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Fast Facts
Environmental Creek Assessments
Photo Gallery |
| Fast Facts |
| Population |
2000: 3,136
2030: 5,643 |
| Creek Length |
10 miles |
| Drainage Area |
9 square
miles |
| Drains To |
Colorado
River east of Austin through Gilleland Creek |
| Well Known Sites |
Walter E.
Long Park (on northwest border) |
| Land Use |
Residential
Business
Civic
Parks
Roadways
Undeveloped |
23%
6%
1%
5%
4%
62% |
Watershed Facts
- In response to citizen complaints, investigators
find an average of five pollution spills each year in Elm Creek;
the most common spill type is sewage, followed by petroleum.
- Elm Creek is dry most of the year.
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| Creek
Assessments
Environmental
| Index |
Score |
Category |
Notes |
| Overall
Score |
65
|
Good |
Elm ranks 18 out of 46
watersheds in overall quality |
Water
Chemistry |
60 |
Fair |
Water quality is average,
ammonia is high, conductivity is very high |
Sediment
Quality |
91 |
Excellent |
PAHs are very low, herbicides/pesticides
are very low, metals are very low |
| Recreation |
96 |
Excellent
|
During dry weather conditions,
bacteria is not a threat |
| Aesthetics |
65 |
Good |
Some litter present,
no odor, algae covers 10-20% of creek, surface appearance
is poor, water is slightly cloudy, most of the creek bed is
dry |
| Habitat |
51 |
Fair |
Increased sediment deposition,
cover is insufficient, some channel alteration, bank vegetation
is marginal, buffer zone is small |
| Aquatic
Life |
28 |
Poor |
Benthic macroinvertebrate
community is fair, diatom community is fair |
- Aquatic life impacted by habitat limitations.
- Colony development preserved large riparian
parkland.
- Habitat quality limited by mixed agricultural
and residential landuse on Blackland Prairie soils.
- Overall scores improved in Elm more
than other watersheds in the City.
Learn
More
How to Help
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| Photo Gallery |
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| Elm Creek at FM 973
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