PROGRAMS
About 10% of land in Austin is in the floodplain, subject to the dangers of flash flooding. The Floodplain Office administers local and federal development rules, meant to limit damage and protect lives, and maintains floodplain maps and models.
Groundwater is an essential source of fresh water that is found underground in aquifers. In Austin, aquifers provide water to over 1,500 springs! Springs are places where groundwater flows onto the surface.
Our Operations Branch manages vegetation and green infrastructure at properties owned or managed by the Watershed Protection Department.
Our creeks and lakes are home to an amazing number of trees, birds, fish, and other wildlife.
Austin is home to three species of aquatic salamanders that live nowhere else in the world: the Barton Springs salamander, Austin blind salamander, and Jollyville Plateau salamander.
Stretching from Waterloo Park to Lady Bird Lake, the Waller Creek Tunnel helps reduce the risk of flooding in downtown Austin.
Austin’s creeks used to run clear in the wilderness, but now they run through the built environment of the city. They pick up pollution from all of us. The concrete and rooftops of the city cause their flow to vary wildly, swinging from dry to overflowing during heavy storms.
The Watershed Protection Strategic Plan is the guiding blueprint for our department. The Strategic Plan helps us understand and address existing flooding, erosion, and water quality problems. It helps us prepare for future challenges.