BY HALEY MCLEOD
A closer look
Related highlights
located in the higher-elevation areas where the region’s feeder rivers and streams begin, mean- ing these ponds must ll up before any runo reaches the Highland Lakes system, Hamilton said. Under state law, each of these stock tanks is allowed without a permit up to 200 acre-feet, which equates to a capacity of roughly 65 million gallons of water. “They’re literally strangling us. They’re cutting o our water supply,” Hamilton said.
Shannon Hamilton, the executive director for the Central Texas Water Coalition, said that rain is not the only contributing factor to lowering water levels. “What’s changed signi cantly is how much water is owing into our lakes,” Hamilton said. She said that in Texas, property owners are legally allowed to dig out ponds or stock tanks on their property, typically to be used for agricul- tural or shing purposes. Central Texas has around 44,000 small ponds
These trends come alongside a surge in demand, with Austin Water’s customer base estimated to triple over the next 100 years. Additionally, the area’s growing data center industry adds exponential demand on local water supply, with one data center consuming millions of gallons of water a day to cool o hundreds of on-site computers. Managing water resources has become an increased priority for local o cials and conservationists alike—not only for municipal needs, but for sustaining the local environment, including swimming spots. In November, Austin City Council members approved a measure to amend the Water Forward plan, focusing on conservation. Municipal demand historically has taken up around half of the total water consumption, according to LCRA data, and with a hotter, drier future forecasted, the strain on natural water resources is expected to increase.
The Flats at the Barton Creek Greenbelt owing with water after rain. (Courtesy Austin Parks and Recreation)
Since 2020, the Barton Creek Greenbelt has seen little to no stream ow. (Haley McLeod/Community Impact)
Clean up after pets and dispose of waste properly Know before you go
Plan a visit
Always enter unknown or shallow water feet rst Avoid algae in stagnant water. Residents should treat all algae as potentially harmful
As deepening drought threatens the length of the area’s creekside swimming season, locals may look to places like Barton Springs Pool. The spring-fed watering hole measures
For those looking to cool o in the greenbelt swimming holes but unsure about water levels, the LCRA provides real-time data for several creeks in the Austin area. Find local water levels by looking at current
Pack it in, pack it out
3 acres and remains at an average temperature of 68-70 degrees.
stream ow and recent rainfall on https://hydromet.lcra.org/coa .
Watch for strong currents, obstacles, rocks and debris
SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTIN, AMERICAN RED CROSS COMMUNITY IMPACT
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