Springs Mayor Todd Purcell on Monday convened what Adler called “a pretty unique regional meeting of leaders to address the common challenge of growth and water and wastewater issues – potentially in a way that the whole region can get behind.” He told the Austin Monitor, “It was exciting […]
Posted inCity Council
Council adopts new drainage fee structure
If all goes according to the city’s plan, Austin residents can expect some significant changes to their monthly drainage fees in October. While City Council has adopted a new underlying methodology for that fee, it still has to decide exactly how it will impact customers next year. Council adopted the Watershed Protection Department’s proposed changes […]
Posted inResources
Council wades deeper into drainage-fee issues
As City Council prepares to take action on restructuring the city’s drainage fee today, it is working through several issues that the current proposal presents for residents and property owners. That conversation continued at a special called meeting Tuesday. Council Member Ann Kitchen, who sits on the Public Utilities Committee, made a few suggestions based […]
Posted inAustin
Committee proposes delay on drainage fee
With pressure mounting for City Council to adopt a new drainage-fee structure in the face of legal and budgetary concerns, the Public Utilities Committee took up the issue Wednesday but made no official recommendation to Council. The ordinance that the Watershed Protection Department has proposed is on today’s Council meeting agenda but will likely be […]
Posted inAustin
Council approves most flood buyouts
Though some members of City Council remain concerned about the implications, yesterday they approved the bulk of the Williamson Creek flood buyouts. Although the previous Council had authorized the funds from the Capital Improvement Projects budget, this Council was asked to appropriate $17,986,000 to purchase 63 properties in the Williamson Creek watershed. The properties are within […]
Posted inCity Hall
Citing criticisms, Council delays new drainage fee
Despite a request from staff to adopt a new drainage charge by the end of the month, City Council is delaying action until the middle of June with the hope that its Public Utility Committee will be able to address major concerns with the proposal. Council voted to adopt an ordinance on first and second […]
Posted inResources
Council prepares for reworked drainage fee
In the wake of last year’s ruling that the city’s stormwater drainage charge is unfair to certain residents, City Council will hold a public hearing today to consider adopting a new fee structure that staff says would be more equitable overall. According to Watershed Protection Department Director Victoria Li, who unveiled the proposed structure in […]
Posted inDevelopment
Development rights swap coming to Council
The City Council Planning and Neighborhoods Committee voted 3-0 Thursday, with Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo abstaining, to recommend that the full Council enter into an agreement that will remove a longstanding auto salvage company from the banks of Bull Creek, remediate the contamination and transfer impervious cover credits to the owner for sale to […]
Posted inEnvironment, Local Politics, Water
Watershed Department maps it out in new guides
Though Austin’s new single-member district system has been actively in place for almost a month, there are undoubtedly countless details to be worked out. There are also opportunities for education, as the Watershed Protection Department has illustrated with a recent project. The Watershed Protection Council District Profiles project details citywide and district-specific watershed profiles and […]
Posted inAustin, Environment, Music & Entertainment, Parks
City plans to repair cyclo-cross damage at Zilker
City staff has revealed a one-year plan that they hope will remediate tree and turf damage related to a national cyclo-cross championship held in Zilker Park earlier this month. Watershed Protection Department Environmental Officer Chuck Lesniak told the Environmental Board Wednesday that Parks and Recreation Department staff and City Arborist Michael Embesi have “a pretty […]
Posted inAustin, Environment, Fire, Public Safety, Resources
Watershed Protection touts wildfire plan progress
Watershed Protection Department staff told the Environmental Board on Wednesday that they have begun to implement an intergovernmental plan designed to help prevent catastrophic wildfires in the future. Senior Environmental Compliance Specialist Ryan Hebrink stressed that the Austin/Travis County Community Wildfire Protection Plan is “not a regulatory document, but a strategic tool.” Travis County, City […]