Austin Watershed Protection

Welcome to Austin Watershed Protection

Austin Watershed Protection protects lives, property and the environment of our community by reducing the impact of flooding, erosion and water pollution.

Key Services and Information

Featured Programs and Projects

Assistance with Flood Insurance

We are partnering with the Housing and Planning Department and the Del Valle Community Coalition to conduct a pilot program to provide up to $1,000 in financial assistance for Austin homeowners to obtain or maintain flood insurance for one year. This program aims to support residents in high-risk flood areas by reducing financial barriers to coverage.

Eligibility

You must be a current homeowner in Austin.
You must use the funds to obtain, renew or maintain flood insurance.
You must reside in a floodplain (See map of floodplains).
Your income must fall below 120% Median Family Income (MFI).
You must provide evidence of income, residency, and homeownership.

For more information or to apply, visit the Del Valle Community Coalition’s Flood Preparedness Program.

Hydrilla in Lake Austin

There has been a spike in the extent of hydrilla in Lake Austin since June. Hydrilla is a nonnative, invasive plant and it is now covering approximately 30% of the lake, up from less than 5% in June.

Texas Parks and Wildlife conducted a survey of vegetation in the lake in September. They found 313 acres of hydrilla and another 286 acres with a mix of hydrilla and Eurasian watermilfoil. Combined, this makes for an estimated 456 acres of hydrilla. The amount of hydrilla is approaching its peak of over 500 acres in 2012 and 2013.

See map of September vegetation survey.

Because we are at the end of the typical growing season, we expect the growth of hydrilla to slow down on its own over the winter. This gives us some time to respond and try to reduce the amount of hydrilla and further slow its growth rate. To do this, we are arranging to add more sterile grass carp later this fall.

When considering hydrilla, please keep in mind:

Aquatic vegetation, including hydrilla, can benefit fish and water quality
Hydrilla can grow so fast that it becomes a problem for the environment and our community.
Managing hydrilla is a complicated balancing act that takes time.

Learn more about hydrilla and plants in Austin's Lakes.

Floodplain Remapping

The City of Austin, Travis County and other Central Texas communities are updating floodplain maps in the region based on the Atlas 14 study. Our current floodplain maps show where flooding is likely to occur with 10.2 inches of rainfall in 24 hours. The updated maps will reflect flooding from almost 13 inches of rain in some areas. This amount of rainfall has a one percent chance of occurring in any given year (the 100-year storm). Find out more about floodplain remapping efforts at ATXFloodplains.com.

Rain to River

Rain to River is a strategic plan that will guide the work of Austin Watershed Protection for the next 10 years. We will use this plan to set goals, prioritize our work, and guide our decision making to tackle urgent challenges such as climate change and racial inequities. The plan will update and replace the current Watershed Protection Strategic Plan.

What's on Facebook?

Austin can experience heavy rains in October, & floodwaters can rise fast! Our team maintains stormwater infrastructure to reduce flooding in neighborhoods & on roads. If you see a clogged storm drain pipe, a broken or heavily eroded section of a drainage ditch, or other drainage issue, please report it!