4-foot waves, whitecaps rage over Barton Springs Pool
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Four-foot waves and whitecaps rushed through Barton Springs Pool Wednesday, following heavy rain in Austin, making for a swimming pool that few would want to dive into.
The City of Austin closed Barton Springs Pool after city scientists measured 7,000-cubic-feet-per-second of water rushing through it.
"This water is more powerful than anything we could physically stand," City of Austin environmental scientist Staryn Wagner said after surveying the site. "I couldn't make it across this. Realistically, I would probably die if I hopped in a kayak coming down it."
About eight feet of water covered both the upper and lower dams of the pool. A flood gauge on Barton Creek just above the pool measured the water cresting at 14 feet above its normal level.
"This can change very much the dynamics of the bed of Barton Creek," Wagner said. "I just love to see nature do its thing. This is the sort of stuff that shaped where we live. These are the dynamics that make where we live so cool and incredible."
According to the Lower Colorado River Authority, a flood event like this hasn't happened in Austin since the Memorial Day Flood in 1981.
The city will reopen Barton Springs Pool after the water recedes and crews are able to clean out the debris and silt.
Starting Thursday, Deep Eddy Pool will be open longer hours to accommodate Barton Springs patrons. Those new hours will be 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on weekdays and 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on weekends.
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pays special attention to the ecological and environmental aspects of Texas. Our Paul Brown brings you these reports each Sunday on YNN.