Not Free Yet, Barton Springs Closes for Three Weeks

Things at Barton Springs have been a little weird lately. And not just in the old-man-wearing- dental-floss-thong- playing-frisbee-with- his-bare-breasted life-partner sort of way. Lately, we've noticed hazier water, increased green algae floating around, and now you can stand at the north end of the pool, where before you had almost twenty feet of depth.

Well, the City of Austin noticed it, too, and as of yesterday, Barton Springs will be closed for three weeks.

According to a CoA Memorandum released weeks ago, periodic flooding of Barton Creek from the past 15 years has created a gravel bar on the north end of the pool, dramatically altering the natural south-to-north water flow. $45,000 dollars later, about five feet of sediment will be removed, revealing the limestone bottom for the first time in over a decade and bringing back the original depths to 10 feet. What's more, SOS and CoA have promised there will be absolutely no risk to the salamanders.

Below, a picture of what the springs will look for the next three weeks. Normally closing in the fall, Deep Eddy Pool will stay open until Barton Springs opens up again.