January and February Meetings Announced
[ January 31, 2012; 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm. 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm. February 6, 2012; 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm. 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm. ] Due to City holidays on the third Mondays of January and February (MLK Day and Presidents’ Day, respectively), both Joint Committee meetings have been combined and rescheduled to take place on February 6th. Please know that the February 6th meeting will take place at 6:00 p.m. and it will be held at the Zilker Botanical Gardens Auditorium located at 2220 Barton Springs Rd. In the next few weeks I will be sending out the agenda and backup materials for this meeting. If you have any questions, please contact me.
Thank you,
Sharon Knotts
Austin Parks and Recreation Department
Office of Assistant Director, Kimberly McNeeley
(512) 974-9491
sharon.knotts@austintexas.gov
Gary Gregson, Project Coordinator, Austin Parks and Recreation says:
At this point, the 90% submittal for the General Grounds project and some proposed tree work by PARD Forestry are all I’m aware that will be on the agenda.
We are also working to get the General Grounds project on the January agenda for the Design Commission. I believe that meeting is scheduled for January 31.
We have also spoken with Alyson Magee about getting on the City’s Historic Landmark Commission agenda in February, but that has not been confirmed. We will be requesting a certificate of appropriateness from them.
City Responds to Public Outcry–Won’t Cut Trees–for Now
I just spoke with Cora Wright, and she confirmed that PARD will be meeting with Don Gardner next week. In addition, Ms. Wright will also make the recommendation that a public hearing be held prior to removal. It is my understanding that these trees have been monitored for months, with significant deterioration being identified with one of the trees that constitutes a hazard. The other tree will undergo canopy reduction, and will continue to be monitored.
We appreciate the concern for these trees, and we also appreciate the diligent work of our city arborist department and urban foresters, as well as Ms. Wright at PARD for their thoughtful attention to this matter. I will follow up as additional information on the hearing becomes available.
Best,
Shannon
Shannon Halley
Policy Aide
Office of City Council Member Kathie Tovo
512-974-2236 fax: 512-974-1888
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/council/tovo.htm
The two trees are tagged for cutting by the City of Austin.
Download the 98-page 2009 Davey Report on Trees at Barton Springs Pool. The deaths of many of the trees reported on by this out-of-state tree removal company were greatly exaggerated.
Water Conservation and Tree Watering Guidance
AHTF UFB watering instructions 2011 10.03.11
Don Gardner’s watering guidelines 2011
By Zoila Vega Marchena
The Austin Heritage Tree Foundation adopted all of the heritage trees at the Polo Fields and BSP in 2010, and partnering with PARD Forestry has been watering the heritage trees outside the fence by the BSP bathhouse and the Zilker Hillside Theater, the Polo Fields and Rock Gardens and some other parks. We are very experienced with watering established trees.
We are at Stage 2 water conservation, with discussion of stage 3 being imminent in a month or two. There has been no significant rain since the third week of June. Established trees need to have 1 inch of water every 2-3 weeks, so trees that haven’t been watered need water very badly. It’s very evident that many trees are stressed to the maximum and may die if they don’t get some water soon. Please, help the established trees by watering in an efficient manner that complies with water conservation guidelines stage 2. Water conservation is not meant to discourage you from watering established trees, but rather encourages you to water them in an efficient manner.
The most efficient way to water established trees during drought, even at Stage 2, is to water only the outer half of the dripline, as evenly as possible, only when needed (about 2-3 weeks), and to check with hand trowel that the soil is wet to 4 inches, so that the watering counts and lasts for 2-3 weeks. Please, see the watering diagram attached, above (AHTF watering diagram). It’s important to water the most important roots, and those are half the way between the trunk and the dripline, and it’s important to provide that water as evenly as possible so that the roots grow in the entire area. If you use a soaker hose method, connect several soaker hoses together to form a spiral on the outer half of the dripline. If you place a hose on the ground, move it to 2-4 more spots at the dripline, or slightly inside the dripline. If you have several trees, use an oscillating sprinkler to water the common driplines of these trees. Any amount of water is better than no water. If you use a drip irrigation method (the best), install the tiny sprinkler like emitters around the tree on the outer half of the dripline above ground, or install regular drip emitters below ground, but placed closer, in the outer half of the dripline. I’m not an expert on drip irrigation, there may be better ways to get the outer half of the dripline wet evenly.
The watering time depends on watering method used, soil, size of tree, etc. It’s better to check that the soil is moist to 4 inches, with a hand trowel, to determine the watering time for your case. When using an oscillating sprinkler at average home water flow rate, the water from the sprinkler will be about 4-5 ft high, and it will take about 1.5-2 hrs. to get the 4 inches of soil wet. If there is heavy mulch, it may take another half hour or even an hour. Check the soil moisture. Often, it takes more time to get the mulch wet (about 1.5 hrs) and with only an additional half an hour or so you can get the soil wet, so don’t stop watering before the water has reached the proper soil depth. It’s important to spread mulch only 3 inches thick maximum because it makes more difficult for water to get to the soil. Soaker hoses deliver water more slowly and require longer application times, maybe 4-6 hrs. Check soil moisture to determine your situation. Some people recommend that the soil be moist to 5-6 inches deep. This is too deep and requires a lot more water. Conserve water and only check for 4 inches deep. If needed, 3 inches will do. 1-2 inches of moist soil is not enough and will last only a few days. But, remember that any water that you can give a tree is better than none. If you can only provide 1-2 inches, that’s better than none.
Please, go to www.austinheritagetrefoundation.com for watering guidelines during drought approved by the UFB in July (attached). Please, read the Don Gardner’s watering guidelines, same link, for instructions on how to check that you have applied enough water to make that watering count and last. Young trees require watering at the root ball twice a week when it’s very hot, and once weekly after that for 3 years. This is about 10-20 gallons per tree. Trees that have brown dead leaves attached to the branches are most likely dead. Trees that have lost their leaves need water because trees drop their leaves to conserve their energy. But be aware that cedar elms’ leaves are turning brown and dropping. Be aware that some trees may be changing according to the season, but in general, they all need water. It’s more prudent to continue watering (in a water efficient manner) and wait until next year for the trees to come back, unless it‘s obvious that they are dead. Since the UFB issued these guidelines in July through my foundation (non-profit), I have been trying to correct other watering guidelines. The Texas Forest Service watering guidelines recommend erroneously to water the entire dripline, and even shows a picture of a puddle of water by the tree trunk. Always water away from tree trunks when dealing with established trees. Trunks may not rot with this excessive heat, but would rot if it wasn’t this extremely hot. More importantly, the roots in the outer half of the dripline will benefit from the water the most. Water is wasted when allowed to puddle, worse if it is by the trunk where there are fewer feeder roots. Don’t let the water puddle or runoff. If puddles are formed when watering, move to another area, and come back to the same area once the puddle has been absorbed. The TFS guidelines also recommend checking soil moisture to 6-8 inches deep with a screwdriver. This is too deep and unnecessary, because it will require a lot of water to wet the soil to this depth. Checking with a screwdriver may allow damaging some roots, and doesn’t let you see the soil. With a hand trowel you can see the soil and determine how far the water has penetrated, and kind of estimate how much longer you need to water. I will be contacting the TFS soon to point out these inaccuracies. It’s important that watering guidelines be accurate. But besides these inaccuracies, the TFS video and instruction sheets with many pictures are good visual guides to water (and save) our trees during this drought.
Citizens Speak to Grounds Improvement Plans
[ October 17, 2011; 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. ] At the Monday, Sept 19th meeting in City Hall of the Joint Committee (PARD, Forestry and Environmental Board), the citizen communication portion was attended by about 20 people, more than 10 of whom spoke or gave their time to others. All spoke to the “grounds improvement” presentations.
Some of the key points made were:
- Continue with projects that everyone agrees on but put a hold on others, especially the south lawn area: moving the south gate; the 6ft wide sidewalk across the south lawn; the ADA path as is currently designed.
- The back gate area parking lot plan is not functional or practical.
- Even though there have been many public process meetings the general feel of the speakers was that there was not enough outreach and available information to the public in the process so far. Including Eliza Springs and snack bar in the scope of the front gate project. No one could answer how, who or where the “scope” originated.
- The Joint Committee was reminded of the successes we had over the past few years, when the public process lead to collaboration on the trees and bypass tunnel issues by stakeholders . The committee recognized that public input yielded good results before and so, they requested an onsite meeting on October 17, 5 pm to review not moving the gate to the east, the distance of the ADA path, and the dirt parking lot. (Date/time to be confirmed)
- 27 trees were saved from the plan to remove them that was proposed in the Barton Springs Pool Master plan and supported by the Friends of Barton Springs Pool
- Repairs for the bypass tunnel were estimated at $4 million before redesign, $2.4M after redesign–that’s $1.6 Million less, saved to the tax payers, because of public input. The $2.6 million that the bypass tunnel will cost now does NOT include the engineering costs paid to the first contractor, whose design will not be used. The redesign involved the Watershed Director hiring a second contractor to re-do the plan done by the first contractor, all initiated by public input and an independent review by Wateshed engineers. The result is a much improved plan that will not damage the pool. Many citizens continued to address the boards and the BSP Joint Committee to the point of bringing the issue to the attention of Watershed Director, who formed a special group with her engineers, based on the citizens input, to review the bypass tunnel project. This independent review caused the hiring of a second contractor who designed a plan that will cost $2.4M. Those citizens did that in spite of the continuous opposition from FBSP, which all the while, kept on trying to push the $4M plan forward. These numbers are construction costs estimates. The total cost of the bypass tunnel will probably be higher once you include that the original design was not used, but the first contractor was paid for his design. But, no matter what, the total cost comparison remains the same: The total cost will be $2.4M + X, vs. $4M + X before.
- South lawn area is a passive recreation area and it is important to keep it that way – all great parks have great lawn.
The Joint Committee recognized that public input yielded good results before and so, they requested an onsite meeting to review moving the gate to the east, the length of the ADA path and the dirt parking lot.
The committee talked about having an on-site meeting on the same day as the regular mtg – Oct 17th at 5pm – - but that is not yet confirmed. It will most likely be at the back gate on Oct. 17th at 5pm.
The Introduction of Arts in Public Places Artist portion was postponed.
POOL TO CLOSE 2 1/2 MONTHS in 2012
A presentation was given on Bypass Culvert Repair and Inlet Grate Projects by Johnnie Price. Construction will begin in 2012 and will be in 3 phases. Inlet Grate Construction will begin Feb 2012 and the Bypass Repair will begin Oct. 2012 assuming Fish allows them to do that because of the drought (since the original start up date was put back because if the drought). Pool will be closed during phases 2 and 3 for 2 ½ months of the 5 month project.
There was a short update on Urban Forestry Program’s Tree Treatment Plan.
Mary Gay Maxwell suggested everyone read the short term projects document that will address some of the speakers concerns view it here: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/parks/downloads/shorttrm.pdf. It was also made available at the meeting.
Joint Committee Meets at City Hall on High-impact Plans
Barton Springs Pool Ground Improvements
Parks & Recreation Board/Environmental Board Joint Committee to Meet Monday at City Hall, 301 West Second St, Austin TX
The Joint Committee will meet Monday, September 19 at 6:15 at City Hall, Room 1029.
There will be no presentation or scheduled discussion regarding the 60% grounds improvement project.. The plan was presented twice last month, and public input was received during both meetings. The Joint Committee approved the 60% plans. A concerned citizen could address the Joint Committee with a 3 minute citizen communication, but there will not be presentations on the subject.
Please, read the presentations. The 60% plans can be found at:
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/parks/downloads/ggi0901l.pdf — in low resolution
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/parks/downloads/ggi0901h.pdf — in high resolution
Many of the presentations, short term projects status, etc. are posted at the following link:
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/parks/bartonspringsmp.htm
The agenda for the meeting is http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/parks/downloads/jcagenda20110919.pdf
PARD’s policy is that feedback can be provided any time, but the later in the design cycle it is given, the fewer the chances that it will be incorporated.
60% design stage was Monday August 15th 2011
60% had to be repeated because we didn’t attend, Sept 1, 2011
Feedback accepted for the next 2 weeks after last presentation. This is not official policy from PARD but more or less a good logical assumption. This means that feedback can be provided until Friday Sept 16th, 2011. Since next joint committee is Monday, Sept 19, feedback may be accepted next week.
90% October 17th, 2011 = After this time it will be very difficult to make changes unless they can be easily accommodated within existing plans. At this point, plan is almost finalized. Permits are missing. Not USFW permits that take a long time, but various city permits.
The 90% plan will most likely not change much from the 60% plan UNLESS
citizens ask for changes soon. This BSP Grounds Improvement plan was
discussed from the conceptual phase, to the 30% to the current 60% stage
with public input, so we are pretty much getting the last chances to make
changes. PARD receives public input all through the cycle, but it gets
harder to incorporate as the plans progress.
There is no terracing of the south lawn. There is terracing at the North lawn.
ADA entrance to the water on the south side will be possible via a lift that
has already been purchased by Aquatics.
Tree mulching and fencing is part of the tree maintenance plan that Forestry
is developing, as part of the Master Plan Short Term improvement projects. (See below.)
Brian Larson is designing the 60% grounds improvement plan including
proposed renovations and the planting plan. Forestry is developing the tree
maintenance plan. They are supposed to be working together to integrate all
plans.
Public input can be submitted via email to PARD, Gary Gregson, Masterplan Project Manager – and/ or to the members of the joint committee.
BSP Joint Committee members:
- Linda Guerrero, chair, (Parks board)
- Carol Lee (Parks board)
- Jerry Perales (parks board)
- Mary Ann Neely, (e board)
- Dr. Mary Gay Maxwell (e board)
You may also wish to cc the Director of PARD. Sara Hensley as well as the public mailing list .
Hurry. The closer to the 90% stage (October 17), the fewer chances of incorporating feedback. There will be no more discussion unless there are many who email PARD cc Joint Committee about a certain issue, like not moving the entrance to the east, or not building the path on top of the hill, but that is an ADA issue and there are few chances of changing it.
Moving the entrance to the east side creates a paved parking lot close to the creek and reduces parking space, while it lengthens the way to the pool that some disabled or mobility impaired people who may not be able to walk, all while the dirt parking lot remains unpaved creating dust and health problems. It may be possible to change this issue with sufficient public support. The alternative is to pave the dirt parking lot and keep the existing entrance on the south side.
Placing the path on the south hill closer to the trees or on the other side of the trees, as was proposed by a citizen at the last meeting, will damage the trees. The path needs to be at the edge of the dripline of the trees as was shown in Brian’s plans, and where it was placed Brian is optimum for the trees. Another idea proposed by the same party at the last meeting was to enlarge the paved parking lot, close to the restrooms, but this is not okay because there are trees by both sides of the parking lot, and they would get damaged if the parking was enlarged.
PARD Forestry’s plan to maintain the trees within the fence at BSP
You should attend this meeting because of this other important presentation. There will be a presentation on PARD Forestry’s plan to maintain the trees within the fence at BSP. This includes potentially mulching some large shade areas, but only for 1 year, to enrich the soil for the trees, and possibly soil aerating some trees which involves fencing their critical root zone and watering for 1 year. Both of these proposals will reduce the space available to lay down by the hills, and there are simpler ways to provide the nutrients to the majority of the trees, like applying a thin layer of organic compost (not Dillo dirt), that will work itself into the soil in 3-6 months, eliminating the need to fence or water the trees for a year. The soil aeration process is very hard on trees even though it’s the most benign, and should be used only when absolutely necessary. And mulching trees is beneficial but if the plan is to mulch only for 1 year, then the benefit is not as good. Mulch will not improve the soil by much if only applied for 1 year. A good tree maintenance program should include applying organic compost and mulching yearly.
There are 14 trees that need soil aeration due to excessive soil compaction and for which PARD had already permitted the soil aerations that will occur this fall. In addition to that, the 1-2 cottonwoods by the diving board may need soil aeration. Many certified arborists doubt that soil aerations are need for any other tree inside the BSP fence.
A Planting Plan
In addition, a planting plan for both hills inside the fence and South Woods, designed by Forestry may be presented. However, since we have the unique opportunity of having an experienced landscape architect such as Brian Larson, the planting plan should be designed by him. Brian will indeed design the landscape plan and Forestry, as well as the public, will review. That would yield a much better plan. The South Woods in particular needs a planting plan because most (?) invasives were removed, and there are small areas that are bare. But the planting plans need to be reviewed by the public before planting, and the public needs to be given sufficient time to review these plans, as was agreed by PARD and Joint Committee last year. And we shouldn’t plant unless there is a way to water the plantings during next year’s heat and drought.
An important issue to discuss is the need to install irrigation for the grass and trees in both hills. The system can be the same, but different controls are needed so that the Heritage trees can get a deep watering during the drought months only. The new trees that will be planted will need irrigation for 3 years, and that irrigation should be installed very carefully around the established trees, avoiding encroaching into their dripline (CRZ) to not damage their roots.
Please attend this meeting to see if you are OK with the amount of space that will be lost for tree treatments that may not be necessary, effective or practical. Please, help the trees by asking for gentler treatments (like applying compost) when soil aerations aren’t necessary. The heritage trees at the pool are already stressed by the drought, they don’t need additional stress from harsh treatments. Please, notice the new location of the meeting, it’s at city hall, room 1029.
Please attend future SP Joint Committee meetings held the third Monday of each month to stay informed of these and future construction that is intended as part of the BS Pool Master Plan.
Please Attend Monthly Pool Maintenance Meetings
[ September 14, 2011; 10:00 am to 11:00 am. October 12, 2011; 10:00 am to 11:00 am. November 9, 2011; 10:00 am to 11:00 am. ] Barton Springs Pool Maintenance meeting is held on the second Wednesday of each month, 10:00 until 11:00 a.m., at Barton Springs Pool
The public is encourage to attend the Barton Springs Pool Maintenance meeting to discuss maintenance practices at pool, between public and staff. These take place at the pool, near the guard office. Ask a guard where the management is who is leading the discussion. Please bring suggestions for improvements.
Please Attend the BSP Joint Committee Meeting
[ September 19, 2011; 6:15 pm to 8:30 pm. October 17, 2011; 6:15 pm to 8:30 pm. November 21, 2011; 6:15 pm to 8:30 pm. ] BSP Joint Committee (Parks and Recreation Dept, Environmental Board, and Forestry) is to be held the third Monday of every month at 6:15 pm. At these meetings, it makes important decisions regarding our beloved pool, trees and grounds. These are the meetings where the Master Plan projects are discussed, and where staff updates the committee and the public of the approved Master Plan Short term projects.
This note was added recently to the BSP Master Plan web site. Meeting notifications and previous presentations are posted in this web site, which is at the following link:
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/parks/bartonspringsmp.htm
Location:
301 W 2nd St
Austin, TX 78701
And details about this meeting may be found at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bartonsprings/message/5061
You must be a member (it’s free to join and easy to unsubscribe) of this yahoogroup to access the message.
Short Term Projects for Barton Springs Pool
The Short Term Projects for Barton Springs Pool includes Repairs to the Bypass Culvert, Structural Testing of Dams, Redesign in Inlet Grate, Topographic Survey, Hydrolic Modeling, Grounds Improvements and more.
More Potential Closure: Problems with Lower Dam
A study of the dams have revealed 2 15-foot cracks in the lower dam, which could result in extended closure of the pool in the winter months.
Details of the story were reported by KUT FM. See
http://kut.org/2011/05/dam-cracks-could-cause-barton-springs-pool-closure/
Barton Springs Weather
