A Report to the Shoal Creek Community

June 10, 2014  | By Shoal Creek Conservancy

As we prepare for our second year at the Conservancy, we are honored to share with you, our supporters and the Shoal Creek Community, a report on our progress since the organization’s launch in October 2013 as well as highlights of our plans for the coming year. Founding Members, thank you for making this all possible. If you are not already a member, we hope you’ll join our growing community today!

With your first-year support, we:

  1. Established a voice and community dedicated to improving Shoal Creek for all Austinites by incorporating, hiring staff, opening an office, gaining nonprofit status, growing to approximately 200 members, publishing an e-newsletter and creating a social media presence
  1. Educated the community about the unique natural and historic treasures of the creek through six walking tours attracting over 225 supporters
  1. Reduced trash and graffiti, mulched trees and improved the general maintenance of the downtown portion of the trail through workdays that engaged over 180 volunteers, and by partnering with the City
  1. Initiated an invasive bamboo removal and restoration project along the upper trail to reduce fire risk and create native habitat
  1. Successfully advocated for emergency trail repairs after the October 2013 floods
  1. Achieved nomination for listing of the West 6th Street Bridge over Shoal Creek on the National Register of Historic Places as early as fall 2014
  1. Successfully advocated for lighting on the trail and under bridges from Lady Bird Lake West 6th Street
  1. Supported creation of a strong Austin Urban Trails Master Plan that prioritizes improvements on Shoal Creek trail as well as its expansion
  1. Secured funds for the City to pursue a preliminary engineering report as the first step in implementing major improvements to the trail and creek between 5th and 15th Streets

With your continued support, in the coming year, we will:

  1. Continue to build our community and improve Shoal Creek through programs and new initiatives
  1. Partner with the City to create a Watershed Plan that identifies water quality, flood risk and erosion solutions
  1. Develop and implement invasive species and pest management solutions for lower Shoal Creek with the City
  1. Pursue major improvements to Duncan Park, such as a teaching garden and a restroom
  1. Initiate restoration of the historic West 6th Street Bridge over Shoal Creek
  1. Create a Safety and Security Task Force to address public safety concerns along the trail’s downtown reach
  1. Implement a mural arts program to reduce graffiti and create attractive destinations as the first phase in a larger program to incorporate visual arts along the urban portion of the trail
  1. And much more!

Download a PDF of this report.

For more information about this report, please contact Joanna Wolaver, Executive Director at 512-474-2412 or email her.