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Bull Creek Watershed Study
INTRODUCTION
On July 8, 1993, the Austin City Council addressed the issue of development in the Bull Creek and West Bull Creek Watersheds, particularly as it impacts traffic conditions, water quality, and endangered species habitat. An ordinance was passed by the Council that day which:
- Requested that the City Manager prepare within 120 days a regional development study of the area along RM 2222 and the area within the Bull Creek and West Bull Creek Watersheds, and
- Established a development moratorium in the study watersheds until November 7, 1993, when the report was to be completed, and further action considered, based on the findings.
This document contains information assembled by the Environmental and Conservation Services Department (ECSD) to satisfy a request in the ordinance that the development study include an examination and evaluation of the relative impacts of cumulative land uses on water quality and endangered species.
The water quality of the Bull Creek watershed was assessed using three sources of water quality information. They are:
- Available historical data from the COA/USGS cooperative monitoring program and Austin/Travis County Health Department monitoring from sites at or near the most downstream bridge of Loop 360 as it crosses Bull Creek.
- An intensive water quality survey of Bull Creek watercourses conducted by ECSD staff during August and September, 1993;
- A water quality survey of springs in the watershed conducted by ECSD staff during August and September, 1993.
Additionally, this report includes:
- Pollutant loading estimates for existing and potential build-out scenarios,
- A discussion of potential alternatives to mitigate water quality impacts to the study watersheds,
- A description of public participation during the 120 day study period, and
- A discussion of the impact of development in the Bull Creek watershed on endangered species.
The scope of the investigation of Bull Creek water quality was limited by the short length of the study. This report does not represent a fully detailed water quality investigation; therefore, results should be considered preliminary.
Report Publication Date: November 1993, 72 pages.
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