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Fast Facts
Environmental Creek Assessments
Photo Gallery |
| Fast Facts |
| Population |
2000: 59,011
2030: 78,759 |
| Creek Length |
11 miles
|
| Drainage Area |
13 square
miles |
| Drains To |
Colorado
River at Town Lake |
| Well Known Sites |
J.J. Pickle
Research Center, Northcross Mall, Central Market, Pease Park,
Shoal Creek Hospital, Anderson High School |
| Land Use |
Residential
Business
Civic
Parks
Roadways
Undeveloped |
43%
16%
9%
3%
24%
5% |
Watershed Facts
- Shoal Creek was the original western boundary
of the City of Austin.
- Writer O. Henry searched for buried Spanish
gold along Shoal Creek in the 1890’s and later wrote a
short story about his quest.
- Its small tributary, Little Shoal Creek,
was covered over by a storm sewer in 1917 so that it is possible
to drive by automobile along its former course where Union soldiers
watered their horses in post Civil War days.
- The construction of the popular Shoal Creek
Hike and Bike Trail in the 1930’s is considered one of
the first such projects in the nation.
- The Flood Early Warning System (FEWS) program
was initiated following the May 1981 flood that took nine lives
in the Shoal Creek watershed.
- In response to citizen complaints, investigators
find an average of 97 pollution problems each year in Shoal
Creek. Sewage is the most common problem, followed by petroleum.
- Median fecal coliform concentrations were
above the recreational limit in 2000*.(2001 Water Watchdogs
EII Phase 1 Watersheds Report (monitoring conducted in 2000)
- Erosion Restoration Projects are underway
in -Shoal Creek at 26th St., Shoal at West Ave.
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| Creek
Assessments
Environmental
| Index |
Score |
Category |
Notes |
| Overall
Score |
54 |
Fair |
Shoal ranks 41 out of
46 watersheds in overall quality |
Water
Chemistry |
54 |
Fair
|
Water quality is average
|
Sediment
Quality |
68
|
Good
|
PAHs are high, herbicides/pesticides
are very low, metals are very low |
| Recreation |
58 |
Fair |
During dry weather conditions,
bacteria is usually not a threat |
| Aesthetics |
58
|
Fair |
Lots of litter present,
slight offensive odors, algae covers 10-20% of creek, water
is slightly cloudy, some of the creek bed is dry |
| Habitat |
47 |
Marginal
|
Increased embeddedness,
cover is insufficient, major channel alteration, buffer zone
is too small |
| Aquatic
Life |
39 |
Marginal
|
Benthic macroinvertebrate
community is poor; diatom community is marginal |
- Austin Clean Water Program is working on
rehabilitation of wastewater lines that may be the cause of
elevated bacteria.
- Extensive erosion has occurred in Shoal Creek.
- Flashy flow (from flood conditions to dry)
negatively impacts aquatic life.
- Portions of Shoal Creek are listed on the
State 303(d) List of Impaired Waterbodies for elevated bacteria.
- Sediment scores improved in Shoal more
than other watersheds in the City.
Learn
More
How to Help
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| Photo Gallery |
| |
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| Shoal Creek at 24th Street
|
Shoal Creek at Shoal Edge
Court |
|
|
Shoal Creek above 1st Street |
Shoal Creek above 1st Street |
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