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Fast Facts
Environmental Creek Assessments
Photo Gallery |
| Fast Facts |
| Population |
2000: 10,455
2030: 12,490 |
| Creek Length |
4 miles |
| Drainage Area |
2 square
miles |
| Drains To |
Colorado
River at Town Lake |
| Well Known Sites |
Texas School
for the Deaf, Gillis Park, St. Ignatius Catholic Church, Dawson
Neighborhood |
| Land Use |
Residential
Business
Civic
Parks
Roadways
Undeveloped |
40%
15%
14%
1%
24%
6% |
Watershed Facts
- Bouldin Creek was named for the family of
James and Molinda Bouldin, who moved to Austin in 1852 with
three of their children to run a plantation
- In the early 1900’s, South Austin’s
first private streetcars linked the East Bouldin Creek Watershed
to downtown Austin, speeding the development of some of the
neighborhoods along East and West Bouldin Creeks.
- Before the creek flow was reduced by urbanization,
there were many popular swimming holes along East Bouldin Creek.
- An underground tunnel diverts flood waters
from the lower part of East Bouldin Creek and empties them into
Town Lake near the Stevie Ray Vaughn statue.
- In response to citizen complaints, investigators
find an average of 18 pollution problems each year in East Bouldin
Creek. Sewage is the most common problem, followed by petroleum
then sediment.
- Water quality in East Bouldin creek is poorer
than West Bouldin
- Water quality in East Bouldin is most
likely being influenced by leaking wastewater lines that are
both enhancing its baseflow and degrading water quality.
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| Creek
Assessments
Environmental
| Index |
Score |
Category |
Notes |
| Overall
Score |
55 |
Fair |
East Bouldin ranks 38
out of 46 watersheds in overall quality |
Water
Chemistry |
47 |
Marginal |
Water quality is average,
nitrate is high, orthophosphorus is high |
Sediment
Quality |
68 |
Good |
PAHs are high, herbicides/pesticides
are low, metals are very low |
| Recreation |
56 |
Good |
During dry weather conditions,
bacteria is usually not a threat |
| Aesthetics |
72 |
Good |
Lots of litter present,
no odor, algae covers 10-20% of creek, some of the creek bed
is dry |
| Habitat |
55 |
Fair |
Some sediment deposition,
cover is insufficient, some channel alteration, bank vegetation
is poor, buffer zone is too small |
| Aquatic
Life |
29 |
Poor |
Benthic macroinvertebrate
community is poor; diatom community is poor |
- Aquatic life impacted by water quality,
habitat and loss of flow in lower reaches due to alluvial stream
bed composition.
- Austin Clean Water Program is working on
rehabilitation of wastewater lines that may be the cause of
odor, nutrients, and ammonia.
- Increased PAHs in sediments from heavy transportation
uses.
- Leaking wastewater lines and high impervious
cover contribute to water quality problems.
- Poor aquatic habitat due to channel degradation
and flashy nature of stream resulting from high levels of impervious
cover in watershed.
- Portions of East Bouldin Creek are listed
on the State Water Quality Inventory as being of concern for
contaminants in sediment.
- Staff research indicates the source of high
PAH levels may be parking lot sealants.
- There is a regional water quality pond
near Alpine Road and a demonstration project for bioengineered
stream bank restoration in Gillis Park.
Learn
More
How to Help
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| Photo Gallery |
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| East Bouldin Creek at
Elizabeth Street |
East Bouldin Creek at
South Austin Center |
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East Bouldin Creek at Riverside Drive |
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