Historic Watershed Ordinance Lacks Teeth

Cooksey City Council, 1986 (Frank Cooksey Personal Collection)

Cooksey City Council, 1986
Frank Cooksey Personal Collection

1986

The Cooksey Council passes the Comprehensive Watershed Ordinance, limiting impervious cover for the first time. However 87% of requests for exemptions from the new ordinance are granted by the city.

We finally got the watershed ordinance, the Comprehensive Watershed Ordinance, but it got watered down a little bit because [City Councilmember] George Humphrey said, 'Well, if we're going to protect the Barton Springs part, then maybe we should not have as strict requirements in the eastern watersheds.'

— Mary Arnold, Environmental Advocate

Austin American-Statesman, January 26, 1986
The 1986 Comprehensive Watershed Ordinance

The 1986 Comprehensive Watershed Ordinance
City of Austin
Paid advertisement published by members of the pro-growth business community

Paid advertisement published by members of the pro-growth business community
Austin American-Statesman, 1986

Stewards

Supporting Documents

Related Events

A Chronology of Ordinances

Citizens Favor Park And Ordinances
April 1970
Austin City Council Public Hearing, April 16, 1970
Creeks Ordinance Passed
Spring 1974
Environmental Groups Push Through Ordinance
April 1980
City Enacts Parkland Dedication Ordinance
1985
Goat Cave Karst Nature Preserve, acquired in1988 through the Park Dedication Ordinance
City Council Passes Comprehensive Watershed Ordinance
1986
Cooksey City Council, 1986
Interim Ordinance To Slow Development
October 1990
Protestors demand a water quality ordinance that will not degrade Barton Creek
Council Passes Weak Watershed Ordinance
1991
1991 Councilmembers Bob Larson, Charles Urdy, Ronney Reynolds, and Louise Epstein
Save Our Springs Ordinance Passes
August 1992
Barton Springs advocates celebrate the S.O.S. victory at La Zona Rosa, one of the many local businesses supportive of the Save Our Springs movement.
Stricter SOS Ordinance Fails
May 2006
Citizens Vote Against Prop 2
Watershed Protection Ordinance Passed
October 2013
The City of Austin uses science-based monitoring to develop and direct watershed regulations and to enhance stormwater control design criteria.