Austin’s iconic Barton Springs Pool will reopen to the public on Saturday after a delayed reopening tied to repairs on aging infrastructure.
The longer-than-expected closure allowed workers to safely complete the Barton Springs Skimmer Bypass Project, which involved removing and mitigating a decommissioned skimmer bypass structure dating to the 1940s.
City officials said crews encountered unexpected conditions while removing aging infrastructure inside the pool, requiring additional time and specialized equipment.
Crews discovered the deteriorating infrastructure during routine inspections earlier this year. Officials said parts of the original bypass structure — built to manage Barton Creek flow — had eroded for decades, creating the potential for sections to collapse into the pool.
The city initially closed Barton Springs in late February to remove the structure ahead of a major flood event that could damage it and force a longer shutdown.
As crews worked to remove the structure, they had to follow strict protocols because the pool is in an endangered species habitat where the Barton Springs salamander lives.
The maintenance falls under the city’s Barton Springs Pool Habitat Conservation Plan and Incidental Take Permit. Officials have said the work is also intended to benefit the species by linking portions of their habitat separated by erosion.
Saturday, March 21, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.