Just beyond the high-rises of downtown Austin lies an urban oasis: the 1,000-acre Barton Creek Greenbelt. With 12 miles of hiking and biking trails, spring-fed swimming pools, and numerous limestone outcroppings and boulders, it offers a variety of recreational activities. Since 1990, intense urban development and heavy recreational use have placed tremendous pressure on this natural area, creating erosion, invasive species spread, and a network of social trails that fragment habitat. The Greenbelt not only protects the water quality of the Edwards Aquifer below, but it provides habitat for four endangered species. At the end of the Greenbelt sits Barton Springs Pool, one of the most iconic natural swimming pools in Texas.
This tour will include a 1.4-mile hike (from the Homedale entrance to Barton Springs) through the greenbelt to highlight how partnerships between the City of Austin, Austin Parks Foundation, Siglo Group, Texas Conservation Corp, and others are addressing these pressures through trail repair and realignment, erosion control, invasive species management, and community restoration. Attendees will see both the problems and the work towards solutions that include impact of overuse without investment manifested as erosion, reductions in biodiversity, and a sprawling network of social trails. We will also look at some of the solutions including trail improvements, invasive management, and increased native plant coverage completed through different organizations including green job development programs, volunteers, and paid staff. We will discuss the ongoing work, and how work is prioritized based on available resources and an expansive list of to-dos.
In addition to land management examples attendees will encounter a great variety of animals and plants, both native and invasive, as well as multiple recreational uses such as hiking, running, swimming, biking and climbing – which all highlight the importance of this space being preserved and continually cared for. After hiking, attendees can enjoy the adjacent Zilker Park before heading back to the hotel.
Note: Steep and rocky inclines will be a part of this tour. Restrooms are not available along this tour.