- Barton Creek
Barton Creek is one of the tributaries that feeds the Texas Colorado River as it flows through the
Texas Hill Country . The creek passes through some of the more scenic areas in the Austin region and forms agreenbelt that is the habitat for many indigenousspecies of flora and fauna.The creek begins in northern Hays County and flows convert|40|mi|km|0 east through Austin to
Lady Bird Lake (formerly Town Lake), where it merges with the Colorado River. The creek falls into the fissure ofEdwards Aquifer in southwest Austin and reemerges atBarton Springs . During rainy seasons, upper Barton Creek hosts water recreation including kayaking, tubing, and swimming. The LowerBarton Creek Greenbelt features these water sports year-round with swimming inBarton Springs Pool , and kayaking and caneoing in the creek fed with the discharge from the springs.History and conservation
The creek is named for William Barton, who built a house near
Barton Springs in 1837. The springs quickly became a popularresort , with a pool being constructed there in the 1930s.Development in Austin in the 1970s and 1980s began to threaten both the creek's
water quality andwildlife . Heavyrainfall often caused closure of the pools at the springs due tocontamination fromrunoff andsewer lines, the effluent of the affluent upstream subdivisions entering the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone which feeds the springs. Following public outcry, the Austin City Council passed the Barton Creek watershed Ordinance in 1980 and later the Comprehensive Watersheds Ordinance in 1986. Proposals in 1990 to develop land in the watershed resulted in more public outcry leading to the passage of the Save Our Springs Citizens' Initiative of 1992, which severely limitedconstruction , limitedtax exemption s, established pollution control standards, and implemented methods for reducing accidental contamination.References
External links
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* [http://fractasia.com/cgi-bin/pw1.pl?photoguid=brianp&suite=Barton.Creek Extensive photo collection of Barton Creek at Fractasia]
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