A pond known as a birding hot spot in northwest Austin is rapidly drying out and the public is invited to a meeting to learn more about the looming crisis.
The shrinking water level in the pond at Beverly Sheffield Northwest District Park will be discussed at an informational meeting on Thursday, Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. at Yarborough Branch Library (2200 Hancock Dr). The meeting will be hosted by Austin Watershed Protection and Austin Parks and Recreation (PARD).
Officials will speak on the status of the pond and potential solutions. Developing a coordinated, long-term plan is critical to ensure its future and to preserve it as a habitat for birds, fish, turtles and other aquatic life—a unique place of natural beauty in an urban setting.
Located along Shoal Creek, the pond provides a diversity of avian habitats. Bald cypress planted in 1986 provide a continuous tree canopy and, when the pond has sufficient water, the island has a small rookery of green heron and, on occasion, night heron and egret. Birders have sighted Belted Kingfisher, Wood Duck, all our usual woodpeckers, Red Shouldered hawks and Rufous Hummingbirds. During migration the cypress are often full of warblers, second only to the nearby pecans.
So, what happened?
While the pond has always been a park focal point, it originally was designed to accept pool water when the pool filters were backwashed or when the pool was drained seasonally. With extensive pool renovations now occurring, water is no longer released to the pond, nor will it be in the future. Updated regulations now require pool water to drain into the city wastewater system.
Combined with this year’s exceptional drought, that means the pond’s water is rapidly depleting. PARD has been consulting with Watershed Protection and Austin Water, but no immediate plan is in place to maintain pond water. Recently, the city dispatched several reclaimed water trucks in an effort to help the cypress trees survive.
Beyond the pool renovation, a Watershed Protection project to modernize the dam along Shoal Creek is underway. That project to ensure dam safety and stability will re-direct some of the stormwater that drains around and through the park. Austin Water will replace the sanitary line that extends through the playground. Other projects will involve grading within the park and for new parking lots. If coordinated, these projects could help direct water to the pond. The bottom line is that the pond urgently needs water. A comprehensive and integrated plan is needed to sensitively and successfully refurbish the natural pond.
Land for Northwest Park was purchased in1955, and Austin’s first Olympic-size pool opened the following summer. When Sheffield Northwest District Pool reopens in 2026 for a 70-year-celebration, we hope park visitors will find a splendid new pool and a healthy pond and thriving habitat nearby.
Please share your concerns with the city council, the Parks and Recreation Board and/or the Environmental Commission and urge quick action for short-term support (water trucks) and for a long-term sustainable plan for the pond.
Submitted by Mary Fero, David Riskind
