A remarkable biological encounter occurred at Barton Springs Pool on April 22, 2025. While diving near the spring vent just west of the diving board, EMS educator, Search and Rescue Operations Specialist, and longtime regular swimmer, Bill Hanson, caught a glimpse of the elusive American eel (Anguilla rostrata). Although 2 resident eels thrived in the springs for over a decade, they have not been observed in the Springs in several years, and populations are in steep decline across much of their habitat range. 
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“As I was descending toward the cave, I saw the head of a large fish emerge from the opening,” Hanson recalled. “The body following behind this fish’s head kept coming, relentlessly. I finally accepted that what I was seeing was a 3–4 foot, beautiful blue eel.” 

Hanson, who has been swimming at Barton Springs for nearly 17 years, had never seen anything like it there. “It swam northeast, undaunted and calm… kind of a battleship-blue, without a blemish on its skin.” By the time he surfaced and alerted others, the eel had disappeared. Two additional sightings were reported later that week by Barton Springs "regulars", and these sightings have sparked wonder and excitement. 

“Eels remind us that nature is still full of mystery,” says Dr. Melanie Stiassny, a leading ichthyologist at the American Museum of Natural History. “Their story is one of the most extraordinary in the animal kingdom.” The American eel spends most of its life in freshwater before migrating to spawn thousands of miles to the Sargasso Sea, a warm, gyre-bound region of the Atlantic Ocean east of the Bahamas. After hatching, the leaf-like larvae drift in the ocean currents for up to a year before transforming into transparent “glass eels” and making their way inland via rivers and streams. Once in freshwater, they develop into yellowish pigmented “elvers,” eventually maturing into adults and living in lakes, estuaries, or springs for 30 years (or more) before returning to the Sargasso Sea to breed and then presumably die.

The complex life cycle of this fish faces dangers around every bend. Dams and levees block upstream migration routes, urban development degrades freshwater habitats, and pollution affects water quality. Commercial overfishing, particularly of juvenile eels in the glass eel stage, has also dramatically reduced populations. Moreover, the species has never successfully reproduced in captivity, which limits recovery efforts. ​According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, American eel populations have declined by over 80% in some regions since the 1970s and in 2014, they were officially listed as endangered by the IUCN. Since American eels are mostly nocturnal and avoid light, they are rarely observed in the wild, making any sighting significant.

So, how did the eel end up in the Springs? American eels possess the ability to breathe through their skin, a trait known as cutaneous respiration. This allows them to leave the water for several hours and travel short distances across wet land, which may explain how the recent rains enabled this individual to access the Springs.

The reappearance of the American eel at Barton Springs is a signal of hope. As an indicator species, the eel reflects the health of these waters and offers proof that the pathways between the sea and the Springs have endured despite the age of concrete and control. Hanson, known for his love for all things wild at Barton Springs (he even attempted a Heimlich maneuver on a fish choking on a crawdad), sees the eel’s presence as a reminder that even in urbanized landscapes, nature still has the capacity to surprise us, “It reminded me how little we really know about what shares this water with us.” 

The eel has returned to Barton Springs, one more reason Barton Springs remains a place of awe. Who will be among the few lucky enough to see it? 

This Thursday the Austin City Council will consider approving $40 million to destroy our historic Zilker Park bridge over Barton Creek and replace it with a giant, ugly, highway bridge.  

Please sign up to speak here, on Item 50, either in person or by call in, and please send an email to City Council today here telling them to stop the madness and protect the historic Barton Springs Road Bridge, Barton Creek and Zilker Park. 

Please take a few minutes to read the details here, spread this email to your friends and if at all possible please plan to be there at City Hall this Thursday at 10:00 to defend our City's natural and cultural heritage (once again). 

Top Reasons to Save Our Historic Zilker Park Bridge 

1. The Bridge is a Historic City Treasure and Should Be Maintained and Protected Forever.  

The beautiful, historic Zilker Bridge is one of many in central Austin from the early 20th Century.  More than 25 of these bridges, including the Lamar Bridge over Lady Bird Lake that the City once tried to destroy and replace, are found from East Austin to downtown, from Hyde Park, and the Shoal and Waller,Creek watersheds to  the Blunn, and Bouldin Creek watersheds  in south Austin.  These historic bridges are all built in a common, arching style, and with the concrete and building techniques developed since the ancient Roman Empire that make them "forever bridges."   

Yes, forever, if you care enough to say no to the lies, greed, and demands to erase our history and heritage that now run rampant at City Hall.  The Zilker Bridge over Barton Creek is a public treasure and is included as a contributing feature to the Zilker Park National Register Historic District.  The bridge should be completely off limits to anything but love and caring. 

Replacing the bridge with a bigger, uglier highway bridge will also do real damage to Zilker Park, Barton Creek, and the hike and bike trail. It will destroy part of the Vara Daniel State designated Archeological District that covers much of Zilker Park and runs along the northwest bank of Barton Creek.  And it remove the beautiful bridge views long loved by canoists, kayakers, paddle boarders, walkers, runners, and swimmers who play in and along Barton Creek below the bridge and pass over the creek on the pedestrian bridge. 

2. City Staff Lied That the Historic Bridge is Frail and Cannot Be Maintained Without Spending More Than the Cost of Destroying and Replacing It. 

City Staff lied repeatedly to City Council and the public that the historic Zilker bridge was frail and would cost tens of millions to repair and maintain.  Austin structural engineer Tom Kam, who has actually built bridges for the City of Austin in his 40 year career, debunked this claim by simply reading their own technical reports. These reports determined a "fair" condition for the bridge, that the vertical supports in the creek and the arches were solid, and that only the horizontal decking needs attention.  Staff falsely (and absurdly) claimed that the only way to repair the decking was to set off a series of small explosions to remove the decking and replace it entirely.  Mr. Kam visually inspected  the decking, which is easily done by walking on the trails on both sides of Barton Creek, directly under the bridge.  Go see for yourself.  It doesn't take an engineer to see that the bridge decking is in good shape. Every bridge needs attention, but the City has neglected the bridge upkeep for too many years.  Meanwhile, the cost to demolish and replace the bridge keeps going up from $20 million to the $40 million current price tag. 

3. The Real Agenda is To Replace Zilker Park With a Forever LiveNation - Ticketmaster Controlled Outdoor Entertainment District. 

This $ 40 million plan to destroy our historic bridge is the first major move to resurrect the LiveNation-driven plan to convert Zilker Park into an outdoor entertainment district.  Destroying the historic bridge and replacing it with a much bigger bridge provides cover for stringing sewer and water pipes, power lines, and telecommunications cabling on the underside of the new bridge to serve LiveNation/ACL's 75,000 customers per day and the proposed year-around concert venue.  A new bridge would allow overloading of concrete and steel hauling trucks to build parking garages, temporary and permanent stages, and 3 other new bridges pushed for the Zilker Park.

4. The New False Claims Suggest the Historic Bridge is Dangerous to Cars, Bikes and Pedestrians.  It's Not. 

With Mr. Kam and others debunking the false claim that the bridge is frail and cannot be saved without blowing it up, staff now argues that the road, as it passes over the bridge is "out of line" and "obsolete," and does not meet "current design standards."  They strongly hint without directly claiming that the bridge is dangerous. That's because there are no statistics identifying the bridge as high on traffic accidents . 

Yes, there is a very slight turn in Barton Springs Road as it crosses the creek.  But none of our streets are straight lines and there is no case to be made that the bridge alignment causes any problems.  Further, the recent Barton Springs Road safety changes dedicate one car lane of the bridge to bike lanes and has been declared an overall success for managing traffic. The car/bike/pedestrian conflicts are now vastly improved -- and car traffic is slowed down by the changes to make it even safer for bikes, peds and cars entering and leaving the park.  

The simple fact is that the bridge is safe and should be loved and maintained as long as Austin exists.  Its time to say no to the greed of construction firms and Live Nation, and the willingness of City Staff to tells lies and mislead to serve their interests.  

Please sign up, show up, and speak out!! Save Our Historic Zilker Park Bridge!

The proposed 8-mile expansion of MoPac South is one of the greatest threats we've seen to Barton Springs, Barton Creek, and the Edwards Aquifer in recent years. Its years-long construction and expanded footprint will harm our air and water quality, the health of the students at Austin High School, and critical habitat for the endangered Barton Springs and Austin Blind Salamanders. Yet, the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA) has repeatedly denied public access to critical environmental and traffic modeling data that they are using to justify the highway expansion. 
 
That's why we're suing them. Last Friday, we filed suit against the CTRMA to force the release of this public information. CTRMA is claiming that they are not obligated to release this information under the so-called “deliberative process privilege,” a claim that directly contradicts Texas case law. This privilege applies only to internal policy discussions, not to factual and technical reports that form the basis of policy decisions. The CTRMA cannot selectively disclose information, while withholding the underlying information. 
 
“This is about accountability,” Bunch added. “The public has a right to know the basis for a massive, proposed toll road expansion located directly on top of multiple and highly vulnerable public trust resources.   By state law and basic principles of good government, the CTRMA can’t pretend they want help from the public in evaluating the proposed project and potential alternatives but then keep secret almost all of the information they are relying on."

Stay up to date and consider making a donation to support our efforts to fight the Mopac South expansion at KeepMopacLocal.org. You can read the full press release HERE and the KXAN article on the lawsuit HERE. The lawsuit in its entirety is also available HERE. Please take action below to ensure the MoPac South expansion is removed from the CAMPO 2050 Regional Plan!

TAKE ACTION: Environmentally-Focused Comments Needed for New Transportation Plan

The next long-range transportation plan for the Austin region is being considered by the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO), a regional body that decides how federal and state dollars are spent on local transportation projects. There is an ongoing open house for the new 2050 Regional Transportation Plan which ends April 15, 2025. Submit comments now!

We need your help speaking up for the environment. New and expanded roads have an enormous impact on our region’s air and water quality, yet the plan would expand regional road capacity by 26% with no plans for environmental mitigation. Here’s an interactive map of the new roads and expansions. 
The plan includes the horrible new expansions of Mopac South, RM 1826, and RM 620. These planned expansions are based on outdated data that don’t reflect the new “post-pandemic normal” of increased telecommuting and hybrid workplaces.

The draft plan also includes new roads that will drive development over the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone and other environmentally sensitive areas. The proposed extension of RM 150 around Dripping Springs—a giant gift for developers. And, it includes the extensions of Yarrington Road west of Kyle and a new western loop around San Marcos that will fuel growth over the Edwards Aquifer Recharge and Contributing Zones.

The Actions:

1. Comment on the Draft Plan.  Visit https://www.campo2050rtp.com to comment on the draft plan. We suggest emphasizing opposition to the expansions of Mopac South, RM 1826, and RM 620 and to new roads over the Edwards Aquifer Recharge and Contributing Zones. We need these road projects removed from the plan. Comments are due April 15, 2025.
2. Speak at the CAMPO Public Hearing

When:  April 14, 2025, at 2pm
Where:  5330 Bluffstone Lane, Austin, TX 78759
*Must sign up to speak in advance.
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Contact Your Elected Officials. Send an email to your elected officials with your comments. The CAMPO Policy Transportation Board includes representatives from most of the local cities and counties. These include Austin Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes and Council Members Laine, Siegel and Qadri; Travis County, Judge Andy Brown, Commissioners Howard and Travillion, and Amy Patillo;  Hays County, Comm. Debbie Ingalsbe. ​

Help Protect Barton Creek Habitat Preserve from Polluted Wastewater​

An Austin developer is seeking a wastewater permit from TCEQ to serve a development that would include six high-rise condo buildings, a hotel, and a distillery next to Barton Creek Habitat Preserve, Central Texas’ largest nature preserve, important habitat for the golden-cheeked warbler, and vital safeguard for water quality in Barton Creek. The permit, if issued, would allow poorly treated sewage to be irrigated on a field that sits directly upslope from Barton Creek. Any runoff of pollutants would go directly into Barton Creek.

Learn more about the permit by taking a look at the application materials and draft permit HERE. Join us in opposing this wastewater permit by making comments during the public meeting next Tuesday, April 8th at 7pm at the Hotel Viata, Juniper Ballroom, 320 S. Capital of Texas Highway West Lake Hills, TX 78746.

You can also submit written comments before the end of the public meeting using the link below!

Enter the permit number associated which is WQ0016547001 

Join Us for Upcoming April Eco-toursWe’ve been having a blast in the woods and our newly flowing creeks, getting dirty and learning so much with new friends. Now, it's your turn to join us for two incredible eco-tours this April!

Sunday, April 13th, 8:30 AM – 11:00 AM – Hike & Swim the Barton Creek Wilderness Park with the Envirobabes! (Optional vanpool from SOS office at 8 AM)

Join us for a guided hike and swim of the beautiful upper Barton Creek waterfalls, including the legendary Sculpture Falls (fingers crossed for rain!). Special guest Michelle Camp, Save Barton Creek Association Board Treasurer and sustainable water tech expert, will join us for an unforgettable day in nature. During the hike I will share a bit about how the Wilderness Park became included in the Greenbelt parkland (hint: it was the work of amazing conservationists just like you!) and the lore around the notorious Edwin Foster, mid century WWII inventor turned landowner who made many, uh...alterations...of the creek during his tenure!

Sunday, April 27th, 8:30 AM – 11:00 AM – Hike & Swim the Barton Creek Wilderness Park & Sculpture Falls! (Optional vanpool from SOS office at 8 AM)
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Join SOS field guides and special guests for a guided hike and optional swim/snorkel in the stunning waterfalls of Upper Barton Creek. Explore the rich history and ecology of the Greenbelt, and discover how Barton Creek plays a crucial role in recharging the Edwards Aquifer. Learn about the wildlife, plant life, and geology that make this area so unique, and get tips on how you can help keep Barton Creek and Barton Springs clean and healthy for future generations of Austinites.

As we face unprecedented challenges—from the fight to stop the MoPac expansion to preventing wastewater in Barton Creek--your support is more crucial than ever. The best way to make an immediate impact is by becoming a sustaining, monthly donor. By backing SOS, you are supporting our legal efforts, environmental advocacy, and scientific research that keep Austin green, beautiful, and livable.
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Together for Change,
SOS Alliance