Background

On June 9, 2022, City Council approved Resolution No. 20220609-061, which initiated Land Development Code amendments related to environmental, drainage, and landscape requirements. A previous ordinance addressed many of the elements of this resolution, but certain proposed changes were not adopted at the time so that staff could conduct additional analyses and community outreach. The proposed ordinance addresses direction to staff to “evaluate the effectiveness of the existing Critical Water Quality Zone and Erosion Hazard Zone buffers on the Colorado River downstream of the Longhorn dam and to propose protections that will provide adequate protections to the river that will ensure a healthy riparian corridor to stabilize the riverbank and protect property from erosion.”

Summary of Proposed Amendments

The proposed amendment revises 25-7-32(B)(2) to establish the erosion hazard zone of the Colorado River downstream of the Longhorn Dam as 200 feet from the ordinary high-water mark, with exceptions for trails and bounded by public rights-of-way and only affecting new habitable structures and subsurface infrastructure. 

The proposed code change would expand the Erosion Hazard Zone (EHZ) associated with the Colorado River downstream of the Longhorn Dam to 200 feet from the ordinary high-water mark (federally defined river bank). The existing EHZ is measured 100 feet from the ordinary high-water mark. The EHZ would only apply to new habitable structures (e.g., residential houses) and infrastructure (e.g., new roadways, water and wastewater pipes) and NOT to existing structures and infrastructure or to new sheds, pools, patios, decks, fences, and the like. Staff are proposing that EHZ requirements for hard-surfaced trails remain at 100 feet. The EHZ would also not extend past existing public rights-of-way. Thus, for example, a property on the far side of a public roadway from river would not be subject to the EHZ. Additionally, this ordinance would not affect single-family residential construction in the Extra Territorial Jurisdiction since Travis County, not the City of Austin, regulates such construction.

For more information about the proposed changes, please visit https://www.austintexas.gov/page/colorado-river-protections.  

Case Manager Contact

Matt Hollon, Regulatory Policy Analyst, Watershed Protection Department, (512) 974-2238, matt.hollon@austintexas.gov.