If you live anywhere near the City of Austin, Texas, you probably live in the Colorado River Watershed. A watershed is the area of land that collects and then drains water to a common body of water, such as a creek, river, or aquifer. The large Colorado River Watershed begins in the High Plains along the Texas/New Mexico border and flows southeast to the Gulf of Mexico. It is made up of smaller watersheds with names you might also recognize, including the Llano, Lampassas and Pedernales Rivers.

Since watersheds act like funnels, collecting and directing runoff water, anything on the ground can find its way into our waterways. Sediment from eroding soil, nutrients from fertilizers, bacteria from pet and livestock waste, and toxics from pesticides and spilled chemicals are pollutants that can wash from watersheds and into waterways if we are not careful. This type of water pollution goes by several names, including stormwater pollution, runoff pollution, and nonpoint source pollution.

We can take action individually and together as communities to be “watershed wise” and prevent stormwater pollution. Good things are happening! Thanks to a partnership between the City of Austin and StormCenter Communications information on how we can better protect our water resources is available on this website and on KVUE TV broadcasts.

We hope that you enjoy this site and are able to use the information you learn to better protect the Central Texas creeks, lakes and aquifers.