City of Austin - Water Quality :: Education

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.

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.

Environmental scores are based on a full range of chemical, biological, and physical assessments.

Photo Gallery

Gilleland Creek at the South Railroad Ave.	Gilleland Creek at Hill Cemetary

Gilleland Creek at 973	Gilleland Creek at 969


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