Local cases of canine distemper are on an uptick, according to the Austin Animal Center. Distemper is a deadly disease caused by canine distemper virus, and so far in August, the center has seen 39 positive results from 94 dogs tested.

“As expected, the dogs testing positive are generally under a year old and have only been in the shelter for a few weeks, meaning they didn’t have time to build up appropriate vaccination immunity before being exposed,” said Dr. Debbie Elliott, Austin Animal Center head veterinarian, in a statement. “We are seeing a range of symptoms, from dogs that aren’t showing any signs to dogs developing seizures.”

The virus is spread through close contact with infected animals, usually through respiratory droplets and sometimes through urine or feces, according to the shelter. “Prevention through vaccination is hands down the most effective tool our community has,” Elliott said in a statement. “It is vital that dog owners make sure their dogs are completely vaccinated.”

Austin Animal Center is looking for people to foster or adopt healthy, vaccinated dogs. Adoption fees will be waived, and walk-in foster applicants are welcome at the shelter from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Additionally, dozens of volunteers will be available Saturday for the Clear the Shelters event from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Get more info at austintexas.gov/department/rabies-and-disease-prevention.

An old friend is under the weather. According to a city news release, a large pecan tree at Barton Springs Pool, nicknamed Flo, has been diagnosed with Kretzschmaria deusta – a wood decay fungus also known as brittle cinder fungus. The Parks and Recreation Department first noticed the fungus during a routine inspection on July 6, and it was diagnosed by a Texas A&M University lab on Aug. 15.

Photo by city of Austin. An iconic pecan tree at Barton Springs Pool has been diagnosed with a wood decay fungus.

“This disease weakens roots and wood at the base of the tree and has been known to cause whole tree failures in trees that otherwise look healthy,” according to the city. Further independent reports from certified arborists are expected in the coming weeks.

“As a precautionary safety measure, access around the tree will be sectioned off from pool users,” according to the city. If the tree needs to be removed, the parks department promises residents will be able to “honor the tree.” The news release states that there would also be “options to memorialize this iconic tree through creative reuse of remaining intact wood.”

Photo by city of Austin. Parks and Recreation Department staff first noticed a fungal fruiting body at the base of the tree in July.

Get more info and follow updates at austintexas.gov/BSPtree.

Movin’ and shakin’ happening at Barton Springs Pool: The Beverly S. Sheffield Education Center will close on Sept. 5, according to the city, as part of the long-coming Barton Springs Bathhouse rehabilitation. Renovation construction will begin early next year, and during that time, the pool’s main entrance will move to the location of the education center. The center’s “Splash! Into the Edwards Aquifer” exhibit will close on Aug. 22 so it can be disassembled and moved in preparation. While pool patrons use the temporary entrance, the city hopes to create “an opportunity to educate pool visitors about the importance of protecting water and preserving salamander habitat.” Go to the city’s website for more info.

Endless heat and no rain are a recipe for flourishing toxic algae, which has been found in several locations by the city and the Lower Colorado River Authority. In May and June, toxic algae was found at Red Bud Isle, Vic Mathias Shores, Festival Boat Ramp, Jessica Hollis Park, Barton Springs Pool and several tributaries and springs on Barton, Onion and Williamson creeks. Though the presence of toxic algae at Barton Springs Pool may be alarming, a news release from the city notes that the levels found at the pool were “not concerning” and the pool will remain open. “While the presence of toxic algae does not necessarily mean toxins in the water, it is still important to take precautions. Never drink water directly from lakes, creeks or springs, avoid contact with algae and rinse off after contact with the water. Do not allow pets to drink from these waterways and do not allow dogs to lick their fur prior to rinsing if they’ve been in the water,” reads the release.

At the same time, LCRA tests found toxic algae at levels that “could pose a danger to dogs and people recreating at Lake LBJ and Inks Lake.” According to the water authority, results received this week detected high levels of toxicity in the lakes, and LCRA biologists believe cyanotoxins are likely present in other areas of the lakes, as well.

More information about city monitoring of toxic algae and resources can be found on the city’s website.

Workforce Solutions Capital Area has partnered with the city and Travis County, as well as Austin Transit Partnership and Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority, to form a leadership group focused on linking local residents to jobs from the many transportation and infrastructure projects taking place in the coming years. With Project Connect, light rail, the Interstate 35 reconstruction and the expansion of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on tap, the group’s goals include studying future skills needs for those projects, finding ways to scale workforce training programs, identifying obstacles for job seekers and creating a plan for building the workforce to fit infrastructure needs. The consulting firm CivicSol is currently working on a 20-year forecast and study of the mobility workforce to assess worker availability, job training capacity, academic readiness of job seekers and more.

Despite interest rates for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages averaging more than 7 percent nationwide, the local housing market showed year-over-year growth in July, according to the latest market report from the Austin Board of Realtors. In July, the Austin-Round Rock metropolitan statistical area showed a 0.6 percent increase in closed sales compared to 2022, with 2,815 total deals closed. The report also showed:

• The median sales price decreased 10 percent year over year to $462,000,
• The days-on-market average was 59 days, a year-over-year increase of 37 days,
• Total sales volume was $1.66 billion, a 7 percent year-over-year drop, and
• The market had 3.7 months of inventory, which represented a one-month increase from the previous year.

“July’s housing market activity underscores the resiliency within the MSA’s market,” Austin Board of Realtors President Ashley Jackson said in a statement. “We now have a direct year-over-year comparison of when our market began stabilizing, and the big fluctuations we’ve previously seen have started to even out.”

Employers encouraging mobility options for their workers can apply for $7,500 GoGrant awards available from the Movability nonprofit. The awards are available to fund planning assistance, infrastructure like bike racks and lockers, and programs like transit passes and vanpooling. Eligibility is limited to businesses located in Austin or the extraterritorial jurisdiction, with the application window open from Aug. 21 until Sept. 15. More information is available online.

In the wake of three deaths in Bastrop County, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation is urging anyone aware of abandoned or deteriorating wells to take action. Reports of the location can be submitted online, along with any photos or videos. A news release from the department explains, “Abandoned or deteriorated water wells can contaminate groundwater by providing a direct conduit for chemicals and other surface contaminants, such as animal waste and pesticides, to directly enter aquifers. Uncapped wells also present a physical danger to humans and animals who can be severely injured or killed when they fall partially or completely into the well. … Landowners who are not sure if there are abandoned water wells on their property should look for plastic, steel, brick or concrete casing (pipe) that may extend above ground, or for a hole in the ground with no apparent bottom. Some abandoned wells have concrete or brick casing extending above ground or a windmill with missing blades. Abandoned or deteriorated well casings or pipes may be cut off at ground level, posing an additional threat.” Once made aware of abandoned or deteriorating wells on their property, landowners have 180 days to plug the wells or bring them into compliance. More information on that process can be found here.

After delays and a quiet rollout, Capital Metro Transportation Authority on Wednesday announced that its new mobile app for smartphones is good to go. The new Amp card and its fare caps are at the heart of the agency’s updates. “The cap is automatically calculated on your AMP pass so that you never pay more than you should. After you have spent the equivalent of the cost of a daily pass in single rides during a service day … you’ve met the daily cap and ride free the rest of the day. After you’ve spent the equivalent of the cost of a 31-day pass in single rides, you’ve met the monthly cap and ride free until the first day of the next month. For reduced fares, you’d need to take 3 rides in 24 hours to spend the $1.25 cap,” according to Capital Metro’s online FAQ. The Amp Card isn’t just for app users; riders can pick up a physical card at the Transit Store. Download the new Capital Metro app here.

Texas General Land Office Commissioner Dawn Buckingham and Mayor Kirk Watson have announced plans to transform downtown’s Hobby Building into a mixed-use project that will include workforce housing. The redevelopment, which was announced publicly on Tuesday, would demolish the distinct 1984 building at 333 Guadalupe St. that currently stands empty. “It is my goal to build as much workforce housing as possible on this site, hopefully coupled with amenities that downtown residents need, such as child care, parking and retail spaces,” said Buckingham. A request for proposals to develop the site will be open for the next 90 days, with solicitations to be evaluated and winnowed by the School Land Board.

Geospatial data acquired by the city of Austin shows progress in tree protection and planting, according to the Community Tree Preservation Division. According to a new story map released by the city, 41 percent of Austin was covered by tree canopy in 2022, which is shy of the 50 percent goal set for 2050 but higher than the historical average of 35 percent and the documented 36 percent in 2018. “The greatest planting opportunities reside on private land mainly because private land makes up the largest share of land ownership in Austin, but also because that’s where the majority of plantable space is located,” notes the story map, which does a deep dive on the issue of trees in Austin. “When we look at public land owned by the City of Austin, street rights-of-ways comprise nearly half of all public land and (offer) the largest amount of plantable space compared to other public land uses like parks and libraries,” the report reads. “This is partly due to the sheer amount of land occupied by the right-of-way (39,000 acres) and partly due to public parkland being already largely planted out.” The report also notes that tree canopy is not evenly distributed across the city, with wealthier, whiter neighborhoods receiving its benefit disproportionately.

The shift to hybrid work brought about by the pandemic is reshaping real estate trends in Austin, where office space has been a major component of many new downtown tower development projects, according to the CoStar Group firm.

The finding was included in a recent analysis of office space market patterns across the country. The company found that:

• The total amount of office sublet space available in Austin is 5,591,105 square feet, an all-time high for the metropolitan area. As a share of inventory, it represents 4.3 percent, one of the highest ratios among major U.S. markets.
• There has been an increase in signed sublet space, with more than 355,000 square feet signed in the second quarter of 2023. That represented a 175 percent increase from the 129,000 square feet signed in the first quarter of this year. CoStar Group said that the availability of high-quality sublet space in prime locations has been attractive to tenants looking to upgrade or open a new office.
• New leasing volumes continue to decline. In the fourth quarter of 2021, new leases signed totaled over 2.5 million square feet. In the second quarter of 2023, it amounted to 1.7 million square feet, reflecting a 32 percent decline during the period.