The city’s Parks and Recreation Department announced Barton Springs Pool will remain closed until March 21 so that crews can safely complete the Barton Springs Skimmer Project.
The department announced the delay in a Tuesday press release. Barton Springs closed the week of Feb. 23 and was initially expected to reopen March 13.
The Barton Springs Skimmer Project involves crews removing and mitigating a decommissioned skimmer bypass from the 1940s, which presented safety and environmental concerns after decades of flood events impacting the flow of Barton Creek.
Recent studies by the Watershed Protection department found that the undermining of the bypass by those flood events could cause it to collapse, presenting a safety concern and threatening the existing salamander habitat.
The project objectives include removal of all or some sections of the old skimmer bypass, protection of the Barton Springs landscape grounds during demolition, protection of the salamander habitat, and enhancement of the salamander habitat if possible.
The Parks and Recreation Department also planned to enter into an agreement with Watershed Protection on monitoring of a second bypass build in 1975.
During the removal of the aging infrastructure, crews encountered conditions that require additional time and specialized equipment to safely complete underwater diver work.
As diver and staff safety are a top priority in completing the work, the pool will remain closed for about a week longer than expected. Weather may also cause delays in reopening.
“Staff and contractors continue to work diligently to complete the project as quickly and safely as possible,” the press release states.