Kathy Shay, Austin Water Quality Education Manager

Kathy Shay, Austin Water Quality Education Manager

Written by Staff Friday, 23 May 2008

Kathy Shay
Water Quality Education Manager, City of Austin Watershed Protection and Development Review Board, Chair of Green City Initiative

Contact: kathy.shay@ci.austin.tx.us

Kathy Shay speaks to residents on water’s behalf. As Water Quality Education Manager for the City of Austin, Shay introduces new programs and initiatives, such as the Scoop the Poop program that encourages people with pets to clean up after them to ensure creeks and springs are safe for swimming. Particularly important is Bull Creek, where there is an off-leash park for dogs.

Q. What water issues should Northwest Austin residents be aware of?

A. I think three of the top concerns that we have are nutrients and basically all landscape chemicals. A lot of the nutrients are coming from fertilizer, we believe. And we’re also starting to see pesticides in the creeks as well. We had a big campaign this year on weed and feed. Avoid weed and feed, because we [Watershed Protection and Development Review Board] feel it’s a combination product. It’s a combination of fertilizer and pesticide and we don’t feel they should be put down at the same time of the year. So landscape chemicals are definitely one. Another one is sediment. There’s a lot of new development out in the northwestern area and so the erosion coming from the construction or the sediment coming off the sites is a problem for the creeks. We have the Jollyville Salamander habitat up there [Bull Creek], so it’s actually starting to clog their habitat. Then the next one is bacteria and while it’s isolated, we have a problem in Bull Creek Park in the off-leash pet area.

Q. Can you tell me a bit more about the water quality at Bull Creek and the Scoop the Poop Campaign?

A. We started a study because there had been problems with bacteria earlier on and basically we went up- and down-stream throughout the park, and it became really clear that the dog park area, the off-leash area, was very elevated [compared to non-off-leash areas]. We want very much to be able to keep the park open to all uses. We’re starting with education and hoping people will voluntarily comply and we’ve put a whole bunch of signs up. So we’re hoping that people will help out. And so we’re doing a follow-up study to keep in touch with it and make sure it isn’t a problem. So far we haven’t seen any changes, but we also haven’t had a heavy rainfall. After heavy rain flow, we’ll have a better idea. Of course, right after it rains is the worst, but we’re hoping it levels off after that.

Q. How safe is Bull Creek for wading and swimming?

A. Through most of the park it’s fine. But whenever it’s a natural body of water, you’ve always got to be careful around rain, because everything rushes in at that point. I probably wouldn’t advise putting children in the water in the off-leash area.

Q. What other sources might be contributing to creek contamination?

A. We always have some issues with oil and things from cars in general, but I don’t know that that’s any more specific to the Bull Creek area. Litter is an issue for us, because not only does it make creeks unattractive and less pleasant to go to, but it can clog habitats or change habitats for fish or any kind of aquatic life, and, of course, some trash can be bottles left over from detergents or something, so it can actually have toxic chemicals in it.

Q. Are there any other bodies in Northwest Austin affected?

A. We are expecting to see the problem in all of the off- leash areas. We think that people are much better when they’ve got their dog right there, and they can see it. In the off-leash areas, you don’t always know where your pet is.

Q. Do you know if the new water plant will affect Northwest Austin at all?

A. They’re really doing everything they think they can to prevent any problems. Everything they do, they’re supposed to ask the question, “How will that affect the environment?” So we were delighted that they moved the location. We think that was a very smart move for all of our habitats just because that area is so environmentally sensitive.

Q. What can Austinites do to make sure streams and creeks are safe for recreation?

A. We use the expression “live lightly on the land,” and I think that may be difficult for most people to understand. It’s really just thinking before you act, before you put down a landscape chemical. Say, “Is this the right time? Am I applying too much?” Just really asking the question, “Is it smart to do this?” And sometimes it is. Our Grow Green program is really big. It’s one of our biggest, and basically it just starts with less toxic options. We don’t say don’t ever use a chemical, because sometimes it’s the only way to solve a problem. But we say use them carefully and think about what you’re doing.

Q. How would you describe your program?

A. It’s kind of an all-inclusive program to keep our creeks and aquifers clean. In Austin, we have a lot of karst limestone which is very soft, and any time it rains, water will dissolve some of the limestone. When it does, the water will go directly underground. In the recharge zone, the limestone is on the surface of the land. Like downtown, we’ve got a lot of soil covering limestone. Soil can act as the filter for pollutants, but in the recharge zone, where these holes are on the surface of the land, chemicals will run right into the aquifer without any filtering. So we’re particularly concerned about the recharge zones.

Q: What else should Northwest Austin residents know?

A: In the Northwest Austin area, nitrogen and phosphorus levels in urban springs are about eight times greater than in undeveloped areas. It is a major concern to us up in that area. We have a pilot neighborhood in Stillhouse Hollow [with a spring], which runs into Bull Creek, and the nitrate levels there are two times the level of concern for aquatic life. So we’ve been trying, through education, to reduce the levels.

A new water quality monitoring study along Bull Creek shows high levels of bacteria at the off-leash pet area in District Park. The levels often exceed the state’s recommended limit for contact recreation. The levels are eight times higher on weekends than weekdays when park visitors increase in the off-leash area.

Bacteria, particularly that associated with pet feces, have become a problem in some of Austin’s parks and creeks. In order to preserve all uses of the parks, including swimming, wading and the off-leash pet areas, Austin is asking residents to help keep creeks clean by cleaning up after their pets. Pet waste may contain harmful pathogens which can cause human illnesses such as dysentry, hepatitis, typhoid fever and ear infections. Water qualities along Bull Creek show high bacteria levels in the water in the off-leash area of Bull Creek District Park. Fecal bacteria levels increase in the off-leash area on the weekends, when many more residents visit the park. Not only is the city encouraging Austinites to scoop the poop, it is also the law. Code 3-4-6 says that an owner or handler should sanitarily dispose of feces left on public or private property that is not owned by the pet’s owner. The fine for not complying is $500. The city provides bags at Mutt Mitt dispensers within the park. For more information about the Poop the Scoop program, visit www.scoopthepoopaustin.org.

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