Shoal Creek: Implementing a Watershed Protection Plan
The Shoal Creek Conservancy will implement some structural improvements and provide education and outreach to help prevent nonpoint source pollution.
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Project Area
River Basin: Colorado
Water Body: Shoal Creek (1429A) and Spicewood Springs (1403J)
Location: City of Austin
Background
The Shoal Creek watershed is in a fast developing and highly urbanized part of the City of Austin. The watershed is 53 percent impervious cover, and only 21 percent of that area is treated for water quality. Shoal Creek has two tributaries, Spicewood Springs, and Hancock Creek. Spicewood Springs has not met state water quality standards for primary contact recreation since 2002 due to high bacteria levels. Shoal Creek does meet state standards, but periodic water quality monitoring has shown elevated bacteria.
The urban character of the Shoal Creek watershed presents special challenges and requires a multifaceted approach to restoring and protecting water quality. The Shoal Creek Conservancy and watershed stakeholders developed the Shoal Creek Watershed Action Plan, which identified sources of water quality issues and the best actions to take to address them. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency accepted the Watershed Action Plan in 2021.
Back to topProject Description
December 2021 – August 2024
The Conservancy and stakeholders identified a subset of actions from the Watershed Action Plan to implement immediately. They expected that these actions would result in the most dramatic pollutant reductions with the lowest cost and effort. This project includes functional and visible elements like rain gardens, riparian buffer zones, and pet waste stations. Also included are education and outreach initiatives, land stewardship events, and promotion of sustainable landscaping practices.
Additionally, project staff will dedicate time to identifying and building relationships with key property owners—both public and private—who are well positioned to install or implement some of these practices on their property. Through education and outreach activities, the Conservancy hopes to positively change behaviors at the individual and household levels, drive residential-scale structural practices on private property, and lay the groundwork for continual use of many of these practices.
For More Information
To find out more about the NPS Program, call 512-239-6682 or email us at nps@tceq.texas.gov.