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Volunteers for Oct. 3 Cleaning — PLEASE USE SOUTH SIDE/AZIE MORTON ENTRANCE!

For the upcoming cleaning on Thurs., Oct. 3, access to the north or bathhouse side will be restricted/impossible due to ACL Festival parking and prep, so we’re alerting our wonderful Friends of Barton Springs Pool volunteers to park on the SOUTH side in the lot off of Azie Morton Rd. and enter the pool from the south entrance.  The gate will be closed but it will be unlocked. The volunteers will then need to walk to the bathhouse side to check in and get instructions on what we are working on that day. More park access details below and at this link.
 
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President’s Report: August, 2019

Friends,

We are fast approaching the end of the pool cleaning season with Sept. 5 and Oct. 3 being the last of the first Thursday dates to volunteer, along with Councils Cleans the Pool on Thursday (Oct. 24).  The season has been very successful working with corporate sponsors like AMD, C3 Presents, Wholefoods along with teams from all walks of life like ABGB, BRC Recovery, Austin Allies, Austin Youthworks, Progress Texas, and of course our loyal Friends!  Folks, when you add up all the people/hours, we put up staggering numbers —  500+ volunteers putting in 3000+ volunteer hours at the pool!

WE  THANK  ALL  OF  YOU!!

Aquatic plants in the pool update.  We have a new approach that takes into account some successes that were realized in the past along with a better commitment from PARD and Watershed. FBSP will be leading a team that will help with planting and maintaining the plants.  To better prepare the plants, we are going to create a nursery.  The planting will be done during the scheduled partial draw-downs of the pool to make it easier and safer.  If anyone is interested in finding out more about this effort, check out our website or email me at president@friendsofbartonspringspool.org

Speaking of partial draw-downs, FBSP has been advocating for this since 2006 as a way of improving water quality.  When the pool is drawn down, it kills the algae in the shallow end, and BSP Staff is able to get the bobcat with the power brush and hoses (Broom Brigade on steroids…) to wash away the organics and make it less slippery for swimmers.

WE COMMEND PARD and AQUATICS FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN!

Opening up the upper dam to creek flow something that we have been advocating for since 2006.  I could go on and on about the benefits and I encourage anyone interested in learning more to refer to the Barton Springs Pool Master Plan.  The good news is Watershed recognized the benefits and took on this project.  Furthermore, they have progressed to the point where they hired an engineering firm to design the gates, and develop a plan for when to take advantage of creek flow in the pool.  We have been involved all along the way with meetings and discussions and are looking forward to seeing what they have designed.   We encourage everyone to support this effort, again if you are interested in finding out more about this effort email me at president@friendsofbartonspringspool.org

WE THANK WATERSHED FOR TAKING ON THIS PROJECT!

Barton Creek Safety update.  Joe Riddell, a long-time environmental activist and avid kayaker of the creek, has led this charge and succeeded in getting the Environmental Board to create a resolution to council for “Safety improvements above Barton Springs Pool for inner-tubers and boaters” (Environmental Commission Motion 20190619 007b).  In the short term, you should be seeing some signs over the creek and a temporary location for getting off the creek upstream from the upper dam.  In the long term, a more formal way to safely get off the creek will be installed near where the gravel trap dam was.  Another area of concern that sadly resulted in a drowning at the inlet to the bypass tunnel will be to make changes to the inlet gate to improve the safety.

WE THANK JOE RIDDELL AND SBCA FOR TAKING THIS ON!

Council Cleans the Pool is an event we have sponsored over the years and it is going to  happen again on Thurs, October 24.  Areas of interest for this event will be an update on Bathhouse Rehabilitation project, Barton Creek Safety, Upper Dam Protect, Zilker Park Master Plan, Repopulating Aquatic Plants, and identifying potential bond projects to benefit the park.  Oh, and we also strongly encourage our mayor and council members to get in the pool, grab a broom and help put that shine on our beloved pool. We also hope to plant some trees again this year.

See you at the pool,
Steve Barnick, FBSP President

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Post-Patriotic Pool Cleaning — July 11, 2019 (9am – 3pm)!!!!

The good news is Barton Springs Pool will be open on July 4, so you can enjoy the cool pool on a Thursday.

The better news is that your Post-Patriotic Pool Cleaning will be next Thursday, July 11, 2019 (9am – 3pm)!!!!

At this great place we call Barton Springs,
the waters flow cool, clear and clean,
but to show our love true,
wear your red, white, and blue,
and join our post-patriotic volunteer team!

Please join Friends of Barton Springs Pool on Thursday, July 11 for one or more of our two-hour shifts, starting at 9:00, 11:00 and 1:00. We’ll have volunteers from C3 Presents, Benchmark Recovery Center, Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co., Austin Allies, and American Youthworks.  Since the pool will be drawn down, most of volunteer efforts will be out of the water.  Possible projects include helping remove the sludge that accumulates by the sediment fence, cleaning the rails, removing the gravel at the bypass inlet, tree trimming near Eliza Springs, weeding on the south side, gardening work on the front side of the bathhouse.  With the pool drawn down, most of the activities will be dry, not wet, so we’ll need to find creative ways to keep cool, possibly including periodic visits to cool creek flow at Barking Springs.

So come roll up your sleeves, bring a friend, have a snack and enjoy the company of other Barton Springs enthusiasts. We look look forward to seeing you there!

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BSP Staff Needs Help with Debris Removal (May 7….)

Friends,
Volunteers are needed to help with removing flood debris at the pool, starting on Tuesday morning, May 7, (9am) for as long as it takes. Please wear clothing/shoes/gloves you do not mind getting wet, and bring some sort of water bottle to stay hydrated. FBSP will set up a table under the display case on the back wall of the bathhouse with water containers to refill when needed. Tools will be provided by BSP, and if needed, we may enlist APF to get more rakes, shovels, wheel barrels . Please meet at the bathhouse pool entrance in the morning.
 
Background info:
 
             The pool was extensively damaged with flood debris scattered 1/3 of the way up the hill of the south lawn. Much of the lifeguard staff is filling wheel barrels and hauling that away. There is still a lot to haul out.
             A very large pile of gravel in the pool near the north side of the down stream dam near were the pump is located. The pump took on some major damage with fencing and pump area. The 8″ dia pump inlet that was attached to the dam wall was pulled away. It is still attached but a huge section is draped over the dam wall and dangling in the creek.
             They have about a dozen PARD folks filling 5 gallon buckets with gravel from that area and hauling it to the area near the upstream dam where what is left of the compost pile is. Most of the compost structural walls are damaged and all of the compost is gone. They road adjacent to the compost pile was washed out exposing some creek monitoring cables, they are filling that area with grave being removed from the pump area.
             The nature trail has some flood debris that needs to be removed most of the damage is near the upstream dam on the south side were there appears to be a tree uprooted that has totally trashed the permanent gate in that area. The creek is still flooding into the pool so much of that area is not safe to work.

             Watershed divers are assessing the damage in the pool. The entire pool was scoured a lot of large rocks have been jostled about, and another large deposit of gravel is in the mix in the middle deep area of the pool.

Image may contain: one or more people, outdoor, water and nature

Image may contain: tree, plant and outdoor
Image may contain: outdoor, water and nature
Image may contain: outdoor, water and nature
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April 4, 2019 — A Spring Barton Springs Cleaning Volunteer Opportunity

Hark, the herald angels sing!
It’s time for all to clean the Springs!
So join the gang on April 4
to help us with our cleaning chores!

earthdaycleaningparty

On Thursday, April 4 (9am to 3pm), volunteers can help clean Barton Springs by push-brooming the shallow end algae, helping yank invasives, brushing and cleaning the stair rails and sidewalls, potting the plants (it’s not what it sounds like), aerating and weeding the lawn and gardens, and generally doing some good for this place Austin loves!  All this hard work helps contribute to the cleaning, well-being, and beautification of Barton Springs Pool.

Volunteers can choose from 3 two hour shifts, starting at 9am.  Please sign up for a shift at the SignUp link (http://signup.com/go/cHHzANt) to help spiff up the pool.

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Patriotic Pool Cleaning — July 5, 2018 (9am – 3pm)!!!!

At this great place we call Barton Springs,
the waters flow cool, clear and clean,
but to show our love true,
wear your red, white, and blue,
and join in with our pool cleaning team!

On this Fourth of July holiday, join us Friends of Barton Springs Pool on Thursday, July 5 for one or more of our two-hour shifts, starting at 9:00, 11:00 and 1:00.  There is no better way to provide community service than doing a refreshing day of volunteer work to keep Barton Springs Pool the best that it can be.  Help “give back” to Barton Springs by volunteering with one of our projects — including push-brooming the pool bottom of the shallow end, scrubbing algae from the sides, rails, and stairs, helping with landscape efforts to beautify the grounds with weeding, turning the mulch, and generally lending a hand to make the pool and grounds as clean and beautiful as possible. So come roll up your sleeves, bring a friend, have a snack and enjoy the comp any of other Barton Springs enthusiasts. We look look forward to seeing you there!