Project 20 years in the making will help protect Barton Springs in drought conditions

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A project that has been 20 years in the making was approved by Austin City Council on Thursday and is a way to protect Barton Springs during droughts, a news release from the city of Austin said.

The project includes building a channel that will flow from Little Bear Creek "during times of high flow," the release said. This is a way to preserve the flow at Barton Springs during droughts. The water that flows from Little Bear Creek will then "be directed to a former quarry, where it will recharge the Edwards Aquifer," according to the city.

The project site is located in Hays County -- purchased in 2002 -- and was "part of a voter-approved bond package managed by Austin Water," according to the city. The site is 84.62 acres, and that land is managed by Austin Water, the release said.

"The project consists of building a diversion channel from Little Bear Creek that will direct some water from the creek to the former quarry pit via a newly constructed rock ramp," the release said. "The project will not impact normal flows in the creek or the current recharging of the aquifer from the creek."

The total cost of that construction will be $2.6 million and is set to begin in the next six weeks and could take up to seven months, according to the city.

“We are pleased to be a part of this project, an important piece of the City’s Water Quality Protection Lands that will improve water quality for our aquifers and Barton Springs,” Shay Ralls Roalson, Director of Austin Water, said in the release. “Converting this former quarry to a site that provides environmental benefits is a win for the entire region.”