Save Our Lady Bird Lake and Butler Trail (from the Trail Conservancy)

Join us in urging the City Council to reject irresponsible code amendments, conduct a full audit of the Trail Conservancy's dealings, and prioritize the restoration of our trails and Critical Water Quality Zones.

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Austinites love our Lady Bird Lake and the Butler Trail encircling the lake. Everyday thousands of people -- mostly walkers and joggers-- enjoy the tree lined, lakeside trail.  It's an escape to nature and community, in the heart of the City we love. 

Imagine converting the Butler Trail into a much larger trail, with more pavement, less shade, designed for high speed ebike and scooter traffic, and servicing expanded commercial concessions along the trail.  This new "trail," or lakeside transportation project along with commercial ventures on the shoreline , would require cutting down lots more trees and destroying native vegetation, which would also dramatically increase erosion along the banks.

Our City Council is poised to approve this coming Thursday, March 7th, revisions to code provisions that would permit expansion of hard surface trails (greater than 12 feet) within the Critical Water Quality Zone and eliminate requirements for restoration of these areas caused by these expansions.

EMAIL COUNCIL, MAYOR, & CITY MANAGER HERE

We are shocked and disappointed that The Trail Conservancy would be pushing hard to eliminate water quality protections and City Council oversight of their actions.  This is our public park land.  Most trail users want more shade trees, not fewer; a more natural trail corridor, not more pavement and commerce, and a walk, run, jog or recreational bike ride on the lake shore with less heat, noise, erosion, and pollution.  

In short, The Trail Conservancy is trying to obtain a “carte blanche” from the City to do whatever they want with our Trail.  Oversight from PARD is inadequate and the pressure on Watershed Protection staff is alarming.

Our City's Climate Equity Plan as well as our citywide Parks Plan calls for more nature -- rewilding -- of our parks and public lands. We need our Parks Department planting more trees, not cutting them down, removing pavement that's not needed, and cleaning up Lady Bird Lake for more recreational enjoyment and escape from the worsening urban heat island.  We've seen the giant erosion slumps on the Butler Trail, above Barton Creek, that have sat exposed for 6 years or more.  The Parks Department and The Trail Conservancy only point fingers at each other for having done nothing to shore up these erosion zones.  They will still be pointing at each other when the next flash flood downpour causes much large chunks of the trail to slide into the lake.  Please join in telling the City Council to oppose these harmful amendments, to launch a full audit of the Trail Conservancy's relationship with the City, and to prioritize stewardship and restoration along the trail.  

Watch for more details early next week and mark your calendars for more fun at City Hall on Thursday, March 7th. 

Many Thanks,

SOS Alliance