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Fast Facts
Environmental Creek Assessments
Photo Gallery |
| Fast Facts |
| Population |
2000: 32,076
2030: 42,264 |
| Creek Length |
7 miles |
| Drainage Area |
6 square
miles |
| Drains To |
Colorado
River at Town Lake |
| Well Known Sites |
University
of Texas, The State Capitol, Austin Convention Center, Hyde
Park Neighborhood, Reilly Elementary School, Austin State
Hospital, St. David’s Medical Center, Seton Heart Center,
Children’s Hospital of Austin, Waterloo Park, Elizabeth
Ney Museum |
| Land Use |
Residential
Business
Civic
Parks
Roadways
Undeveloped |
31%
17%
22%
3%
26%
3% |
Watershed Facts
- The original eastern boundary of Austin,
Waller Creek was named after Edwin Waller, Austin’s first
mayor and signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence.
- Waller Creek has always been a focus of public
attention in Austin. A young Lyndon B. Johnson walked the creek
in 1938 and decried the “shanties” and “hot
beds of crime".
- In response to citizen complaints, investigators
find an average of 72 pollution problems each year in Waller
Creek. Sewage is the most common problem, followed by sediment
then wastewater.
- Waller is considered a “gaining creek”,
meaning that flow increases downstream, a result of springs
and seeps located along the length of the creek
- Nutrient problems increase at the University
of Texas campus and continue to increase downstream to the mouth.
- One of the most densely developed watersheds
in Austin, the majority of impervious cover on Waller Creek
was in place prior to the 1950s.
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| Creek
Assessments
Environmental
| Index |
Score |
Category |
Notes |
| Overall
Score |
58 |
Fair
|
Waller ranks 31 out of
46 watersheds in overall quality |
Water
Chemistry |
51 |
Fair
|
Water quality is average,
conductivity is high, orthophosphorus is high |
Sediment
Quality |
76 |
Very Good |
PAHs are high, herbicides/pesticides
are very low, metals are very low |
| Recreation |
60 |
Fair
|
During dry weather conditions,
bacteria is usually not a threat |
| Aesthetics |
71 |
Good |
Some litter is present,
slight offensive odors, some of the creek bed is dry |
| Habitat |
57 |
Fair |
Some sediment deposition,
major channel alteration, buffer zone is too small |
| Aquatic
Life |
32 |
Poor |
Benthic macroinvertebrate
community is marginal; diatom community is bad |
- Non-contiguous flow regime may be attributed
to a variety of factors including leaking wastewater lines and
unknown storm sewer discharges.
- Portions of Waller Creek are listed on the
State 303(d) List of Impaired Waterbodies for elevated bacteria,
an impaired macrobenthos community, and contaminants in sediment.
- Staff research indicates the source of high
PAH levels may be parking lot sealants.
- Widespread problems in Waller most
likely stem from aging infrastructure and historical development
which occurred prior to protective regulations.
Learn
More
How to Help
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| Photo Gallery |
| |
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| Waller Creek at 51st Street
|
Waller Creek below Cesar
Chavez |
|
|
Waller Creek at Shipe Park |
Waller Creek upstream of 23rd Street
|
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