BSP Lifeguard Splash!

Goal of Program:

To inform lifeguards on the special working environment that is Barton Springs Pool. This will include the history, geography, environmental concerns, special considerations for this pool, future construction projects and some cleaning procedures.

History:

For over 12 thousand years, people have been coming to the springs to stave off the brutal Texas climate. Starting with nomadic tribes such as the Tonkawa’s and Lipan Apache, then Comanche and then the Spanish and other settlers, all have used the springs to survive and prosper.

In 1837, William Barton moved to the area to get away from the “crowded” colony in Bastrop started by Stephen F. Austin. He built a cabin on the bluff overlooking what is now the pool. When the “Waterloo Township” was chosen to be the Capitol of the new Republic of Texas, Mr. Barton saw potential in selling the rights to his water to the new city. A mill was soon built above where the downstream dam currently stands.

After William Barton’s death, the property changed hand a multiple times. During this time, the springs were used primarily for industrial purposes with multiple other mills being built on the springs such as grist mills and a saw mill.

Finally the springs and the area surround them came into the possession of Andrew Zilker. Zilker eventually donated vast amounts of land including the springs to the city in support of education.

A bath house was built on the spring in 1922 in conjunction with the Chamber of Commerce and the Lions Club. At this time there was still no real pool and people would create rock dams to bring up the water level to about waist high.

In 1929 the City of Austin proposed a plan to spend $30,000 on creating a pool and ornamental walk surrounding it. By 1936 the pool was complete and mostly in its current state.

There have been many additions such as the new bath houses and the office, but the pool has remained essentially the same.

Geography:

There are 4 main springs that make up Barton Springs. The biggest, and one that feeds the pool, is named Parthenia Spring. Eliza Spring is located in the amphitheater next to the concession stand and contains the biggest population of salamanders of any of the springs. Upper Barton Spring is located just upstream of the pool and is the only spring of the four still in its natural state. Old Mill Spring is located just downstream of the pool on the south

side of Barton Creek, also known as the Sunken Gardens.

Parthenia spring produces approximately 90% of the Barton Springs Complex outflow. It is composed of multiple small springs and fissures located throughout the pool.

These springs are all fed by the Edwards Aquifer which stretches from north of Austin all the way past San Antonio.

Edwards aquifer is fed by runoff water from the surrounding area and is Central Texas’ biggest source of fresh water. It is a karst aquifer, meaning that water has dissolved solid rock throughout the centuries to create the aquifer. The way that most water gets underground is through the recharging zone of the aquifer, where the limestone becomes porous enough to absorb the water into the aquifer. There are also many areas where naturally formed caves take the water directly into the aquifer. The rest of the water for the spring comes from creeks that flow over the recharge zone. Direct openings into the aquifer allow water to flow through it very fast, preventing soil and other natural filters to filter any pollutants making the entire recharge area and environmentally sensitive area. Water has been shown to go from Buda all the way to Barton Springs in as little as three days.

Environmental Concerns:

Salamanders

BSP holds one of only 4 locations in the world where the Barton Springs Salamander lives and only one of three places where the Austin Blind Salamander lives. Both are listed as federally endangered species. The primary threat to salamanders is the degradation of the quality and quantity of water that feeds Barton Springs. These salamanders are considered to be indicator species in that since they are so tied to the quality of the water, their numbers can be an indicator of how clean of an aquifer we have.

These salamanders require clean, oxygenated and relatively fast flowing cold water to continue living. Luckily, these are all accommodated in Barton Springs but recently the quality of the water that flows out of the springs has been decreasing due to industrial and communal pollution in the recharging zones of the Edwards Aquifer. Below is a map of the recharging zone which shows where the rock in the ground is porous enough to take in water to fill the aquifer. The water taken in the Recharging Zone does not filter very well so the quality of water that is taken is the same quality that is pumped out by the springs. That is why after heavy rains, the pool can continue to be murky despite cleaning, and also why harsh chemicals should not be dumped or applied in this area.

Algae blooms are another major problem the pool has. They not only make surfaces slippery but also have detrimental effects for the salamanders and other living things in the pool. While the salamanders do eat the micro organisms in the algae, too much can literally take over an entire area allowing no other living things to prosper (known as eutrophication).

Both salamander species live in the springs and under the rocks. Moving the rocks is forbidden because it disrupts their habitat. Rocks and natural features of the pool are not to be tampered with by the staff or by patrons, especially those around the habitat areas.

The habitat area is an area where patrons are not allowed to enter because it is too close to where the salamanders live or is too fragile of an environment for people to be allowed in. Below is a map of where the habitat is.

Other Plant and Animal Life

Barton spring holds a wide variety of wildlife for a small area. Records of aquatic fauna show that there are at least 20 species of fish, 3 species of turtles and numerous invertebrates.

Two of the major plants that can be seen in the pool are the cabomba(fanwort) and water star grass. These big plants provide oxygen to the pool, which helps tem the growth of algae, and helps provide shelter for fish nurseries.

Cabomba Water Star Grass

Fish species include largemouth bass, Mexican Tetras, three types of Sunfish, a large catfish and a very elusive eel. Below are some pictures of some of the aquatic residents of the pool.

Mexican Tetra River Eel Sunfish

Other wildlife that inhabit the pool are many different turtles and birds. The Texas cooter, the red-eared slider, and the occasional snapping turtle, which will eat anything--even ducks, are common in the pool and are all heavily sought after by kids with goggles. Mallards, Cormorants and Blue Herons are some common birds which all live off of the animals and plants in the pool. We also are pleased to house two Chinese Anas plastica who politely guard the diving well.

Red eared slider Cormorant Anas plastica

In conclusion there should be no tampering of rock, wildlife or plants (including algae) in or around the pool unless told to do so by a manager or head guard.

Special Considerations:

Food and drinks are not allowed into the facilities. There are a couple reasons for this rule but one of the main ones is because they attract ants. Since Barton Springs is an environmentally sensitive area, we cannot use any sort of pesticides or other harmful chemicals to kill those ants. Therefore, just trying to keep the ants away from our facilities is our best option.

Future Construction Projects:

On January 15, 2009, Austin’s City Council passed a resolution for Barton Springs Pool Master Plan: Concepts for Preservation and Improvements. The goal of this resolution is to enhance the pools environment. Both to create an experience that is more enjoyable and to help clean the water in the pool, retuning the pool to its former glory.

Many of the improvements to be implemented have already begun including the construction on the south side and improvements to the grass and plants surrounding the pool.

Some of the major improvements to the pool that are yet to come include: Renovation of current bathhouses, Reconstruction of Eliza Springs outflow to increase salamander habitat, New flow regime improvements (to allow the water in the pool flow better to provide a more natural environment for the salamanders), improvements to areas downstream of the pool, and Renovations of the Sunken Gardens.

Cleaning Procedures:

Below are maps for each cleaning tool used for the pool and where they are to be used. Some of these tools could destroy vital salamander habitat if used in the wrong areas. Please be sure to follow all other environmental safety precautions listed under each map as well.

Dragon

Turtle

Stand-Up Buffer

Shopping Cart Buffer

Blasters

Fill the blaster with gas away from the pool water, either on the grass or the very top deck.

Keep a protective boom stationed around the base of the blaster even when the blaster is not in use. Be gentle with booms: never lay a boom on top of a blaster; do not drag the boom on the ground; carry the boom by hand when transporting a blaster.

Avoid stationing blasters over deck drains, pavement joints, or cracks that potentially could channel a leak into the pool. Station the blaster at least 2 ft. away from the edge of the pool to prevent it from falling over the edge.

If you observe a gas spill, oil leak, or other mechanical problem immediately turn off the blaster and water source and inform a member of management. Report spills to the Environmental Hotline by calling 974-2550. This number is also posted in the office.

Make sure that you know the exact location of the following spill containment materials:

•absorbent pads •absorbent sand •booms (used) •emergency booms (unused)

Scrubbers

Hose

Push Brooms

Plant Removal

While aquatic plants do provide oxygen for the water and help the over-all wellbeing of the environment of the water, too many plants do have drawbacks. Swimming hazards can arise if plants become too long and too prevalent throughout the pool, such as someone potentially getting tangled in the plants and drowning. Another drawback of excessive plant growth is that they impede the flow of water from the spring. The salamanders require strong flowing water to survive and with too many plants, that flow can be slowed.

Removal of these plants must be done with care and supervision. As to not disturb the water quality (suspended debris, dissolved oxygen, sediment dispersion, etc.), plants should be removed slowly throughout the year and not all at once. Garden shears and clippers can be used to remove plants.

It is crucial check the removed plants for animal life before discarding them. This is not just used as a way to make sure you don’t kill any salamanders, but also to protect the other wildlife that live in the pool.

Created By: Tyler Jones(Aquatics Intern 2014)