Blog

Environmental Education and InterpretationPonds and Streams

Water Quality Monitoring on Shoal Creek at Seiders Springs

Michael Jones (Texas Stream Team) collecting a water sample earlier this year. Last year, several Environmental Survey Consulting (ESC) staff members decided that we wanted to learn how to monitor water quality for the Colorado River watershed. We contracted Michael Jones with the Texas Stream Team in San Marcos to travel to Austin and provide training. Michael provided in-classroom training at the Austin History Center and then an in-field training…
Ingrid Karklins
December 19, 2018
Native LandscapingNaturalistic HardscapePonds and Streams

A Natural Swimming Pool

A natural swimming pool is constructed so water is clarified and treated by wetland plants rather than chemicals and UV lights. While Europeans have decades of experience with these pools, they are just starting to become popular in the United States. ESC has recently melded its decades of experience with created wetlands for urban runoff treatment with construction of traditional swimming pools and natural fish ponds, using natural Hill Country…
David Mahler
July 12, 2018
Ecological RestorationEnvironmental Education and Interpretation

Spicewood Ranch Receives Land Steward Award

Environmental Survey Consulting is honored and delighted that the Spicewood Ranch has received Texas Parks and Wildlife's Lone Star Land Steward Award for the Edward's Plateau region. Established in 1996, the annual Lone Star Land Steward Awards recognizes and honors private landowners in Texas for their contributions to natural resource conservation and management. ESC has been restoring the ranch for almost 30 years. TPWD's Alan Fisher filmed and produced a…
Ingrid Karklins
June 22, 2018
Ecological RestorationEnvironmental Education and InterpretationNative LandscapingPonds and Streams

Plants and Phytoremediation

Plants and Phytoremediation Unlike raingardens, wet ponds are designed to capture and hold runoff from impervious cover.  Urban runoff can carry pollutants such as gasoline, motor oil, heavy metals, fertilizers, pesticides, aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), nickel, copper, zinc, cadmium, lead, synthetic organic compounds, zinc nitrates and phosphorus.  Phytoremediation is the use of plants for cleaning up contaminants in soil, groundwater, surface water and air. Fortunately, the plant communities  ESC establishes and…
Ingrid Karklins
October 17, 2017
Ecological RestorationEnvironmental Education and InterpretationNative LandscapingPonds and StreamsWater Quality

Green Infrastructure for Your Yard

Green Infrastructure for Your Yard With increasing pressure to better handle flood events and improve water quality, many municipalities (including the City of Austin) are implementing measures to slow down, retain, and treat stormwater on-site, allowing it to permeate into the groundwater while carrying less runoff pollution. The methods for accomplishing this are collectively known as green infrastructure. While cities are funding these projects with public money and installing them…
Stan Wilson
October 17, 2017
Botanical GardensEnvironmental Education and InterpretationNative LandscapingNaturalistic HardscapeParks and PreservesPonds and StreamsWater Quality

Evolution of a Stream

Zilker Botanical Gardens Stream Restoration Project - Evolution of a Stream This photo essay illustrates ESC’s process for restoring the stream below the Taniguchi Gardens in the Zilker Botanical Garden.   December 21, 2016: The stream bed prior to construction. January 3, 2017: Preparing the site. January 5, 2017: Removing existing rock and concrete channel. January 9, 2017: Excavating down to the framework. January 12, 2017: Installed steel framework. January…
Serenity
May 8, 2017
Ecological RestorationNative LandscapingPonds and StreamsWater Quality

Daylighting and Restoring an Urban Creek at Oak Springs

ESC Completes Two Year Program Daylighting and Restoring Urban Creek at Oak Springs In late 2016, ESC completed the restoration of a creek that had been previously capped off and channeled underground.  Existing vegetation was limited to exotic turfgrass and other quick-cover species. ESC's restoration work was performed in conjunction with the City of Austin Watershed Protection Department. The site, at the  corner of Tillery St. and Oak Springs Dr.,…
Stan Wilson
February 6, 2017
Ecological RestorationEnvironmental Education and InterpretationPonds and StreamsWater Quality

Urban Riparian Symposium

ESC will be well-represented at this year's "Urban Riparian Symposium: Balancing the Challenges of Healthy Urban Streams," being held in Houston, Texas, February 15-17 at Rice University.   Presentations include: David Mahler -- Giant Ragweed (Ambrosia trifida): Why This Native Annual Becomes a Problem in Urban Riparian Corridors.” David will discuss his findings on why giant ragweed is not a problem at the Spicewood Ranch, but is a problem in urban…
hscreative
February 6, 2017
Ecological RestorationEnvironmental Education and Interpretation

Spicewood Ranch After 23 Year of Restoration: What we Have Accomplished and Learned

When restoration on the 1200 acre Spicewood Ranch started in 1988, the vegetation was typical of much of the Texas Hill Country. Most of the palatable native grass species were gone or greatly reduced with KR bluestem dominating, and the surviving forb and woody plants were reduced to unpalatable species such as Mexican hat, horsemint, live oak and Texas persimmon. Restoration practices, including controlled burns, cedar removal, deer reduction, high…
David Mahler
October 24, 2016
Ecological RestorationNative LandscapingParks and PreservesPonds and StreamsWater Quality

ESC Water Quality Projects

ESC Leading Numerous Water Quality Projects in Austin’s Urban Core Over the past three years Environmental Survey Consulting (ESC) has engaged in numerous projects along Lady Bird Lake and contributing creeks, all of which serve to stabilize vulnerable riparian slopes, catch and treat runoff from impervious cover, and slow down and dissipate storm flows to reduce flood severity. By using the principles of ecological restoration on these projects, ESC is…
Stan Wilson
June 15, 2016