Austin Watershed Protection

🏆 We’re excited to share that our public service announcement, “Scoop the P**p this Halloween,” won a 3CMA - City-County Communications & Marketing Association First Place Savvy Award, a highly respected national recognition in local government communications! Judges praised the video for its clear message, strong storytelling, & humor.

🎥 Watch the 30-second video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEIIjUjU9rQ.

Austin Planning is updating the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan to help guide the future of our city.

When Imagine Austin was created in 2012, City staff worked with community members to identify and rank the top priorities for the City and the comprehensive plan. As staff update Imagine Austin, they're checking back in to better understand how you feel about those priorities today and if they still reflect Austin’s needs and values. To fulfill the City Charter, the comprehensive plan is required to cover, at a minimum, topics related to: future land use, transportation, public infrastructure, conservation and environmental resources, recreation and open space, housing, public services and facilities, public buildings, the economy, and health and human services.

The intent of this survey is to inform how City staff prioritize these topics in the updated plan. The survey will remain open through October 18, 2026.

Please take this 10-minute survey at www.speakupaustin.org/q8361 -85041 to help staff better understand what you believe the City’s long-term priorities should be!

Imagine Austin Update - PublicInput The Imagine Austin Update English | Español | 简体中文 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | 한국어 | Français | ह न्द

For one day of our week-long Earth Camp program, 5th-grade students participate in organic gardening. 🫛

🐛 Rather than using pesticides, they learn to identify helpful & harmful insects and use safe methods to relocate pests.
🌿 Instead of relying on herbicides, they identify & remove weeds by hand.
🍂 They make & spread compost to reduce water use & provide the nutrients needed to help plants grow without chemical fertilizers.

By learning organic gardening skills, Earth Campers gain another tool to help them care for Austin’s water & environment! 💧

ℹ️ www.austintexas.gov/watershed-protection/earth-camp

Join us this Friday!

¡Únete a nosotros este viernes!

Construction on the Asian American Resource Center / Rutherford Stormwater Improvements started on July 26. This project is located in the large field behind the AARC at 8401 Cameron Road & in the concrete channel near the City of Austin Rutherford Campus at 1520 Rutherford Lane.

The project will improve water quality in the Rutherford Tributary of Little Walnut Creek, install two pedestrian bridges over concrete channels, and add a new stream and rain garden, trails, landscaping, & a play area.

ℹ️ Sign up to receive ongoing updates about this project at https://publicinput.com/g37873.

🏗️ We'll begin construction this month on the Asian American Resource Center & Rutherford Stormwater Improvements project. The initiative will help protect water quality in Little Walnut Creek while enhancing public spaces at the Asian American Resource Center + the City's Rutherford Campus.

💧The project will:
• Add wetlands, a new stream, a rain garden & enhanced flood controls
• Create new public amenities like an urban trail, bridges, play area & landscaping

For more info, please join us for an online public meeting!
📆 July 15
🕧 6:30 p.m.
👉 Sign up at AustinTexas.gov/Watershed-Protection/Asian-American-Resource-Center

ℹ️ https://tinyurl.com/nhh4w83t

💧 Each day during our week-long Earth Camp program, educators help students explore & understand watersheds.

In this photo, one of our Earth Camp leaders prepares students for conducting investigations using a large, table-sized model. As the students interact with this hands-on exhibit, they see firsthand how pollution can impact our creeks, lakes, & river.

This activity is one of many experiences that inspire Earth Camp participants to become responsible stewards of Austin’s water & environment! ℹ️ www.austintexas.gov/watershed-protection/earth-camp

📢 The voter registration deadline for the November election is coming up quickly🏃‍♀️‍➡️- Monday, October 5!

ℹ️ Visit https://votetravis.gov/voter-information to register, to check your registration status, & more.

(📷 Photo from the Travis County Clerk's webpage: the 360 bridge over Lake Austin, with text overlay "Voter Information")