Barton Springs Pool to Remain Closed For Cleanup After Heavy Flooding

The Barton Springs Pool will remain closed for several weeks after heavy rains flooded the pool and surrounding areas in South Austin.

Torrential rains wreaked havoc across the Travis County area during the Halloween weekend. In Southeast Travis County, an elderly woman remained missing after she was swept away by the storm. Another man was swept away while waiting to be rescued from a car Friday morning, and the Travis County Sheriff’s Office told KVUE the body of a missing man was recovered in Southern Travis County Friday afternoon. Multiple water rescues were conducted across Travis County, including that of a horse trapped in flood water.

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Barton Springs was not exempt from the extensive damage. Flooding in the area caused the spring-fed pool to overflow and washed up debris along the shores. Pool staff members began the cleanup process on Saturday. According to the spring hotline, a projected reopening date will be determined after the staff fully assesses the damages.

“It’s an incredible sight to see,” 23-year-old Helena Wayt, a UT alumna and frequent visitor at Barton Springs told Patch. “This place was my watering hole throughout college. To see it overflowed like this is just unreal.”

Barton Springs Pool is three acres in size and is one of the most popular public swimming pools in the Austin area. The spring is home to the endangered Barton Springs Salamander and is a federally protected habitat. It is usually open to the public Friday through Wednesday from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. For updates on the pool’s reopening date, call the Barton Springs Pool Hotline at 512-867-3080.

[Photo: Wikipedia]