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Protect Austin's Water Quality: Shoal Creek Watershed

Learn about the urban watershed of Shoal Creek, threats to water quality, and how you can make a difference in protecting Austin's environment. Discover resources, rain gardens, and actions to safeguard the watershed. Get involved and volunteer in watershed protection efforts.

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Protect Austin's Water Quality: Shoal Creek Watershed

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  1. Shoal Creek Forum March 2016 • Profile of an Urban Watershed • What’s a Watershed? • Urban Watersheds: nature, community, threats • What can you do to protect Austin’s water quality? • Shoal Creek Watershed Planning Process

  2. Shoal Creek Forum March 2016 What’s a watershed? Mission: WPD protects lives, property and the environment by reducing the impacts of flood, erosion and water pollution.

  3. Photo credit for nature photos: Ted Eubanks

  4. Shoal Creek Walking Tour February 2016 Photo credit: Shoal Creek Conservancy

  5. Metz Elementary Bike Club Near Shoal Creek February 2016 Photo credit: Ghisallo Cycling Initiative

  6. Photo credit: City of Austin Public Library

  7. Shoal Creek Forum March 2016 • Shoal Creek Watershed • close to Lady Bird Lake, Johnson Creek, & Waller Creek • Water quality decreases downstream • PAHs are high • Bacteria levels may be a threat • Some litter • Sparse bank vegetation • Good macroinvertebrate community www.austintexas.gov/GIS/FindYourWatershed/

  8. Shoal Creek Forum March 2016 • Shoal Creek Watershed • Land Use Map shows a large portion of the watershed is single-family. • You can make a big difference!

  9. Shoal Creek Forum March 2016 • Grow Green Resources • Native and Adapted Plant Guide, searchable & hard copy • Fact Sheets on topics like landscape design and integrated pest management • Design templates, 10 & counting • DIY Videos • Classes for homeowner’s • Landscape Professional Training • 5 days of class, $75 for entire series, $20 for single day of class • Demonstration Gardens • Events like: • Zilker Garden Fest, April 2 & 3 • TX Native Plant Week, October www.GrowGreen.org

  10. Shoal Creek Forum March 2016 • Rain Gardens • A rain garden is a low area that absorbs and filters rain water runoff that comes from roofs, sidewalks, and driveways. Rain runs off the hard surfaces, collects in the shallow depression, and slowly soaks into the soil. www.austintexas.gov/RainGardens

  11. Shoal Creek Forum March 2016 • Down and Dirty Numbers • 215,000+ dogs live in Austin • 100,000 pounds of dog waste generated EVERY DAY • Problem for: • Human and pet health: giardia, roundworms, salmonella & more • Water quality: algae and aquatic weeds, reduced oxygen for fish, unsafe recreational areas for fishing or playing • What can you do? • Bring It! Carry a bag when you walk your dog • Scoop It! Use the bag • Toss It! Put it in the trash can (not in a tree) • Place a Sign! Free signs available for your yard • Don’t Forget Your Yard! www.ScoopThePoopAustin.org

  12. Shoal Creek Forum March 2016 • Litter Lifeline – How long does litter linger? • Cigarette butt • 2-10 years • Tin can • 50-80 years • Aluminum can • 200-500 years • Plastic bottle • 1 million years & releases harmful chemicals as it degrades • Styrofoam cup • Unknown but many say forever • Plastic bags • Months – hundreds of years www.LetsCanItAustin.org

  13. Shoal Creek Forum March 2016 24 Hour Pollution Hotline (512-974-2550) gets more than 1,000 pollution complaints per year – nearly 20% are automotive related. • Partner with local automotive and fueling businesses to reduce pollution of our creeks and lakes. • Your role: • Take your vehicle to one of the Enviro Mechanics • Encourage your mechanic to join the program • Designed to reduce pollution caused by home car repair. • Perks: • FREE onsite evaluation • FREE reusable oil change bucket www.austintexas.gov/AustinEnviroMechanics www.austintexas.gov/ShadeTreeMechanic

  14. Shoal Creek Forum March 2016 VOLUNTEER!

  15. Shoal Creek Forum March 2016 For more information contact: Jessica Wilson, 512-974-2446 jessica.wilson@austintexas.gov Erin Wood, 512-974-2809 erin.wood@austintexas.gov Or visit: www.austintexas.gov/watershed /AustinWatershed @AustinWatershed

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