Flooding. That’s the main challenge for people living along Williamson Creek. Today, we’re standing near Williamson Creek at Manchaca Road at Austin. Williamson Creek is a waterway that runs east. It starts in the Oak Hill neighborhood. It ends at McKinney Falls State Park in southeast Austin.
Let’s dive into the story of Williamson Creek. In the 1970s, people used the creek for two things. It was a greenspace. It also served as a drainage system. But, by 1982, things took a turn for the worse. South Austin was overdeveloped. The local water treatment facility couldn’t handle it. Sewage started leaking into Williamson Creek. The creek became polluted.
Residents near Williamson Creek sought help. They contacted environmental activists Jackie and Jack Goodman. The Goodmans were already working on water and growth issues. They helped organize neighborhoods to clean up a wastewater treatment plant on Williamson Creek. The city built the plant in 1954. It was meant to be temporary. But it didn’t have enough capacity for the new development in the late 1970s. By 1982, the plant leaked sewage. The smell was awful. People couldn’t walk near Williamson Creek. McKinney Falls State Park was also affected. Swimmers couldn’t enter the water because of fecal pollution. A lawsuit forced the city to close the plant. Neighbors learned they could make a difference.
Flooding is another big issue for Williamson Creek. The creek floods easily after heavy rain. Developers built neighborhoods using inaccurate flood zone maps. Residents near Williamson Creek have always dealt with flooding. In 2001, a two-day rainstorm brought 14 inches of rain. This caused major flooding along Williamson Creek. Despite the flooding, homeowners stayed. They had already planted roots in the neighborhood. One resident said she didn’t know her house was at risk.
The Halloween Flood of 2013 was devastating. It damaged over 200 homes along Williamson and Onion Creeks. Five people died. A week before, a smaller flood damaged at least 100 houses. Williamson Creek had a bad reputation for flooding homes. Yet, people didn’t want to leave. They had invested time and money in their houses.
The city of Austin is now buying houses in flood-affected areas along Williamson Creek. The city is buying over 60 homes in neighborhoods near the creek. These homes are in the floodplain, according to new maps. The buyouts aim to protect residents.
The Central Williamson Creek Greenway Vision Plan is underway. It aims to restore, clean up, and create a trail with amenities along Williamson Creek. The project spans two miles. It covers 58 acres between Menchaca Road and South Congress Avenue. This area includes city-owned lots where flood-damaged homes once stood. The finished trail will be connected and ADA-accessible. It will feature mountain biking trails, a hammock grove, a labyrinth, food forests, wildflower meadows, and a music grove.
David Foster, a Southwood resident, shared the history. He noted the long effort to create a connected trail along a clean creek. A well-marked trail would improve safety. It would also allow people to oversee the Williamson Creek trail.
Williamson Creek has a history of challenges. But, thanks to community efforts, it is becoming a better place for everyone.