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Fast Facts
Environmental Creek Assessments
Photo Gallery |
| Fast Facts |
| Population |
2000: 43,709
2030: 69,716 |
| Creek Length |
11 miles
|
| Drainage Area |
25 square
miles |
| Drains To |
Colorado
River at Lake Austin |
| Well Known Sites |
North Cat
MountainPark, Stillhouse Hollow Springs, 3M Austin Headquarters,
St. Edward’s Park, Bull Creek Park, The Arboretum |
| Land Use |
Residential
Business
Civic
Parks
Roadways
Undeveloped |
33%
5%
1%
11%
9%
41% |
Watershed Facts
- A famed Texas Ranger, Richard Lincoln Preece,
killed the last buffalo in Travis County on the banks of Bull
Creek, giving the creek its name.
- Archaeological sites indicate that the Bull
Creek watershed has been inhabited for thousands of years.
- Early occupants settled around the area’s
many springs. Box Spring, for example, was named for a cedar
box that Native Americans used to filter sediment from the creek
to produce clear drinking water.
- This watershed is habitat for several endangered
species, including the golden-cheeked warbler and the black-capped
vireo.
- In response to citizen complaints, investigators
find an average of 33 pollution problems each year. Sewage is
the most common problem, followed by petroleum and then sediment.
- In response to high nitrate levels at Stillhouse
Hollow Springs in the Bull Creek Watershed, the City has begun
a pilot program aimed at educating the more than 250 residents
in the area on environmentally- responsible fertilizing practices;
a companion study sponsored by the City of Austin and conducted
by Texas A&M resulted in lowering the recommended fertilizer
application rates by 75% statewide.
- The watershed has a very active citizen group
interested in protecting their creek. Visit www.bullcreek.net/
- Report on
Bull Creek
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| Creek
Assessments
Environmental
| Index |
Score |
Category |
Notes |
| Overall
Score |
72 |
Good |
Bull ranks 8 out of 46
watersheds in overall quality |
Water
Chemistry |
55 |
Fair |
Water quality is average,
nitrate is high, conductivity is high |
Sediment
Quality |
65 |
Good |
PAHs are very high, herbicides/pesticides
are very low, metals are very low |
| Recreation |
90 |
Excellent |
During dry weather conditions,
bacteria is not a threat |
| Aesthetics |
89 |
Excellent |
Litter is not a problem,
no odor |
| Habitat |
52 |
Fair |
Some sediment deposition,
some channel alteration |
| Aquatic
Life |
80 |
Very
Good |
Life Benthic macroinvertebrate
community is excellent, diatom community is good |
- Benthic macroinvertebrate data indicate
that Bull Creek is of high aquatic life use by state evaluation
methods; presence of pollution-intolerant diatom species suggest
healthy community.
- Elevated levels of PAHs in sediment may be
harmful to aquatic life; sediment scores declined in Bull more
than other watersheds in the City.
- High nitrates and conductivity may be attributed
to groundwater impacts from springflow, leaking wastewater lines
and residential fertilizer use.
- Increased sediment deposition due to recent
construction impacts.
- Portions of Bull Creek are listed on the
State Water Quality Inventory as being of concern for nitrate/nitrite
enrichment.
- Rapid commercial and residential construction
impacting formerly intact headwater areas.
- Staff research indicates the source
of high PAH levels may be from parking lot sealants.
Learn
More
How to Help
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| Photo Gallery |
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| Bull Creek at St.Edwards
park above dam |
Bull Creek above tributary
7 |
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Bull Creek at St.Edwards
park above dam |
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