1950s and 1960s

In the early years, birders, boy scouts and nature enthusiasts were among the few who recognized the unique beauty of the flora and fauna along the lower reaches of Barton Creek. In post-WWII Austin, a few visionary conservationists worried that developments like the new Barton Hills subdivision just outside of the city limits could change the character and perhaps negatively impact the area. Park advocates urged city leaders to purchase land in the Barton Creek watershed, with limited results.

1970s

The 1970s were punctuated by growing awareness and involvement on the part of Austin’s citizens. Support for the creation of a Barton Creek Park led to a few land purchases. Calls for preservation of creeks and water quality were among key priorities. Legal and regulatory approaches in this time period were ultimately unsuccessful, but community-based efforts laid the groundwork for future environmental progress.

1980s

The emergence of politically savvy and vocal environmental groups characterize the 1980s, and their influence led to more widespread citizen advocacy and the drafting of new creek protection ordinances. However, the ability of the city to enforce the enacted ordinances was undermined by legislation at the state level. Despite the citizen’s call to direct growth away from green spaces, the growth machine seemed unaffected, barreling along with the expansion of Mopac and the construction of Barton Creek Square Mall. More radical groups arrived on the scene in the late 1980s, engaging in civil disobedience to draw attention to Barton Creek preservation.

1990s

The citizen-led, media-inspired defeat of the proposed massive Barton Creek planned development in the 1990s was a defining moment in Austin’s environmental history.The energy created around this victory to protect Barton Creek led to a series of symbolically important and long-lasting accomplishments throughout the decade. Voters passed the strongest creek ordinance ever (Save Our Springs Ordinance) while simultaneously passing bonds to buy land for the Barton Creek Wilderness Park, and to protect endangered species. Smart Growth took hold in the mid-90s with Austin’s first all-green city council and the establishment of desired development zones. Land purchases for water quality protection end the decade on a high note.

2000s

By the new millennium environmental protection practices were part of the city standard operating procedure. As Austin experienced even more explosive growth, environmental groups turned their attention to a more regional approach aiming to protect groundwater and endangered species. As courts became less amenable to environmental efforts, preserving land through outright purchase and conservationist easements became more common.