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With Four Million People and Climate Change, Where Will Austin’s Water Come From?
by Robert E. MaceThe drought of 2008 through 2016 was a wake-up call for Austin. As levels in the Highland Lakes—Austin’s sole source of water—dwindled to near-record lows, the city enacted drought restrictions that threatened landscapes and businesses. As lake levels continued to decline, Austinites worried that the city would run out of water. Fortunately, the rains returned; however, the ever-present threat of drought remains for our growing city.
In response to the drought, the city council formed the Water Forward Task Force to work with city staff and the community to develop a 100-year water plan for Austin. This planning effort focused on increasing the sustainability, reliability, and diversity of Austin’s water supplies with an emphasis on (1) water conservation and reuse; (2) projects that are technically, socially, and economically feasible; and (3) environmental protection. Unlike state planning efforts, which only extend 50 years into the future, Austin’s plan also considers the potential effects of climate change on our water resources.
The challenges to meet Austin’s future water needs are sobering. There are currently about 1 million Austinites. Demographers expect our population to grow to 2 million by 2065 and 4 million by 2115. On top of a rapidly increasing population are the anticipated effects of climate change—including increased temperatures and lower rainfall, both of which will result in less water flowing to our reservoirs. If Austin does nothing to shore up its water resources, the Highland Lakes may go completely dry for years at a time.
The good news is that Austin’s Water Forward Integrated Water Resource Plan identifies solutions to Austin’s growing water resource challenges. These solutions include both water efficiency and water-supply projects. Water efficiency includes installing smart water meters that will inform you when you have a leak, reducing leaks in the city’s water pipes, and requiring water-efficient landscaping in new construction. Eventually, new buildings will be required to use rainwater, stormwater, greywater (from sinks and showers), air conditioning condensate, and treated wastewater to meet non-potable needs.
Water-supply projects include storing excess river water in (1) an aquifer for use during a drought, something San Antonio has done with great success and (2) an off-channel reservoir (essentially a ring dike located away from the river).
In the coming months and years, you will hear more about these solutions as the city implements them. Similar to the development of the Water Forward plan, there will be opportunities for the community to voice opinions on implementation. With a changing climate, a growing community, evolving regulations, and developing technology, Austin will revisit and revise the plan every five years.
The Water Forward Integrated Water Resource Plan established Austin as a water leader in the state and the country. Working together, we can ensure that we meet our water needs while enhancing Austin’s quality of life and the protection of the environment.
To learn more about Austin Water Forward, please visit https://bit.ly/2JofNXK and https://austintexas.gov/aiwrpctf. To read the plan, please visit https:////bit.ly/304yaa7.
Robert Mace serves as a member of the Austin Water Forward Task Force as an appointee of Council Member Pool, District 7. Robert is also the Interim Executive Director and Chief Water Policy Officer at The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Texas State University.
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The North Shoal Creek Neighborhood Plan Contact Team’s third quarterly meeting of 2019 is Thursday, August 8, from 6:30 to 7:55 p.m. in the First Texas Honda Conference Room*. Here is the agenda for the meeting:
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1. 6:30 — Call to order; quorum check; acknowledgement of voting members (5 min.)2. 6:35 — Approval of May meeting minutes (5 min.)
3. 6:40 — Updates/Announcements (20 min.)
a. 7951 Shoal Creek Blvd. Project Name: Shoal Creek Medical (Site plan application SP-2019-0148C) Demolish existing building and construct new 60’ building. Currently zoned GR so no zoning change is needed
b. 8526 Burnet: M-6 Multifamily; old site plan withdrawn, new site plan expected to be filed
c. 8140 Burnet: Austin Infinity gas tank install approved by Fire Marshal
d. 8703 N. MoPac: Possible rezoning of this property (Egon Asphalt) from LI (Light Industrial) to Office or Commercial4. 7:00 — New Business
a. 8140 Burnet: Austin Infinity parking garage extension; will be subject to compatibility standards; will take impervious cover from 82.7% to 87.9%; will require a drainage analysis
b. Revised Land Development Code Timeline
c. Planning Commission proposes code amendment to increase allowable height from 60’ to 85’ within transit-oriented developments, vertical mixed-use sites adjacent to activity centers or along Austin Strategic Mobility Plan’s Transportation Priority Network.
d. Harvard Study (https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/state-nations-housing-2019): Loss of affordable housing units in Austin5. 7:45 – Other business (10 min.)
6. 7:55– Adjournment
* (Please enter the dealership via the Steck entrance and park in the visitors’ parking lot to your left, nearest the big United States flag. If you enter through the main entrance, the conference room is down the corridor to your left. If you enter through the door on the west side of the building, the conference room is down the corridor, just before you reach the show room.)
All Contact Team meetings are open to the public.
To be a member of the North Shoal Creek NPCT, you must also fall into one or more of the following categories:
. Property owner
. Residential renter
. Business owner
. Neighborhood organization member owning or renting property within the neighborhood plan area.To be a voting member, you must be over 18 years of age; meet the membership requirement listed above; and have attended one prior meeting of the North Shoal Creek Neighborhood Plan Contact Team in the last 12 months.
For more information on the NSCNPCT, please email nsccontactteam@gmail.com
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The Austin City Council recently voted to ease restrictions on panhandling and camping in Austin. The changes, intended to decriminalize homelessness, went into effect July 1. The Austin Downtown Alliance is holding a forum on how Austin police will be interpreting and enforcing the new ordinances on Tuesday, July 23, from 5-6:30 p.m. at the Central Presbyterian Church, 200 E. Eighth Street. Attendance is open to all but those interested in attending must RSVP at this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/downtown-safety-forum-tickets-64990622702
