Explore Thematically-related Events

A Chronology of Environmental Organizations

Audubon Society Formed
1952
Austin Environmental Council Founded
1969
Anti Development Groups Organize
1978/79
Provocative Activism Draws Attention
June 1990
Save Our Springs Coalition Forms
August 1991
SOS Coalition Becomes SOS Alliance
Sept 1992
Hill Country Conservancy Founded
September 1999

Events Related to Endangered Species

Audubon Society Formed
1952
Black Capped Vireo Granted Endangered Status
1987
Emergency Protection For Golden Cheeked Warbler
May 1990
Emergency Petition Filed For Salamander
January 1992
Habitat Protection Rule Challenged
October 1994
Balcones Canyonland Preserve Established
1996
Regional Habitat Conservation Plan Established
1996
Barton Springs Salamander Achieves Official Endangered Status
1997
Save Our Springs Sues Feds
June 2000
Blind Salamander Listed
August 2013
Golden Cheeked Warbler Endangered Status Upheld
February 2019

Other Events Related to Land Acquisition

Citizens Call For Barton Creek Land Purchases
Mid 1950s
Landowner Offers Property To City
Mid 1960s
Advocates Urge Parkway Purchase
1965
Voters Back Bonds Protecting Green Spaces
December 1975
City Purchases Bits Of Parkland
1979
Key Greenbelt Land Purchased
Sept 1993
Voters Approve Water Quality Protection Lands
May 1998

A Chronology of Plans and Reports

Barton Creek Blasting Not Advised
December 1964
Bicentennial Gift To Nation – Creeks Project
1976
Environmental Study Disappoints
October 1979
Austin Tomorrow Master Plan
1980
Greenway Study Unveiled
October 1991
Regional Habitat Conservation Plan Established
1996
Barton Creek Water Quality Report Released
April 1997
Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan Approved
2012
Travis County Conservation Plan Approved
December 2014

A History of Environmental Threats

Barton Creek Blasting Not Advised
December 1964
Building Codes Rarely Enforced
1967
Special Building Permits Undermine Creek Ordinance
Mid 1970s
Municipal Utility Districts Spur Development
1977-ongoing
Developers Influence Zoning
late 1970s-ongoing
State Law Opens Loophole For Development
May 1987
Proposed Development On Barton Creek Sparks Outcry
1988
Council Passes Weak Watershed Ordinance
1991
Austin Bashing Law Passed
June 1999
High Tech Plant Locates On Aquifer
2006

Barton Creek Lawsuits Over Time

Lawsuit To Retain Public Access
January 1970
Lawsuit For Creek Access Fails
November 10, 1970
Habitat Protection Rule Challenged
October 1994
Supreme Court Upholds Save Our Springs Ordinance
May 1998
Save Our Springs Sues Feds
June 2000
Zones Loophole Ruled Unconstitutional
June 2000

Barton Creek Wilderness Park History

Plan For A Barton Creek Park
February 1970
Petition For Barton Creek Park
April 1970
Greenway Study Unveiled
October 1991
Key Greenbelt Land Purchased
Sept 1993

A Chronology of the Institutionalization of Environmental Values

Panel Appointed To Protect Barton Creek
January 1966
Call For City Environmental Director
June 1970
Office Of Environmental Resource Management Created
1972
Citizens' Environmental Board Created
May 1972
Citizen Initiative To Guide Master Plan
1973
Developer Rebates Discontinued
September 1975
Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Groundwater Conservation District Formed
August 1987
Regional Habitat Conservation Plan Established
1996
Green Council Elected
May 1997
Smart Growth Initiative Announced
1998
Travis County Conservation Plan Approved
December 2014
The Southwestern Travis County Groundwater Conservation District Established
2019

A History of Grassroots Efforts

Citizens Favor Park And Ordinances
April 1970
Petition For Barton Creek Park
April 1970
Public Embraces Saving Barton Creek
1970s
Anti Development Groups Organize
1978/79
Environmental Groups Push Through Ordinance
April 1980
Trail Of Broken Promises
April 1981
Proposed Development On Barton Creek Sparks Outcry
1988
All Night Hearing Unites Citizens Against PUD
June 1990
Media Galvanizes Public Against Barton Creek PUD
June 1990
Provocative Activism Draws Attention
June 1990
Save Our Springs Coalition Forms
August 1991

A Chronology of Ordinances

Citizens Favor Park And Ordinances
April 1970
Creeks Ordinance Passed
Spring 1974
Environmental Groups Push Through Ordinance
April 1980
City Enacts Parkland Dedication Ordinance
1985
City Council Passes Comprehensive Watershed Ordinance
1986
Interim Ordinance To Slow Development
October 1990
Council Passes Weak Watershed Ordinance
1991
Save Our Springs Ordinance Passes
August 1992
Stricter SOS Ordinance Fails
May 2006
Watershed Protection Ordinance Passed
October 2013

A Chronology of Human Impacts on Barton Creek

MoPac Construction
1969-1971
Developer Violates Creek Ordinance
June 1974
Barton Springs Bypass Tunnel
December 1974
City Imposes Building Moratorium
June 1979
Barton Creek Square Mall Construction
1979
Trail Of Broken Promises
April 1981
Barton Creek Mall Pollution Controls Fail
1981-1990s
Algae Overgrowth Linked To Development
1993
A Decade Of Damage To Barton Creek Continues
December 2000