Latest news with #AustinWatershedProtectionDepartment
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Blue-green algae back at Red Bud Isle
The Brief Cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, are back in Austin Significant amounts were found at Red Bud Isle Blue-green algae are dangerous for humans but especially harmful to dogs AUSTIN, Texas - Cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, are back in Austin. According to Austin Watershed Protection, significant amounts were found at Red Bud Isle. What they're saying Cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, are dangerous for humans but especially harmful to dogs. Dr. Brent Bellinger is the Conservation Program Supervisor with the Austin Watershed Protection Department. "If you go to any creek, any reservoir, you want to be aware that this potentially toxic algae could be present," said Dr. Brent Bellinger. It has a slimy texture and floats on stagnant or still bodies of water. While it can be beneficial to aquatic ecosystems, overgrowth leads to blooms, which can cause health concerns. "Human activities, unfortunately, can stimulate excessive growth, can stimulate that toxic toxin production," said Bellinger. Is toxic algae the new normal in area lakes? Green algae blooms in Austin lakes and creeks; city warns to stay cautious Discussing toxic algae symptoms Dogs often ingest algae from lake water, swim in it, or get it on their fur and try to lick it off. The algae can be fatal for them. "Unfortunately, for the dogs, if they get that mat material in their fur, if it's on a tennis ball; they incidentally ingest, then they have that exposure," said Bellinger. High concentrations of algae blooms can also be harmful to fish. The toxins tend to localize in fish tissue, specifically the liver and kidneys, but not necessarily the parts we eat. "We've been studying this now for five years, trying to understand what are some of those triggers that go from nontoxic to toxic out here so that we can make better predictions, forecasts, and provide better information to the public," said Bellinger. What you can do "We want people to enjoy Austin's phenomenal resources, but we want people to be cautious," said Bellinger. His advice is to avoid contact with the algae, not drink from the lake, rinse off after being in the water, and the same goes for your pets. The Source Information in this report comes from the Austin Watershed Protection Department.
Yahoo
04-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
City closes homeless encampments off East Riverside, relocates 28 people into shelters
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Two homeless encampments in southeast Austin were closed and cleaned out this week, and nearly 30 people were moved to three of Austin's shelters. The city of Austin said in a press release Tuesday morning that its Homeless Strategy Office and the Austin Watershed Protection Department 'compassionately closed an encampment within a high flash flood risk area of the Country Club Creek watershed near the intersection of Wickersham Lane and East Riverside Drive.' According to the city, 21 homeless residents were moved to the Northbridge and Southbridge shelters as part of the Housing-Focused Encampment Assistance Link (HEAL) Initiative. Seven others were moved to the Marshalling Yard Emergency Shelter through a separate encampment closure nearby, per the release. Austin Resource Recovery was in the area Tuesday conducting general litter abatement throughout the area to clean trash and debris in the vicinity of the creek channel. Since its launch in June 2021, the HEAL Initiative has moved more than 988 individuals from high-risk encampments to the City's Northbridge and Southbridge shelters, as well as the Marshalling Yard Emergency Shelter, according to the city. The release noted that the closure of the encampment located at the Country Club Creek watershed area near Wickersham Lane and East Riverside Drive is part of the city's broader strategy to address homelessness while returning public spaces to their intended use. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
