New Report Identifies Contaminated Waterways in the Austin Area
Posted: Thu, 3 Sep 2026 02:14 PM - 37 Readers
By: Sam Craft
A statewide Environment Texas report found bacterial contamination in some Austin-area waterways people use to cool off. Sixteen of 22 Travis County sites in the study had potentially unsafe bacteria on at least one test day in 2024–2025. Walnut Creek, Bull Creek, Waller Creek, Shoal Creek, and Boggy Creek were among those flagged; Waller, Shoal, and Boggy are already listed as impaired for recreation by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Popular spots such as Barton Springs, Lake Austin, and Lake Travis were left out of the report even though city data exists. Environment Texas director Luke Metzger called the findings a snapshot meant to raise awareness and push for cleanup funding, not a full inventory of every Texas waterway.
Austin Watershed Protection said the report is not a reason to sound the alarm. Staffer Andrew Clamann argued a single-day “grab” of samples can mislead and that the group’s method does not match how the state judges water quality. He said Barton Springs, Lake Austin, and Lake Travis are generally in excellent condition and swimming there is typically safe. Urban runoff from rapid development, older septic systems, and bacteria from people, dogs, and wildlife all play a role in creek pollution; Austin does not have combined sewers. The city said the report will not bring new restrictions on public waterways.
