Author Archives: dhouston

WaterShed & Contamination

The Watershed of the Property Runs Directly Into Eanes Creek.

The back of the property drains down to Eanes Creek, a direct tributary to the Colorado River (Lake Austin), and many residents use this creek for water and access to the lake.

Area resident’s are concerned about any negative impact to the quality of their water supply, in addition to the potential damage caused by the silting of the shallow creek due to the massive amount of soil disturbance caused by the razing of the two hilltops.

The creek drains into Lake Austin at a point just above the fresh water intake for the Rob Roy on the Lake subdivision, again causing concern about any negative impact to the quality of the water supply.

Well Water Contamination

Area residents are concerned about well water contamination from ball field fertilization and other chemicals. Many surrounding residents get their water from water wells, and are concerned that fertilizers and other chemicals used on the site could contaminate their water supply.

Water Use Concerns

This project will consume an inordinate amount of water. 

This hilltop site has very thin topsoil covering layers of solid limestone making it much more difficult than typical ball field sites to grow fields of grass.

Growing lush grass for full time sporting use will require an inordinate amount of water and fertilization (resulting in extremely high operating costs).

Given the recent severe drought conditions and the resulting awareness of utilizing water efficiently, EISD recently approved replacing grass fields with artificial turf at two of their school sites located nearby in the hill country.

The proposed site has environmentally sensitive features.  

EISD’s engineering reports indicate that this tract is in the Critical Water Quality Zone of the Colorado River.  In addition, the tract is within a Water Quality Transition Zone, an Upland Zone, and is in the 100-year floodplain.

The topography is indicated as rugged.  Runoff from the land discharges into the Colorado River (Lake Austin), the source of drinking water to numerous water districts and the City of Austin.

The property contains environmentally sensitive features that need to be protected. Several of the proposed fields appear to be drawn in or near areas where these features are located and may need to be moved or eliminated to allow sufficient setback.

Due to the critical environmental features on the west side of the site, the report called for the development of school improvements in the center and eastern portions of the property.