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Fast Facts
Environmental Creek Assessments
Photo Gallery |
| Fast Facts |
| Population |
2000: 26,586
2030: 61,664 |
| Creek Length |
62 miles |
| Drainage Area |
39 square
miles |
| Drains To |
Colorado
River east of Austin |
| Well Known Sites |
Pfluger Park
, Gilleland Creek Park |
| Land Use |
Residential
Business
Civic
Parks
Roadways
Undeveloped |
13%
3%
1%
1%
4%
78% |
Watershed Facts
- The Creek was named for James Gilleland,
who died in 1839 after being gravely wounded by a musketball
between the shoulder and neck in the battle of Brushy Creek.
He was buried close to Gilleland Creek.
- Elm and Decker Creeks flow into Gilleland
Creek near the Colorado River
- In response to citizen complaints, investigators
find an average of eight pollution spills each year in Gilleland
Creek; the most common spill type is sewage, followed by petroleum.
- Gilleland Creek begins near Pflugerville
and receives a large amount of its flow from wastewater discharges
from the City of Pflugerville. This high nutrient treated effluent
provides perennial flow for the creek but also severely limits
its biological health.
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| Creek
Assessments
Environmental
| Index |
Score |
Category |
Notes |
| Overall
Score |
70 |
Good |
Gilleland ranks 11 out
of 46 watersheds in overall quality |
Water
Chemistry |
36 |
Poor |
Water quality is poor,
ammonia is high, nitrate is high, conductivity is high, orthophosphorus
is high, suspended solids are high |
Sediment
Quality |
87
|
Very
Good |
PAHs are very low, herbicides/pesticides
are very low, metals are very low |
| Recreation |
88
|
Excellent |
During dry weather conditions,
bacteria is not a threat |
| Aesthetics |
76 |
Very
Good |
Some litter present,
no odor, algae covers 10-20% of creek |
| Habitat |
65 |
Good |
Some sediment deposition,
some channel alteration, bank stability is marginal |
| Aquatic
Life |
65 |
Good
|
Benthic macroinvertebrate
community is good, diatom community is good |
- Gilleland has historically been impacted
by agricultural activities, but is now experiencing more urban
development.
- Portions of Gilleland Creek are listed on
the State 303(d) List of Impaired Waterbodies for elevated bacteria.
- Portions of Gilleland Creek are listed on
the State Water Quality Inventory as being of concern for ammonia
and nitrate/nitrite enrichment.
- Silt and sedimentation may be impacting aquatic
life.
- Wastewater effluent discharge and increasing
residential development contributing to elevated nutrient and
solids concentrations.
- Wastewater treatment plant discharges
artificially enhance biological communities and contribute to
poorer water quality conditions.
Learn
More
How to Help
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| Photo Gallery |
| |
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| Gilleland Creek at the
South Railroad Ave. |
Gilleland Creek at Hill
Cemetary |
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|
Gilleland Creek at 973 |
Gilleland Creek at 969 |
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