20260415-003, Rain to River Strategic Plan Final Draft Part 4 — original pdf

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COMMUNITY PRIORITIES Connecting with our community ambassadors The community priorities were developed through several years of listening, surveying, and working directly with Austin residents, especially those historically left out of city planning. Input was gathered through a multi-year community engagement process. Across these efforts, residents consistently raised concerns about flooding, water quality, equity, access to natural spaces, and the need for clearer communication and proactive action from the City. These findings were synthesized into draft themes and priorities. The Community Activation Group (CAG) then refined and validated these priorities to ensure they reflected community needs and values. While these priorities highlight areas where the community sees the greatest opportunities for improvement, they do not encompass the full scope of our work. Our core services and functions remain the foundation of what we do, and we will continue delivering them reliably. The recommendations identified here are intended to build on that foundation, addressing gaps and strengthening the programs that matter most to residents. Some of the community recommendations outlined in this section may go beyond what our department can directly lead. To address these priorities, we will need to rely on strong partnerships and connections with other city departments, community organizations, and residents. Through collaboration on initiatives such as parks, trails, and housing, we can expand our impact and work together to make meaningful progress. The community priorities and our department values share a common focus on equity, resilience, sustainability, and collaboration. Acting as stewards, we draw on the wisdom of the community to guide decisions, prepare for challenges, and shape solutions. By grounding our work in these values, we aim to deliver results that are measurable and enduring. 47 Community Priorities: 1. EQUITY & INCLUSION 2. FLOOD MITIGATION & EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS 3. CLIMATE RESILIENCE & SUSTAINABILITY 4. NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION & RESTORATION 5. ACCESSIBILITY & PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT 6. TRUST & COLLABORATION 7. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT & GROWTH 8. SUPPORT FOR UNHOUSED & VULNERABLE POPULATIONS 9. EDUCATION & YOUTH ENGAGEMENT 10. INNOVATION & LEADERSHIP Students showing their #creeklove at Barton Springs University Rain to River: A Strategic Plan to Protect Austin’s Creeks & Communities | FINAL DRAFT1. EQUITY & INCLUSION Ensure historically underserved communities have equitable access to resources and decision-making processes. S S E N D E R A P E R P Y C N E G R E M E I I & N O T A G T M D O O L F I I N O S U L C N I I & Y T U Q E . 2 1 . I N O T A R O T S E R & N O T C E T O R P I & E C N E I L I S E R E T A M I L C Y T I L I I B A N A T S U S E C R U O S E R L A R U T A N C I L B U P & Y T I L I B I S S E C C A T N E M E G A G N E . 3 . 4 . 5 I N O T A R O B A L L O C & T S U R T . 6 I & D E S U O H N U R O F H T W O R G & T N E M P O L E V E D S N O T A L U P O P E E L L B B A A N R E A N T L S U U V S . 8 7 T R O P P U S . I I P H S R E D A E L & N O T A V O N N I I . O 1 H T U O Y & N O T A C U D E I T N E M E G A G N E . 9 2. FLOOD MITIGATION & EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS Protect lives and property by addressing flooding and erosion proactively. S S E N D E R A P E R P Y C N E G R E M E I I & N O T A G T M D O O L F I I N O S U L C N I I & Y T U Q E . 2 1 . I N O T A R O T S E R & N O T C E T O R P I & E C N E I L I S E R E T A M I L C Y T I L I I B A N A T S U S E C R U O S E R L A R U T A N C I L B U P & Y T I L I B I S S E C C A T N E M E G A G N E . 3 . 4 . 5 I & D E S U O H N U R O F H T W O R G & T N E M P O L E V E D S N O T A L U P O P E E L L B B A A N R E A N T L S U U V S . 8 7 T R O P P U S . I I P H S R E D A E L & N O T A V O N N I I . O 1 H T U O Y & N O T A C U D E I T N E M E G A G N E . 9 I N O T A R O B A L L O C & T S U R T . 6 Why This Matters: Equity and Inclusion matter in Austin because historical policies and development patterns have left many communities of color and low-income neighborhoods disproportionately vulnerable to flooding, pollution, and limited access to natural waterways. Community Recommendations: • Partner with grassroots organizations and meet communities where they are through on-site outreach, signage, and co-hosted events. • Ensure equitable access to information and resources, especially for historically underserved populations. • Be transparent about funding, resource allocation, and decision-making, acknowledging past environmental injustices. • Center co-creation and collaboration to address environmental, social, and public health equity. 10 Community Priorities Community Voice: “It’s time to focus on the areas that are marginalized. We know how awesome the parks and waterways are on the westside of Austin. It’s time for the City and Watershed Protection Department to talk to the community members that live in impacted areas and see what they think solutions are. Get the community members involved and bolster their ideas, opinions, and communities. You can’t just go in and start doing things – it’s important to get to know the space, the community, how they utilize waterways and why they utilize them the way they do.” - Ambassador Interviewee “We need to heal this segregated town, and work towards equity and fixing the impact of the obvious environmental racism, period.” - Community Vision Survey Participant Why This Matters: Flood Mitigation and Emergency Preparedness are critical in Austin because heavy rains and historic development patterns place lives, property, and neighborhoods, especially those in flood-prone areas at risk. Community Recommendations: • Partner with neighborhood associations and local coalitions to co-develop clear, proactive flood plans. • Provide transparent, multilingual communication on flood risks, debris clearing schedules, and resident/city responsibilities. • Ensure opt-in alerts and signage are accessible in trusted community locations, reaching all residents including renters and vulnerable populations. • Require mandatory flood disclosures in leases and property tours, with accountability measures for noncompliance. 10 Community Priorities Community Voice: “Development in Austin is worsening the erosion in my neighborhood and my house often floods because of this.” - Red Salmon Arts Survey Respondent “I’ve been in my neighborhood for 5 years now and Onion Creek floods once or twice a year without fail. However, our community works together and makes sure everyone is aware to stay away from the areas that aren’t safe.” - Ambassador Interviewee 49 50 Rain to River: A Strategic Plan to Protect Austin’s Creeks & Communities | FINAL DRAFTENVISION | FINAL DRAFT 3. CLIMATE RESILIENCE & SUSTAINABILITY Integrate climate adaptation strategies to address drought, extreme heat, and habitat loss. S S E N D E R A P E R P Y C N E G R E M E I I & N O T A G T M D O O L F I I N O S U L C N I I & Y T U Q E . 2 1 . I N O T A R O T S E R & N O T C E T O R P I & E C N E I L I S E R E T A M I L C Y T I L I I B A N A T S U S E C R U O S E R L A R U T A N C I L B U P & Y T I L I B I S S E C C A T N E M E G A G N E . 3 . 4 . 5 I N O T A R O B A L L O C & T S U R T . 6 I & D E S U O H N U R O F H T W O R G & T N E M P O L E V E D S N O T A L U P O P E E L L B B A A N R E A N T L S U U V S . 8 7 T R O P P U S . I I P H S R E D A E L & N O T A V O N N I I . O 1 H T U O Y & N O T A C U D E I T N E M E G A G N E . 9 4. NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION & RESTORATION Preserve, restore, and enhance Austin’s creeks, lakes, and natural spaces. S S E N D E R A P E R P Y C N E G R E M E I I & N O T A G T M D O O L F I I N O S U L C N I I & Y T U Q E . 2 1 . I N O T A R O T S E R & N O T C E T O R P I & E C N E I L I S E R E T A M I L C Y T I L I I B A N A T S U S E C R U O S E R L A R U T A N C I L B U P & Y T I L I B I S S E C C A T N E M E G A G N E . 3 . 4 . 5 I & D E S U O H N U R O F H T W O R G & T N E M P O L E V E D S N O T A L U P O P E E L L B B A A N R E A N T L S U U V S . 8 7 T R O P P U S . I I P H S R E D A E L & N O T A V O N N I I . O 1 H T U O Y & N O T A C U D E I T N E M E G A G N E . 9 I N O T A R O B A L L O C & T S U R T . 6 Why This Matters: Climate Resilience and Sustainability are essential for Austin as the city faces increasing drought, extreme heat, and pressures on natural habitats that affect both people and ecosystems. 10 Community Priorities Community Voice: “I am so concerned about Austin’s future (and Texas’s future) with the climate crisis that I am considering moving with that being the sole reason. I love it here, but with drought and extreme heat I can’t see my newborn son and 2 year old growing old here.” - Community Vision Survey Participant “I feel that we’re starting to reach a much bigger problem where our creeks are staying bone dry for years or they’re flooding.” - Ambassador Interviewee Community Recommendations: • Make green infrastructure and climate resilience practices accessible to underserved neighborhoods through subsidies, education, and equitable outreach. • Highlight environmental, health, and financial benefits, including heat reduction, mental health improvements, and water conservation. • Increase shade and tree canopy in high-use and heat-vulnerable areas, prioritizing parks, trails, and transit corridors. • Provide multilingual, culturally relevant education that connects knowledge to action through signage, incentives, and ongoing community engagement. Why This Matters: Natural Resource Protection and Restoration are vital for maintaining the health and beauty of Austin’s creeks, lakes, and green spaces, which provide critical habitat, recreational opportunities, and community well-being. Community Recommendations: • Ensure consistent trash removal, maintenance, and transparent scheduling, with a focus on flood-prone and underserved areas. • Prioritize ecological restoration, clean waterways, and accessible, safe, and welcoming green spaces over hard infrastructure when feasible. • Protect greenspaces, wildlife corridors, and ecologically sensitive areas, balancing development with environmental preservation. • Involve communities in land use decisions, giving equal weight to ecological, cultural, and public access considerations. 10 Community Priorities Community Voice: “In all honesty, I feel like [natural spaces are] essential for whole health. Essential for mental, emotional, physical health to interact with nature. Whether it’s in your yard, or you actually travel to a waterway or a hike.” - Whole Communities Whole Health Focus Group Participant “Trash is a major issue now. Pollution flows downstream every single rain. Some of the neighbors try to clean the creek but it is more than we can keep up with.” - Community Vision Survey Participant 51 52 Rain to River: A Strategic Plan to Protect Austin’s Creeks & Communities | FINAL DRAFTENVISION | FINAL DRAFT 5. ACCESSIBILITY & PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT Ensure natural spaces are safe, inviting, and accessible for all residents. S S E N D E R A P E R P Y C N E G R E M E I I & N O T A G T M D O O L F I I N O S U L C N I I & Y T U Q E . 2 1 . I N O T A R O T S E R & N O T C E T O R P I & E C N E I L I S E R E T A M I L C Y T I L I I B A N A T S U S E C R U O S E R L A R U T A N C I L B U P & Y T I L I B I S S E C C A T N E M E G A G N E . 3 . 4 . 5 I N O T A R O B A L L O C & T S U R T . 6 I & D E S U O H N U R O F H T W O R G & T N E M P O L E V E D S N O T A L U P O P E E L L B B A A N R E A N T L S U U V S . 8 7 T R O P P U S . I I P H S R E D A E L & N O T A V O N N I I . O 1 H T U O Y & N O T A C U D E I T N E M E G A G N E . 9 6. TRUST & COLLABORATION Build trust through transparency, active listening, and community-centered initiatives. S S E N D E R A P E R P Y C N E G R E M E I I & N O T A G T M D O O L F I I N O S U L C N I I & Y T U Q E . 2 1 . I N O T A R O T S E R & N O T C E T O R P I & E C N E I L I S E R E T A M I L C Y T I L I I B A N A T S U S E C R U O S E R L A R U T A N C I L B U P & Y T I L I B I S S E C C A T N E M E G A G N E . 3 . 4 . 5 I & D E S U O H N U R O F H T W O R G & T N E M P O L E V E D S N O T A L U P O P E E L L B B A A N R E A N T L S U U V S . 8 7 T R O P P U S . I I P H S R E D A E L & N O T A V O N N I I . O 1 H T U O Y & N O T A C U D E I T N E M E G A G N E . 9 I N O T A R O B A L L O C & T S U R T . 6 Why This Matters: Accessibility and Public Engagement are essential to ensuring that all Austinites can safely enjoy and benefit from the city’s creeks, lakes, and green spaces. 10 Community Priorities Community Voice: “I love being outside, but I don’t feel safe being alone outside.” - Ambassador Interviewee “Some of the things that do make you feel welcome is when you see that there are other people around, you know, people just using the space, people enjoying the space. It makes you want to be there, makes you feel more like a community.” - Black Women Who Focus Group Participant Community Recommendations: • Design safe, shaded, and ADA- accessible trails that connect homes to parks, creeks, and public spaces. • Prioritize trail placement and green networks in underserved and low- income areas for equitable access. • Incorporate community input in design, maintenance, and safety definitions, addressing diverse user needs. • Host regular, visible, and culturally relevant educational events co-led by community leaders, providing information in multiple languages and formats, and fostering ongoing community learning and relationships. 53 Why This Matters: Trust and Collaboration are critical for fostering strong relationships between Austin City Departments and the communities they serve. Community Recommendations: • Center lived experience as expertise by grounding plans in neighborhood histories, strengths, and past harms, and by allowing communities to define their own goals. • Build sustained, respectful relationships through ongoing engagement supported by deep listening and trust. • Ensure transparency and shared power by explaining how decisions are made, how input shapes outcomes, and by investing authority and resources in community partners. • Provide clear, consistent communication with plain-language, real-time updates about what is happening, when, why, and how plans may change. 10 Community Priorities Community Voice: “We are tight-knit communities that are resilient and have sustained ourselves so the City keeps ignoring it.” - Ambassador Interviewee “[S]how the community the city is open to servicing them first…There needs to be a way to instill confidence in the community. The reason those in the community are hesitant to respond is due to the fact they feel they are second-class citizens and why ask for input through surveys and other community events, when for years, they never see any changes for the best…The most important thing is ways to build community trust. It does not exist.” - African American Youth Harvest Foundation Survey Respondent 54 Rain to River: A Strategic Plan to Protect Austin’s Creeks & Communities | FINAL DRAFTENVISION | FINAL DRAFT 7. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT & GROWTH Balance urban growth with environmental health and sustainability. S S E N D E R A P E R P Y C N E G R E M E I I & N O T A G T M D O O L F I I N O n S o U i s L u C l c N n I I I & & Y y t T i u U q Q E E . 1 . 2 1 . I N O T A R O T S E R & N O T C E T O R P I & E C N E I L I S E R E T A M I L C Y T I L I I B A N A T S U S E C R U O S E R L A R U T A N C I L B U P & Y T I L I B I S S E C C A T N E M E G A G N E . 3 . 4 . 5 I N O T A R O B A L L O C & T S U R T . 6 I & D E S U O H N U R O F H T W O R G & T N E M P O L E V E D S N O T A L U P O P E E L L B B A A N R E A N T L S U U V S . 8 7 T R O P P U S . I I P H S R E D A E L & N O T A V O N N I I . O 1 H T U O Y & N O T A C U D E I T N E M E G A G N E . 9 8. SUPPORT FOR UNHOUSED & VULNERABLE POPULATIONS Provide resources and safety for unhoused individuals while addressing systemic issues. S S E N D E R A P E R P Y C N E G R E M E I I & N O T A G T M D O O L F I I N O S U L C N I I & Y T U Q E . 2 1 . I N O T A R O T S E R & N O T C E T O R P I & E C N E I L I S E R E T A M I L C Y T I L I I B A N A T S U S E C R U O S E R L A R U T A N C I L B U P & Y T I L I B I S S E C C A T N E M E G A G N E . 3 . 4 . 5 I & D E S U O H N U R O F H T W O R G & T N E M P O L E V E D S N O T A L U P O P E E L L B B A A N R E A N T L S U U V S . 8 7 T R O P P U S . I I P H S R E D A E L & N O T A V O N N I I . O 1 H T U O Y & N O T A C U D E I T N E M E G A G N E . 9 I N O T A R O B A L L O C & T S U R T . 6 Why This Matters: Sustainable Development and Growth are essential for ensuring that Austin’s rapid urban expansion does not compromise the health of our creeks, lakes, and natural systems. Community Recommendations: • Hold developers accountable for meeting drainage, water quality, and impervious cover requirements. • Conduct regional impact assessments to identify and prevent cumulative environmental harm. • Require new development to include effective green infrastructure and nature-based solutions. • Prioritize flood mitigation and water quality protection in all development approvals and reviews. 10 Community Priorities Community Voice: “Development is encroaching more and more into the green.” - Ambassador Interviewee “Keep the focus on what is the best sustainable plan we have right now no matter the cost. If we cut corners now, we will all pay in the future. Let’s be a model for other cities around the country and world. I believe Austin has the brains and desire.” - Community Vision Survey Participant Why This Matters: Supporting Unhoused and Vulnerable Populations is critical in Austin, where rising housing costs and historic inequities have left some residents without stable homes in areas prone to flooding and environmental hazards. Community Recommendations: • Provide basic health and safety services in encampments, including trash collection, portable restrooms, and clear flood-risk guidance. • Coordinate closely with housing agencies to create stable, long- term housing options for unhoused individuals. • Avoid harmful practices such as sweeps during severe weather or unsafe conditions. • Ensure shelters and support services are accessible, humane, and responsive to community needs. 55 10 Community Priorities Community Voice: “We didn’t pick this place. It was the only place we have left to go. The one little spot that’s left.” - Queertopia Interviewee Department Reflection on what we heard from the community: Many community members shared concerns about safety, trash, and environmental impacts associated with encampments along creeks and in natural areas. At the same time, people experiencing homelessness told us they are often forced to camp near waterways because they lack safe alternatives, which places them at heightened risk of flooding and limits access to basic services. We heard a strong desire for solutions that protect public health and environmental quality while also supporting our most vulnerable neighbors. Addressing these challenges in a humane and coordinated way is essential to strengthening the safety, resilience, and well-being of the entire Austin community. 56 Rain to River: A Strategic Plan to Protect Austin’s Creeks & Communities | FINAL DRAFTENVISION | FINAL DRAFT 9. EDUCATION & YOUTH ENGAGEMENT Foster a culture of environmental stewardship and resilience among residents. S S E N D E R A P E R P Y C N E G R E M E I I & N O T A G T M D O O L F I I N O S U L C N I I & Y T U Q E . 2 1 . I N O T A R O T S E R & N O T C E T O R P I & E C N E I L I S E R E T A M I L C Y T I L I I B A N A T S U S E C R U O S E R L A R U T A N C I L B U P & Y T I L I B I S S E C C A T N E M E G A G N E . 3 . 4 . 5 I N O T A R O B A L L O C & T S U R T . 6 I & D E S U O H N U R O F H T W O R G & T N E M P O L E V E D S N O T A L U P O P E E L L B B A A N R E A N T L S U U V S . 8 7 T R O P P U S . I I P H S R E D A E L & N O T A V O N N I I . O 1 H T U O Y & N O T A C U D E I T N E M E G A G N E . 9 10. INNOVATION & LEADERSHIP Position Austin as a model city for environmental stewardship and progressive practices. S S E N D E R A P E R P Y C N E G R E M E I I & N O T A G T M D O O L F I I N O S U L C N I I & Y T U Q E . 2 1 . I N O T A R O T S E R & N O T C E T O R P I & E C N E I L I S E R E T A M I L C Y T I L I I B A N A T S U S E C R U O S E R L A R U T A N C I L B U P & Y T I L I B I S S E C C A T N E M E G A G N E . 3 . 4 . 5 I & D E S U O H N U R O F H T W O R G & T N E M P O L E V E D S N O T A L U P O P E E L L B B A A N R E A N T L S U U V S . 8 7 T R O P P U S . I I P H S R E D A E L & N O T A V O N N I I . O 1 H T U O Y & N O T A C U D E I T N E M E G A G N E . 9 I N O T A R O B A L L O C & T S U R T . 6 Why This Matters: Education and Youth Engagement are vital in Austin to cultivate a community that values and protects its waterways, green spaces, and natural resources. Community Recommendations: • Create green job programs and youth internships focused on park maintenance and environmental education. • Partner with schools and community organizations to promote conservation awareness and sustainable living. • Organize community cleanup events and citizen science initiatives to support environmental restoration. • Engage residents actively in hands- on projects that build environmental knowledge and stewardship. 10 Community Priorities Community Voice: “Offer good paying jobs to people directly in the community that will be invested in making their areas better interactive and outdoors.” - Indigenous Cultures Institute Survey Respondent “I don’t know that the creek by me is polluted or not. How do I know that? What am I looking for? Honestly I think that I’ve seen flooding and just didn’t realize that it was flooded. I think this is how it’s always supposed to look. Should I have reported that to somebody? I have no idea.” - MEASURE Focus Group Participant Why This Matters: Innovation and Leadership are essential for Austin to remain a national leader in environmental stewardship and resilience planning. Community Recommendations: • Invest in innovative solutions for flood prevention, water quality, and climate resilience. • Develop citywide policies that prioritize sustainability, including cleaner, low- emission equipment. • Pilot and expand nature-based solutions to improve urban livability and ecological health. • Integrate long-term climate adaptation strategies across city planning and operations. 10 Community Priorities Community Voice: “Let’s do it -- let’s protect Austin, its citizens, and the environment. Better mass transit, better bikeways, better ways to get around town, plus protecting the watershed and improving the absorption of floodwater are all key.” - Community Vision Survey Participant “As Austin continues to grow at a rapid pace, we need to be extra mindful and mission-driven to create sustainable spaces and infrastructure now before it’s too late and the population is overrun. Austin has the opportunity to learn from other similar growth stories and ultimately lead the way.” - Community Vision Survey Participant 57 58 Rain to River: A Strategic Plan to Protect Austin’s Creeks & Communities | FINAL DRAFTENVISION | FINAL DRAFT 04 ENACT The Enact section describes how Austin Watershed Protection will turn the community’s vision and priorities into accountable, long-term action. It sets out our commitment to center community, innovate together, and govern responsibly as the foundation for how we plan, invest, and deliver our work. This section looks ten years ahead, recognizing that reducing risk, restoring watersheds, and repairing historic inequities requires sustained effort and adaptation. Over this decade, we will make measurable progress toward our larger vision— laying the groundwork for a future where Austin’s watersheds are healthy, resilient, and equitable for generations to come. OUR COMMITMENTS AND STRATEGIES CENTER COMMUNITY INNOVATE TOGETHER GOVERN RESPONSIBLY 61 65 73 81 Cypress trees shade and anchor the creek bank 60 ENACT | FINAL DRAFTImplementing the VisionOUR COMMITMENTS AND STRATEGIES For 30 years, we have served Austin as the stewards of our watersheds. We’ve celebrated successes, learned from challenges, and remained dedicated to our mission of reducing flood and erosion risk, protecting water quality, and maintaining critical infrastructure. This is the foundation of our department and the work we show up to do every day. This section focuses on how we will approach that work going forward. It includes 24 strategies that help guide our future direction. While the Understand section outlines the full scope of our department’s functions, this section shows how we will strengthen and adapt our work so it reflects community priorities and builds long-term resilience. The strategies are organized into three core commitments: Center Community, Innovate Together, and Govern Responsibly. Together, these commitments and strategies shape how we make decisions, collaborate, and innovate to better serve Austin. This plan looks ten years ahead because meaningful progress for our community and watersheds requires time, consistency, and adaptability. A longer horizon allows us to plan responsibly, invest strategically, and avoid short term decisions that compromise our overall vision. 61 Water cascades over limestone ledges at McKinney Falls We’ve already made meaningful progress on many of these strategies, and this plan provides the structure to sustain and accelerate that momentum. Achieving these outcomes will take many smaller steps where we are testing approaches, building capacity, refining systems, and adapting as we learn, with each step contributing to steady, measurable progress throughout the life of the plan. That more detailed roadmap will live in our internal implementation plan, which translates strategy into actionable work plans, timelines, and responsibilities. We will also publish technical reports to share the details of our methodologies and frameworks as they are created. While the implementation plan and technical reports will evolve as conditions change, the Rain to River Plan provides steady direction to keep our decisions and work aligned with the vision and priorities of the community. Center Community Centering community means more than providing services. It means building trust through accountability, openness, and respect, creating space for voices that have often been overlooked, and ensuring that residents help shape the decisions that affect their lives and neighborhoods. By walking alongside residents as partners, we strengthen our outcomes, deepen relationships, and reflect the priorities, knowledge, hopes, and wisdom of the communities we serve, reinforcing that watershed protection is a collective effort grounded in shared purpose. Innovate Together Innovation is how we turn vision into action. At Austin Watershed Protection, we see innovation not just as new technology, but as a way of thinking that helps us plan smarter, act sooner, and work better with the community. We are using creativity, science, and collaboration to solve problems before they begin. By combining technical excellence with community insight, we are building a department that leads with integrity, learns from experience, and continuously adapts to meet Austin’s changing needs. Govern Responsibly Governing responsibly means making decisions that are transparent, fair, and consistent with community values. It ensures that our internal systems and investments serve Austin’s residents with accountability, integrity, and long-term vision. For Austin Watershed Protection, this means aligning how we plan, budget, and measure success with the values of equity, accountability, and wisdom. Together, these strategies create a foundation of trust between Austin Watershed Protection and the community, ensuring that every choice we make reflects our shared commitment to a resilient and just Austin. Wildflowers blooming on the Water Quality Protection Lands 62 Rain to River: A Strategic Plan to Protect Austin’s Creeks & Communities | FINAL DRAFTENACT | FINAL DRAFTCenter Community Innovate Together Govern Responsibly Partner with Communities in Decision-Making 1.1. Create a Dedicated Community Liaison Role Define & Measure Watershed Health 2.1. Create a Holistic Watershed Health Establish Level of Service Expectations 3.1. Define Clear and Achievable and Safety Framework Levels of Service 1.2. Create and Sustain a Community 2.2. Create Clear and Meaningful 3.2. Center Asset Management in Advisory Group for Implementation Watershed Targets Decision-Making Embed Equity in our Operations & Practices 1.3. Cultivate a Strong, Inclusive Modernize Data for Transparency & Action 2.3. Enhance Data and Modeling Workforce Capabilities Integrate Equity into Strategy & Investment 3.3. Implement an Equitable Decision-Making Approach 1.4. Create a Shared Framework for 2.4. Deliver Clear, Actionable Data to 3.4. Understand and Address Past Equity the Public Environmental Harms Safeguard & Empower Vulnerable Communities 1.5. Collaborate with Partners to Invest in Proactive & Equitable Infrastructure 2.5. Implement a Proactive Approach Manage Our Portfolio & Performance 3.5. Create a Portfolio Management Protect Vulnerable Populations to Infrastructure Structure 1.6. Enhance Community Education 2.6. Promote Opportunities for Shared 3.6. Report Our Performance and and Preparedness Stewardship Progress Strengthen & Sustain Emergency Management 1.7. Enhance Readiness for Emergencies Achieve Greater Impact Through Partnerships 2.7. Collaborate with Partners on Shared Priorities Sustain Workforce Capacity & Wisdom 3.7. Cultivate a Balanced and Proactive Work Culture 1.8. Improve Response and Recovery 2.8. Collaborate to Promote 3.8. Maintain and Share Knowledge After Major Storms Responsible Development Earth Camp students reflecting on the water 64 ENACT | FINAL DRAFT CENTER COMMUNITY PARTNER WITH COMMUNITIES IN DECISION-MAKING Center Community PARTNER WITH COMMUNITIES IN DECISION-MAKING Center Community 1.1. Create a Dedicated Community Liaison Role 1.2. Create and Sustain a Community Advisory Group for Implementation What We Will Do: We’re creating a community liaison role to strengthen the connection between Austin Watershed Protection and the people we serve. This position will be empowered within the department to ensure community voices are centered in our planning and decision-making. The community liaison will also lead and facilitate the community advisory group. Why This Matters to Community: • Ensures community feedback informs long-term planning, policies, and projects. • Builds continuity and accountability by clearly showing how input shapes outcomes. • Helps surface concerns and opportunities for equitable solutions across neighborhoods. Why This Matters to Staff: • Strengthens collaboration across teams to ensure community input is shared and coordinated. • Positions engagement within planning and budgeting processes for better-informed decisions. • Provides systems for tracking feedback, routing concerns, and closing communication loops. By 2036, Austin Watershed Protection will fully include the community in planning and decision-making. The community liaison and a network of engagement staff will work alongside community leaders to co-design policies, programs, and plans that reflect community priorities and build trust. Community Priority Tracker S S E N D E R A P E R P Y C N E G R E M E & E C N E I L I S E R E T A M I L C Y T I L I I B A N A T S U S E C R U O S E R L A R U T A N I N O T A R O T S E R & N O T C E T O R P I C I L B U P & Y T I L I B I S S E C C A T N E M E G A G N E I I & N O T A G T M D O O L F I I N O S U L C N I & Y T U Q E I I N O T A R O B A L L O C & T S U R T . 6 H T W O R G & T N E M P O L E V E D E L B A N A T S U S I & D E S U O H N U R O F T R O P P U S I S N O T A L U P O P E L B A R E N L U V H T U O Y & N O T A C U D E I T N E M E G A G N E . 7 . 8 . 9 I P H S R E D A E L & N O T A V O N N I I . O 1 65 . 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 What We Will Do: We’re creating a community advisory group made up of trusted community leaders and representatives from local organizations. This group will help guide the implementation of the commitments and strategies in this plan by tracking progress, highlighting emerging needs, and providing feedback on key deliverables. The group will ensure community perspectives and lived experience continue to shape priorities and decision-making over time. The community advisory group will work closely with the community liaison to maintain a two-way exchange, sharing insights with the department and bringing timely, accurate information back to their neighborhoods and networks. We will allocate resources to support their participation and recognize the value of their time and expertise. Why This Matters to Community: • Creates a consistent space for dialogue, reflection, and course correction instead of one-time consultation. • Ensures voices from communities most affected by watershed risks are included and valued. • Builds trust through clear expectations, transparency, and compensation for time and expertise. Why This Matters to Staff: • Provides an ongoing feedback loop to strengthen planning and implementation. • Helps identify gaps and adapt strategies to meet community needs. • Supports communication and outreach by equipping community leaders to share information broadly. By 2036, Austin Watershed Protection will create and sustain a community advisory group that serves as a trusted partner in ongoing dialogue. This group will help the department stay grounded in community experience, adapt to emerging needs, and deliver work that reflects both professional expertise and lived reality. Community Priority Tracker S S E N D E R A P E R P Y C N E G R E M E & E C N E I L I S E R E T A M I L C Y T I L I I B A N A T S U S E C R U O S E R L A R U T A N I N O T A R O T S E R & N O T C E T O R P I C I L B U P & Y T I L I B I S S E C C A T N E M E G A G N E I I & N O T A G T M D O O L F I I N O S U L C N I & Y T U Q E I . 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 I N O T A R O B A L L O C & T S U R T . 6 H T W O R G & T N E M P O L E V E D E L B A N A T S U S I & D E S U O H N U R O F T R O P P U S I S N O T A L U P O P E L B A R E N L U V H T U O Y & N O T A C U D E I T N E M E G A G N E . 7 . 8 . 9 I P H S R E D A E L & N O T A V O N N I I . O 1 66 Rain to River: A Strategic Plan to Protect Austin’s Creeks & Communities | FINAL DRAFTENACT | FINAL DRAFT EMBED EQUITY IN OUR OPERATIONS & PRACTICES Center Community EMBED EQUITY IN OUR OPERATIONS & PRACTICES Center Community 1.3. Cultivate a Strong, Inclusive Workforce 1.4. Create a Shared Framework for Equity What We Will Do: We’re strengthening our workforce through training, mentorship, and shared learning. This includes equipping staff with tools for respectful, culturally competent service and creating clear pathways for growth and collaboration. By investing in our workforce, we build trust, consistency, and accountability with the community and the department. Why This Matters to Community: • Ensures staff respond with care and cultural awareness. • Builds trust through equity-focused practices in everyday interactions. • Reflects the diversity and lived experience of Austin’s neighborhoods. Why This Matters to Staff: • Provides training and support for community-facing work. • Strengthens collaboration and shared understanding of equity principles. • Creates opportunities for growth and professional development. 67 By 2036, Austin Watershed Protection will maintain a well-supported, equity-driven workforce with the skills and structures needed to deliver responsive and effective service. Staff will be prepared to engage communities thoughtfully and make equity a consistent part of everyday actions and decisions. Community Priority Tracker S S E N D E R A P E R P Y C N E G R E M E I I & N O T A G T M D O O L F I I N O S U L C N I I & Y T U Q E . 2 1 . I N O T A R O T S E R & N O T C E T O R P I & E C N E I L I S E R E T A M I L C Y T I L I I B A N A T S U S E C R U O S E R L A R U T A N C I L B U P & Y T I L I B I S S E C C A T N E M E G A G N E . 3 . 4 . 5 I N O T A R O B A L L O C & T S U R T . 6 I & D E S U O H N U R O F H T W O R G & T N E M P O L E V E D S N O T A L U P O P E E L L B B A A N R E A N T L S U U V S . 8 7 T R O P P U S . I I P H S R E D A E L & N O T A V O N N I I . O 1 H T U O Y & N O T A C U D E I T N E M E G A G N E . 9 What We Will Do: We’re creating a department-wide equity framework that provides clear definitions, expectations, and criteria for decision-making. This framework will be developed with community partners and City experts, making equity visible, actionable, and embedded in our daily work instead of treated as a separate initiative. Why This Matters to Community: • Ensures equity commitments are clear, consistent, and transparent. • Builds trust by showing how decisions address historic and current disparities. • Creates accountability through published standards and ongoing dialogue. Why This Matters to Staff: • Provides shared guidance for applying equity across all teams and processes. • Reduces gaps and contradictions in planning and project decisions. • Supports accountability and clarity in how equity goals are implemented. By 2036, Austin Watershed Protection will operate with a fully integrated equity framework that guides policies, plans, investments, and projects across the department. Equity will be a shared standard—consistently applied and publicly accountable—to reduce harm, address disparities, and strengthen outcomes for all communities, including our workforce. Community Priority Tracker S S E N D E R A P E R P Y C N E G R E M E I I & N O T A G T M D O O L F I I N O S U L C N I I & Y T U Q E . 2 1 . I N O T A R O T S E R & N O T C E T O R P I & E C N E I L I S E R E T A M I L C Y T I L I I B A N A T S U S E C R U O S E R L A R U T A N C I L B U P & Y T I L I B I S S E C C A T N E M E G A G N E . 3 . 4 . 5 I N O T A R O B A L L O C & T S U R T . 6 I & D E S U O H N U R O F H T W O R G & T N E M P O L E V E D S N O T A L U P O P E E L L B B A A N R E A N T L S U U V S . 8 7 T R O P P U S . I H T U O Y & N O T A C U D E I T N E M E G A G N E . 9 I P H S R E D A E L & N O T A V O N N I I . O 1 68 Rain to River: A Strategic Plan to Protect Austin’s Creeks & Communities | FINAL DRAFTENACT | FINAL DRAFT SAFEGUARD & EMPOWER VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES Center Community SAFEGUARD & EMPOWER VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES Center Community 1.5. Collaborate with Partners to Protect Vulnerable Populations 1.6. Enhance Community Education and Preparedness What We Will Do: We’re building strong partnerships with City agencies and community organizations to reduce risks for vulnerable populations. This includes clear protocols for coordination during high-risk situations and preparing staff with trauma-informed approaches and shared standards. Our role will be focused on safety and environmental health while connecting residents to appropriate services. Why This Matters to Community: • Ensures actions during emergencies are predictable, compassionate, and focused on safety. • Reduces harm for residents most exposed to flooding and environmental hazards. • Builds trust through clear communication about roles and responsibilities. Why This Matters to Staff: • Provides guidance and training for working with vulnerable populations and responding compassionately and safely in sensitive or high risk situations. • Clarifies our role and strengthens coordination with other agencies. • Supports staff with protocols and resources for complex situations. 69 By 2036, Austin Watershed Protection will operate within a coordinated system of partnerships that protects the health, safety, and dignity of residents facing heightened watershed and environmental risk. Roles and responsibilities across city agencies will be clear, and staff will have guidance and training for complex, community- facing work. Community Priority Tracker S S E N D E R A P E R P Y C N E G R E M E I I & N O T A G T M D O O L F I I N O S U L C N I I & Y T U Q E . 2 1 . I N O T A R O T S E R & N O T C E T O R P I & E C N E I L I S E R E T A M I L C Y T I L I I B A N A T S U S E C R U O S E R L A R U T A N C I L B U P & Y T I L I B I S S E C C A T N E M E G A G N E . 3 . 4 . 5 I N O T A R O B A L L O C & T S U R T . 6 I & D E S U O H N U R O F H T W O R G & T N E M P O L E V E D S N O T A L U P O P E E L L B B A A N R E A N T L S U U V S . 8 7 T R O P P U S . I I P H S R E D A E L & N O T A V O N N I I . O 1 H T U O Y & N O T A C U D E I T N E M E G A G N E . 9 What We Will Do: We’re building a citywide approach to flood preparedness through community events, practical education, and partnerships with local organizations. Our efforts will prioritize neighborhood- specific information, renter-focused outreach, and culturally relevant materials, while empowering local leaders and volunteers to extend preparedness into everyday community life. Why This Matters to Community: • Helps residents understand their risk and how to prepare before, during, and after storms. • Builds neighborhood capacity for preparedness and mutual aid. • Ensures outreach is accessible and relevant for renters, unhoused residents, and other vulnerable communities. Why This Matters to Staff: • Advances our mission by ensuring the community is informed and prepared. • Strengthens collaboration with community partners and trusted messengers. • Creates feedback loops that inform future programs and strategic decisions. By 2036, Austin Watershed Protection will maintain a citywide, community- centered flood preparedness network supported by neighborhood-based education, accessible tools, and strong partnerships. Every community will have the knowledge, connections, and resources needed to understand and respond to flood risk and strengthen resilience. Community Priority Tracker S S E N D E R A P E R P Y C N E G R E M E I I & N O T A G T M D O O L F I I N O S U L C N I I & Y T U Q E . 2 1 . I N O T A R O T S E R & N O T C E T O R P I & E C N E I L I S E R E T A M I L C Y T I L I I B A N A T S U S E C R U O S E R L A R U T A N C I L B U P & Y T I L I B I S S E C C A T N E M E G A G N E . 3 . 4 . 5 I N O T A R O B A L L O C & T S U R T . 6 I & D E S U O H N U R O F H T W O R G & T N E M P O L E V E D S N O T A L U P O P E E L L B B A A N R E A N T L S U U V S . 8 7 T R O P P U S . I H T U O Y & N O T A C U D E I T N E M E G A G N E . 9 I P H S R E D A E L & N O T A V O N N I I . O 1 70 Rain to River: A Strategic Plan to Protect Austin’s Creeks & Communities | FINAL DRAFTENACT | FINAL DRAFT STRENGTHEN & SUSTAIN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT Center Community STRENGTHEN & SUSTAIN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT Center Community 1.7. Enhance Readiness for Emergencies 1.8. Improve Response and Recovery After Major Storms What We Will Do: We’re enhancing readiness by clarifying roles and responsibilities, improving technical and operational training, strengthening communication protocols, documenting expectations, and standardizing the practices that guide how staff prepare for flood response and other emergencies. This includes proactively inspecting, improving, and maintaining our critical infrastructure and equipment as well as applying lessons learned from previous events to shape updates and drive continuous improvement. We will expand readiness across the department so all staff understand their role in emergency operations, have opportunities to practice and participate in exercises, and can support the City’s broader response when needed. We will also deepen how we integrate community into emergency planning to ensure our preparedness work reflects local experience, priorities, and expertise. Why This Matters to Community: • Ensures planning reflects the perspectives and priorities of residents most impacted by storms and is grounded in local knowledge and networks. • Builds stronger relationships and shared understanding between us and the communities we serve before emergencies occur. • Strengthens response to future emergencies through continuous improvement based on lessons learned and recommendations from past events. Why This Matters to Staff: • Provides clear, consistent guidance on roles and responsibilities, defining boundaries and purpose within the broader emergency response system. • Ensures equipment, infrastructure, and procedures are maintained and ready for activation. • Builds the skills and readiness needed to step into emergency roles safely and effectively while distributing workload to sustain operational capacity. 71 By 2036, Austin Watershed Protection will ensure readiness is embedded in our department culture and structure for major floods and other large-scale emergencies through clear roles, trained staff, and consistent practices that integrate community experience and expertise. As climate change drives more frequent extreme weather through the region already known as Flash Flood Alley, we will ensure our systems are informed by what we learn from the communities we serve, helping staff move smoothly and effectively when emergencies occur. Community Priority Tracker S S E N D E R A P E R P Y C N E G R E M E I I & N O T A G T M D O O L F I I N O S U L C N I I & Y T U Q E . 2 1 . I N O T A R O T S E R & N O T C E T O R P I & E C N E I L I S E R E T A M I L C Y T I L I I B A N A T S U S E C R U O S E R L A R U T A N C I L B U P & Y T I L I B I S S E C C A T N E M E G A G N E . 3 . 4 . 5 I N O T A R O B A L L O C & T S U R T . 6 I & D E S U O H N U R O F H T W O R G & T N E M P O L E V E D S N O T A L U P O P E E L L B B A A N R E A N T L S U U V S . 8 7 T R O P P U S . I I P H S R E D A E L & N O T A V O N N I I . O 1 H T U O Y & N O T A C U D E I T N E M E G A G N E . 9 What We Will Do: We’re improving response and recovery by collaborating with departments and agencies that support emergency management, expanding trauma-informed training for staff, and securing the resources and funding needed for effective operations and long-term recovery. We will work closely with community leaders and organizations to ensure that response and recovery efforts build on local knowledge, leverage trusted networks, and mobilize the community assets that are already in place to respond quickly after major storms. We will also support staff through the demanding work of response and recovery so they can sustain this work effectively. Why This Matters to Community: • Ensures swift, coordinated action during storms through strong partnerships across the City and with community organizations. • Provides trauma-informed support that recognizes the stress and disruption major disasters create. • Strengthens recovery by working alongside trusted local networks that help residents navigate the aftermath of storms. Why This Matters to Staff: • Offers clear structures and plans that guide decision making during fast- moving emergencies. • Provides training, support, and resources that help staff manage the high- pressure demands of response and recovery work and reduce burnout. • Ensures teams have the equipment, funding, and operational capabilities needed to contribute effectively within the City’s larger emergency response system. By 2036, Austin Watershed Protection will contribute to a rapid, equitable, and coordinated response during major floods and other large-scale emergencies while supporting long-term community recovery. Working alongside community partners, staff will have the resources, coordination structures, and trauma-informed practices needed during and after storms to scale quickly into emergency operations, restore our systems and infrastructure, and help residents regain stability in the weeks and months that follow. Community Priority Tracker S S E N D E R A P E R P Y C N E G R E M E I I & N O T A G T M D O O L F I I N O S U L C N I I & Y T U Q E . 2 1 . I N O T A R O T S E R & N O T C E T O R P I & E C N E I L I S E R E T A M I L C Y T I L I I B A N A T S U S E C R U O S E R L A R U T A N C I L B U P & Y T I L I B I S S E C C A T N E M E G A G N E . 3 . 4 . 5 I N O T A R O B A L L O C & T S U R T . 6 I & D E S U O H N U R O F H T W O R G & T N E M P O L E V E D S N O T A L U P O P E E L L B B A A N R E A N T L S U U V S . 8 7 T R O P P U S . I H T U O Y & N O T A C U D E I T N E M E G A G N E . 9 I P H S R E D A E L & N O T A V O N N I I . O 1 72 Rain to River: A Strategic Plan to Protect Austin’s Creeks & Communities | FINAL DRAFTENACT | FINAL DRAFT INNOVATE TOGETHER DEFINE AND MEASURE WATERSHED HEALTH Innovate Together DEFINE AND MEASURE WATERSHED HEALTH Innovate Together 2.1. Create a Holistic Watershed Health and Safety Framework 2.2. Create Clear and Meaningful Watershed Targets What We Will Do: We’re building a watershed health and safety framework that brings together data from across our work into one clear picture of watershed conditions and priorities. This shared view will support smarter, more balanced decisions, combining technical performance with equity and community input to guide long- term planning and integrated solutions. This framework moves beyond a siloed and technical approach by creating a shared understanding of watershed health that includes the health and safety of our waterways and our community as well as the condition and function of our infrastructure. Why This Matters to Community: • Provides clear, accessible information about watershed conditions and City actions. • Builds trust through transparent indicators and public accountability. • Supports stewardship that reflects each watershed’s unique history and needs. Why This Matters to Staff: • Creates a consistent standard for prioritizing work and investments. Integrates technical and community data for better decisions. • • Strengthens long-term planning across watersheds. 73 By 2036, Austin Watershed Protection will use a comprehensive watershed health and safety framework to inform and guide decisions. This framework will ensure every watershed is assessed and understood through transparent data and indicators that reflect ecological conditions, flooding and erosion risk, infrastructure performance, and community context. Community Priority Tracker S S E N D E R A P E R P Y C N E G R E M E I I & N O T A G T M D O O L F I I N O S U L C N I I & Y T U Q E . 2 1 . I N O T A R O T S E R & N O T C E T O R P I & E C N E I L I S E R E T A M I L C Y T I L I I B A N A T S U S E C R U O S E R L A R U T A N C I L B U P & Y T I L I B I S S E C C A T N E M E G A G N E . 3 . 4 . 5 I N O T A R O B A L L O C & T S U R T . 6 I & D E S U O H N U R O F H T W O R G & T N E M P O L E V E D S N O T A L U P O P E E L L B B A A N R E A N T L S U U V S . 8 7 T R O P P U S . I H T U O Y & N O T A C U D E I T N E M E G A G N E . 9 I P H S R E D A E L & N O T A V O N N I I . O 1 What We Will Do: We’re defining what healthy means for Austin’s watersheds through measurable, actionable targets that combine technical indicators with community values. These targets will be evaluated and measured using the integrated data in the watershed health and safety framework. They will help inform decisions, prioritize resources, and support transparent reporting, creating a shared definition of success across the department and with the public. Why This Matters to Community: • Makes watershed health understandable and trackable through clear benchmarks. • Builds trust by pairing technical rigor with community- informed measures. • Ensures progress toward our vision is transparent and equitable. Why This Matters to Staff: • Provides a shared direction and reference point for planning and investment. • Strengthens outcome-based decision-making across programs and projects. • Establishes specific goals so teams know what success looks like and can track progress. By 2036, Austin Watershed Protection will use a clearly defined, scientifically grounded, and community-informed set of watershed health targets to guide planning, investment, and stewardship. Every watershed will have targets that account for unique conditions, historical context, and future risks. Community Priority Tracker S S E N D E R A P E R P Y C N E G R E M E I I & N O T A G T M D O O L F I I N O S U L C N I I & Y T U Q E . 2 1 . I N O T A R O T S E R & N O T C E T O R P I & E C N E I L I S E R E T A M I L C Y T I L I I B A N A T S U S E C R U O S E R L A R U T A N C I L B U P & Y T I L I B I S S E C C A T N E M E G A G N E . 3 . 4 . 5 I N O T A R O B A L L O C & T S U R T . 6 I & D E S U O H N U R O F H T W O R G & T N E M P O L E V E D S N O T A L U P O P E E L L B B A A N R E A N T L S U U V S . 8 7 T R O P P U S . I H T U O Y & N O T A C U D E I T N E M E G A G N E . 9 I P H S R E D A E L & N O T A V O N N I I . O 1 74 Rain to River: A Strategic Plan to Protect Austin’s Creeks & Communities | FINAL DRAFTENACT | FINAL DRAFT MODERNIZE DATA FOR TRANSPARENCY AND ACTION Innovate Together MODERNIZE DATA FOR TRANSPARENCY AND ACTION Innovate Together 2.3. Enhance Data and Modeling Capabilities 2.4. Deliver Clear, Actionable Data to the Public What We Will Do: We’re modernizing our data and modeling systems to move from reactive analysis to proactive planning. This includes improving our modeling capabilities and integrating siloed datasets so data can better inform and guide our decisions. Public-facing tools will provide clear, contextual information to build trust and understanding. Why This Matters to Community: • Improves transparency through accessible maps and data. • Builds trust by sharing accurate information about risks and progress. • Supports proactive planning that reduces harm and strengthens resilience. Why This Matters to Staff: • Connects data and modeling tools for coordinated decision- making. • Provides training and support for applying advanced tools in daily work. • Strengthens continuity and institutional knowledge across teams. 75 By 2036, Austin Watershed Protection will operate with a resilient data and modeling foundation that is integrated into the watershed health and safety framework. Advanced tools and connected systems will help anticipate change, strengthen coordination, and share information clearly and responsibly. Community Priority Tracker S S E N D E R A P E R P Y C N E G R E M E I I & N O T A G T M D O O L F I I N O S U L C N I I & Y T U Q E . 2 1 . I N O T A R O T S E R & N O T C E T O R P I & E C N E I L I S E R E T A M I L C Y T I L I I B A N A T S U S E C R U O S E R L A R U T A N C I L B U P & Y T I L I B I S S E C C A T N E M E G A G N E . 3 . 4 . 5 I N O T A R O B A L L O C & T S U R T . 6 I & D E S U O H N U R O F H T W O R G & T N E M P O L E V E D S N O T A L U P O P E E L L B B A A N R E A N T L S U U V S . 8 7 T R O P P U S . I H T U O Y & N O T A C U D E I T N E M E G A G N E . 9 I P H S R E D A E L & N O T A V O N N I I . O 1 What We Will Do: We’re creating a reliable public-facing platform that organizes information by watershed and shows projects, service requests, and progress toward key goals. This tool will emphasize clarity and relevance, making it easy for residents to understand risks, investments, and outcomes. Why This Matters to Community: • Makes watershed information visible, understandable, and connected to real conditions. • Builds trust through transparency and opportunities for engagement. • Helps residents see how resources are used and how progress is measured. Why This Matters to Staff: • Provides a clear channel for sharing progress and integrating community input. • Strengthens accountability and responsiveness in planning and service delivery. • Creates a consistent, accessible way to communicate priorities and outcomes. By 2036, Austin Watershed Protection will maintain a trusted, publicly accessible platform that clearly shows service activity, investments, and progress across our watersheds, while allowing community insight to inform priorities and strengthen accountability. Community Priority Tracker S S E N D E R A P E R P Y C N E G R E M E I I & N O T A G T M D O O L F I I N O S U L C N I I & Y T U Q E . 2 1 . I N O T A R O T S E R & N O T C E T O R P I & E C N E I L I S E R E T A M I L C Y T I L I I B A N A T S U S E C R U O S E R L A R U T A N C I L B U P & Y T I L I B I S S E C C A T N E M E G A G N E . 3 . 4 . 5 I N O T A R O B A L L O C & T S U R T . 6 I & D E S U O H N U R O F H T W O R G & T N E M P O L E V E D S N O T A L U P O P E E L L B B A A N R E A N T L S U U V S . 8 7 T R O P P U S . I H T U O Y & N O T A C U D E I T N E M E G A G N E . 9 I P H S R E D A E L & N O T A V O N N I I . O 1 76 Rain to River: A Strategic Plan to Protect Austin’s Creeks & Communities | FINAL DRAFTENACT | FINAL DRAFT INVEST IN PROACTIVE AND EQUITABLE INFRASTRUCTURE Innovate Together INVEST IN PROACTIVE AND EQUITABLE INFRASTRUCTURE Innovate Together 2.5. Implement a Proactive Approach to Infrastructure 2.6. Promote Opportunities for Shared Stewardship What We Will Do: We’re shifting from reactive repairs to planned, preventative investments that anticipate risk and reduce preventable failures. This approach applies to both natural and built infrastructure, using modern engineering standards, predictive modeling, and equity-focused prioritization to direct resources where they are most needed—ensuring consistent levels of service across all watersheds. Why This Matters to Community: • Reduces preventable harm to people, property, and the environment. • Directs improvements toward areas with the highest vulnerability and historic underinvestment. • Builds trust through transparency about infrastructure condition and progress. Why This Matters to Staff: • Reinforces the critical importance of proactively maintaining our drainage infrastructure and setting levels of service that are clear, achievable, and sustainable. • Provides data-driven tools for prioritizing investments and anticipating risk. • Aligns inspection, maintenance, engineering, and construction through a unified approach. By 2036, Austin Watershed Protection will implement a proactive, equitable approach to managing our infrastructure that integrates community priorities and technical standards. Investments will be guided by reliable data, clear levels of service, and an understanding of current and future risk. Community Priority Tracker S S E N D E R A P E R P Y C N E G R E M E & E C N E I L I S E R E T A M I L C Y T I L I I B A N A T S U S E C R U O S E R L A R U T A N I I & N O T A G T M D O O L F I I N O S U L C N I & Y T U Q E I I N O T A R O T S E R & N O T C E T O R P I C I L B U P & Y T I L I B I S S E C C A T N E M E G A G N E I N O T A R O B A L L O C & T S U R T . 6 H T W O R G & T N E M P O L E V E D E L B A N A T S U S I & D E S U O H N U R O F T R O P P U S I S N O T A L U P O P E L B A R E N L U V H T U O Y & N O T A C U D E I T N E M E G A G N E . 7 . 8 . 9 I P H S R E D A E L & N O T A V O N N I I . O 1 77 . 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 What We Will Do: We’re expanding opportunities for communities to help shape and care for green infrastructure and natural spaces through efforts such as tree plantings along waterways, rain gardens, wildflower meadows, and creek adoption programs. Equity and watershed conditions will guide where and how we invest, ensuring communities with the greatest need have access to meaningful stewardship opportunities. These activities will support healthier ecosystems and build community connections. They also can support green workforce pathways by prioritizing local hiring, training and skill building, and paid participation where possible. Each project will be developed in partnership with residents and local organizations to ensure it is responsive to community needs, grounded in local expertise, and includes a clear, sustainable plan for long-term care. Why This Matters to Community: • Provides more opportunities for people to actively care for the places they value. • Ensures stewardship resources are directed to communities with the greatest need. • Builds trust and pride through projects that reflect local knowledge and cultural context. Why This Matters to Staff: • Expands our impact to support more resilient, healthy waterways and green spaces. • Strengthens our relationships with community partners and residents. • Promotes green workforce pathways by creating opportunities for collaborative stewardship. By 2036, Austin will expand equitable opportunities for shared stewardship of green infrastructure and natural spaces that strengthens watershed health, builds community connection, and delivers benefits where they are needed most. Community Priority Tracker S S E N D E R A P E R P Y C N E G R E M E & E C N E I L I S E R E T A M I L C Y T I L I I B A N A T S U S E C R U O S E R L A R U T A N I N O T A R O T S E R & N O T C E T O R P I C I L B U P & Y T I L I B I S S E C C A T N E M E G A G N E I I & N O T A G T M D O O L F I I N O S U L C N I & Y T U Q E I . 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 I N O T A R O B A L L O C & T S U R T . 6 H T W O R G & T N E M P O L E V E D E L B A N A T S U S I & D E S U O H N U R O F T R O P P U S I S N O T A L U P O P E L B A R E N L U V H T U O Y & N O T A C U D E I T N E M E G A G N E . 7 . 8 . 9 I P H S R E D A E L & N O T A V O N N I I . O 1 78 Rain to River: A Strategic Plan to Protect Austin’s Creeks & Communities | FINAL DRAFTENACT | FINAL DRAFT ACHIEVE GREATER IMPACT THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS Innovate Together ACHIEVE GREATER IMPACT THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS Innovate Together 2.7. Collaborate with Partners on Shared Priorities 2.8. Collaborate to Promote Responsible Development What We Will Do: We’re formalizing and strengthening partnerships with City departments as well as other governmental agencies and community organizations to address complex challenges like extreme heat, water conservation, and emergency preparedness. Through structured collaboration, we will align strategies, share resources, and test solutions that improve resilience while maintaining clarity about roles and responsibilities. Why This Matters to Community: • Strengthens decision making by connecting diverse expertise, data, and perspectives. • Improves quality of life outcomes and accelerates progress by working together on shared priorities. • Builds trust through transparent collaboration and measurable public benefits. Why This Matters to Staff: • Unlocks broader networks of expertise, funding, and operational support for innovative, integrated solutions. • Clarifies roles and expectations for collaborative projects and initiatives. • Creates opportunities for shared learning, coordinated community engagement, and more efficient service delivery. 79 By 2036, Austin Watershed Protection will work with a sustained network of City departments, other governmental agencies, and community organizations to advance watershed and climate resilience. These partnerships will be clearly scoped, grounded in shared priorities, and focused on measurable public benefit. Community Priority Tracker S S E N D E R A P E R P Y C N E G R E M E I I & N O T A G T M D O O L F I I N O S U L C N I I & Y T U Q E . 2 1 . I N O T A R O T S E R & N O T C E T O R P I & E C N E I L I S E R E T A M I L C Y T I L I I B A N A T S U S E C R U O S E R L A R U T A N C I L B U P & Y T I L I B I S S E C C A T N E M E G A G N E . 3 . 4 . 5 I N O T A R O B A L L O C & T S U R T . 6 I & D E S U O H N U R O F H T W O R G & T N E M P O L E V E D S N O T A L U P O P E E L L B B A A N R E A N T L S U U V S . 8 7 T R O P P U S . I H T U O Y & N O T A C U D E I T N E M E G A G N E . 9 I P H S R E D A E L & N O T A V O N N I I . O 1 What We Will Do: We’re committed to making our environmental and drainage standards clear, consistent, and enforceable. By improving how we work together and share expectations, we will reduce uncertainty while holding projects accountable for meeting watershed protection goals. This work prioritizes transparency and responsibility so that development supports the health, safety, and resilience of our community. Why This Matters to Community: • Promotes responsible growth by upholding strong, enforceable standards. • Builds trust through transparency and consistent enforcement of regulations. • Protects watersheds by holding development accountable for watershed impacts. Why This Matters to Staff: • Provides a clear framework for communicating expectations and compliance. • Reinforces accountability and consistency in applying environmental and drainage standards. • Supports predictable review processes that uphold the mission of watershed protection. By 2036, Austin Watershed Protection will strengthen collaboration and transparency with the development community and residents by clearly communicating expectations, consistently applying watershed standards, and sharing information about trends and potential impacts to watershed health. Community Priority Tracker S S E N D E R A P E R P Y C N E G R E M E I I & N O T A G T M D O O L F I I N O S U L C N I I & Y T U Q E . 2 1 . I N O T A R O T S E R & N O T C E T O R P I & E C N E I L I S E R E T A M I L C Y T I L I I B A N A T S U S E C R U O S E R L A R U T A N C I L B U P & Y T I L I B I S S E C C A T N E M E G A G N E . 3 . 4 . 5 I N O T A R O B A L L O C & T S U R T . 6 I & D E S U O H N U R O F H T W O R G & T N E M P O L E V E D S N O T A L U P O P E E L L B B A A N R E A N T L S U U V S . 8 7 T R O P P U S . I H T U O Y & N O T A C U D E I T N E M E G A G N E . 9 I P H S R E D A E L & N O T A V O N N I I . O 1 80 Rain to River: A Strategic Plan to Protect Austin’s Creeks & Communities | FINAL DRAFTENACT | FINAL DRAFT GOVERN RESPONSIBLY ESTABLISH LEVEL OF SERVICE EXPECTATIONS Govern Responsibly ESTABLISH LEVEL OF SERVICE EXPECTATIONS Govern Responsibly 3.1. Define Clear and Achievable Levels of Service 3.2. Center Asset Management in Decision-Making What We Will Do: We’re creating a level of service framework that sets clear, achievable standards for how work is prioritized and delivered. This framework will help staff navigate competing demands with confidence, protect capacity, and ensure consistent service— even during emergencies—while giving residents and partners a transparent view of how decisions are made. Why This Matters to Community: • Builds trust and accountability through clear communication of service expectations. • Sets realistic expectations about what we can deliver and why. • Provides transparency about how decisions are made when trade-offs occur. Why This Matters to Staff: • Creates clarity for decision-making, reducing confusion and stress. • Protects staff capacity by guiding prioritization during urgent or competing demands. • Strengthens collaboration by clarifying roles and responsibilities across departments. 81 By 2036, Austin Watershed Protection will operate with a clear, shared, and publicly understood level of service framework that defines what residents can expect and what staff can realistically deliver. This framework will guide daily decisions, long-term planning, and emergency response while strengthening transparency and accountability. Community Priority Tracker S S E N D E R A P E R P Y C N E G R E M E I I & N O T A G T M D O O L F I I N O S U L C N I I & Y T U Q E . 2 1 . I N O T A R O T S E R & N O T C E T O R P I & E C N E I L I S E R E T A M I L C Y T I L I I B A N A T S U S E C R U O S E R L A R U T A N C I L B U P & Y T I L I B I S S E C C A T N E M E G A G N E . 3 . 4 . 5 I N O T A R O B A L L O C & T S U R T . 6 I & D E S U O H N U R O F H T W O R G & T N E M P O L E V E D S N O T A L U P O P E E L L B B A A N R E A N T L S U U V S . 8 7 T R O P P U S . I H T U O Y & N O T A C U D E I T N E M E G A G N E . 9 I P H S R E D A E L & N O T A V O N N I I . O 1 What We Will Do: We’re making asset management a central part of decision- making to prioritize preventive maintenance alongside urgent needs. By linking asset conditions, risk thresholds, and community input into one system, we can act earlier, allocate resources strategically, and reduce uncertainty. By setting clear expectations, we can help staff plan ahead and take care of problems before they become emergencies. Why This Matters to Community: • Builds trust and transparency by explaining how and why maintenance decisions are made. • Reduces risk of flooding, erosion, and infrastructure failure through proactive maintenance. • Provides clear expectations by showing planned work and service levels. Why This Matters to Staff: • Creates a unified approach for balancing preventive work with urgent needs. • Improves consistency across teams with shared standards and risk thresholds. • Reduces uncertainty by clarifying priorities and protecting staff capacity. By 2036, Austin Watershed Protection will manage stormwater infrastructure through an integrated asset management approach that drives proactive decisions, sets clear service standards, and ensures equitable outcomes. This approach will help staff and residents understand how maintenance choices reduce risk, protect watershed health, and strengthen long- term resilience. Community Priority Tracker S S E N D E R A P E R P Y C N E G R E M E I I & N O T A G T M D O O L F I I N O S U L C N I I & Y T U Q E . 2 1 . I N O T A R O T S E R & N O T C E T O R P I & E C N E I L I S E R E T A M I L C Y T I L I I B A N A T S U S E C R U O S E R L A R U T A N C I L B U P & Y T I L I B I S S E C C A T N E M E G A G N E . 3 . 4 . 5 I N O T A R O B A L L O C & T S U R T . 6 I & D E S U O H N U R O F H T W O R G & T N E M P O L E V E D S N O T A L U P O P E E L L B B A A N R E A N T L S U U V S . 8 7 T R O P P U S . I H T U O Y & N O T A C U D E I T N E M E G A G N E . 9 I P H S R E D A E L & N O T A V O N N I I . O 1 82 Rain to River: A Strategic Plan to Protect Austin’s Creeks & Communities | FINAL DRAFTENACT | FINAL DRAFT INTEGRATE EQUITY INTO STRATEGY AND INVESTMENT Govern Responsibly INTEGRATE EQUITY INTO STRATEGY AND INVESTMENT Govern Responsibly 3.3. Implement an Equitable Decision-Making Approach 3.4. Understand and Address Past Environmental Harms What We Will Do: We’re creating a unified, transparent process for prioritizing work across the department. This approach balances technical risk, funding availability, and feasibility with equity, community experience, and human impact. It ensures decisions are explainable, consistent, and publicly understandable. Decisions will be supported by the tools outlined across this plan, including the watershed health and safety framework, the shared equity approach, defining levels of service, proactive asset management, and addressing past environmental harm. The results and methodology will be shared to make our tradeoffs visible and defensible. Why This Matters to Community: • Builds trust through transparency and clarity about how decisions are made. • Ensures equity and community priorities are core decision inputs, not afterthoughts. • Demonstrates accountability by showing how our decisions reflect the community vision and deliver meaningful progress. Why This Matters to Staff: • Provides a consistent framework for comparing diverse projects and programs. • Improves coordination by aligning decision support tools into one portfolio view. • Allows flexibility to test and refine our approach over time as data quality improves and community expectations evolve. 83 By 2036, Austin Watershed Protection will consistently use a transparent, equity-centered decision-making approach to prioritize work across projects, programs, operations, and services. This approach will clearly show how technical need, community priorities, feasibility, funding realities, and long-term resilience shape our investment decisions. Community Priority Tracker S S E N D E R A P E R P Y C N E G R E M E I I & N O T A G T M D O O L F I I N O S U L C N I I & Y T U Q E . 2 1 . I N O T A R O T S E R & N O T C E T O R P I & E C N E I L I S E R E T A M I L C Y T I L I I B A N A T S U S E C R U O S E R L A R U T A N C I L B U P & Y T I L I B I S S E C C A T N E M E G A G N E . 3 . 4 . 5 I N O T A R O B A L L O C & T S U R T . 6 I & D E S U O H N U R O F H T W O R G & T N E M P O L E V E D S N O T A L U P O P E E L L B B A A N R E A N T L S U U V S . 8 7 T R O P P U S . I H T U O Y & N O T A C U D E I T N E M E G A G N E . 9 I P H S R E D A E L & N O T A V O N N I I . O 1 What We Will Do: We’re adopting a transparent method for acknowledging and responding to historic environmental disparities within our existing authority and mission. This approach will define clear criteria based on watershed conditions, environmental risk, infrastructure performance, and community vulnerability, focusing on measurable improvements to environmental health and reduced risk. These priorities will integrate with the portfolio-level decision process so historic harm is a core input in how we prioritize work, evaluate tradeoffs, and measure outcomes. Why This Matters to Community: • Builds trust by making clear how decisions address historic harm and reduce risk. • Ensures restorative actions deliver measurable improvements to watershed health and community resilience. • Creates transparency and accountability through published criteria and progress reporting. Why This Matters to Staff: • Provides a consistent, lawful approach for integrating equity into prioritization and planning. • Aligns decision-making with citywide equity policies and regulatory mandates. • Strengthens internal coordination and public confidence through clear, explainable choices. By 2036, Austin Watershed Protection will use a clear, disciplined approach to identify and address historic environmental harm and reduce risk. This approach will embed equity as a durable practice shaping watershed protection, resilience, and long-term environmental stewardship—and will feed directly into the department’s equitable decision- making approach. Community Priority Tracker S S E N D E R A P E R P Y C N E G R E M E I I & N O T A G T M D O O L F I I N O S U L C N I I & Y T U Q E . 2 1 . I N O T A R O T S E R & N O T C E T O R P I & E C N E I L I S E R E T A M I L C Y T I L I I B A N A T S U S E C R U O S E R L A R U T A N C I L B U P & Y T I L I B I S S E C C A T N E M E G A G N E . 3 . 4 . 5 I N O T A R O B A L L O C & T S U R T . 6 I & D E S U O H N U R O F H T W O R G & T N E M P O L E V E D S N O T A L U P O P E E L L B B A A N R E A N T L S U U V S . 8 7 T R O P P U S . I H T U O Y & N O T A C U D E I T N E M E G A G N E . 9 I P H S R E D A E L & N O T A V O N N I I . O 1 84 Rain to River: A Strategic Plan to Protect Austin’s Creeks & Communities | FINAL DRAFTENACT | FINAL DRAFT MANAGE OUR PORTFOLIO AND PERFORMANCE Govern Responsibly MANAGE OUR PORTFOLIO AND PERFORMANCE Govern Responsibly 3.5. Create a Portfolio Management Structure 3.6. Report Our Performance and Progress What We Will Do: We’re creating a portfolio management structure that connects strategy, project and program coordination, and data-informed planning across the department. This structure will not replace or centralize division work—it will enable alignment so day-to-day decisions and long-term investments move in the same direction. By providing shared tools, common language, and integrated tracking, the structure will help staff understand priorities, manage tradeoffs, and sequence work realistically. Why This Matters to Community: • Builds trust through clear communication about priorities, investments, and progress. • Ensures resources align with community priorities and long- term goals. • Improves accountability by making tradeoffs and sequencing visible and explainable. Why This Matters to Staff: • Provides a unified structure for aligning projects, programs, and operations. • Reduces inefficiencies and burnout by surfacing constraints and dependencies early. • Strengthens coordination and clarity without slowing down urgent work. 85 By 2036, Austin Watershed Protection will operate with a fully integrated portfolio management structure that supports consistent, transparent decision-making across projects, programs, policies, and operations. This structure will help balance urgency with long-term stewardship, preserve agility while improving coordination, and ensure investments align with the community vision and priorities. Community Priority Tracker S S E N D E R A P E R P Y C N E G R E M E & E C N E I L I S E R E T A M I L C Y T I L I I B A N A T S U S E C R U O S E R L A R U T A N I N O T A R O T S E R & N O T C E T O R P I C I L B U P & Y T I L I B I S S E C C A T N E M E G A G N E I I & N O T A G T M D O O L F I I N O S U L C N I & Y T U Q E I . 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 I N O T A R O B A L L O C & T S U R T . 6 H T W O R G & T N E M P O L E V E D E L B A N A T S U S I & D E S U O H N U R O F T R O P P U S I S N O T A L U P O P E L B A R E N L U V H T U O Y & N O T A C U D E I T N E M E G A G N E . 7 . 8 . 9 I P H S R E D A E L & N O T A V O N N I I . O 1 What We Will Do: We’re aligning and strengthening our performance management approach to show how our work delivers on the commitments and strategies in this plan. Rather than adding new layers of reporting, we’ll focus on clarity and usefulness—connecting daily work to our long-term vision and making results visible to staff and the public. Reporting will highlight progress on implementation, challenges, and how community input and changing conditions shape decisions. Why This Matters to Community: • Builds trust through transparent reporting on progress and priorities. • Provides clarity on how actions deliver meaningful outcomes for neighborhoods and the environment. • Creates accountability by showing where progress is strong and where improvements are needed. Why This Matters to Staff: • Aligns performance measures with strategies and vision. • Supports learning and adaptation through regular evaluation and feedback. • Integrates reporting to eliminate redundancies and provide a transparent view of performance. By 2036, Austin Watershed Protection will maintain a clear, transparent performance management system that demonstrates progress on our commitments and strategies, supports learning and improvement, and builds public trust through accessible reporting on outcomes and service expectations. Community Priority Tracker S S E N D E R A P E R P Y C N E G R E M E & E C N E I L I S E R E T A M I L C Y T I L I I B A N A T S U S E C R U O S E R L A R U T A N I I & N O T A G T M D O O L F I I N O S U L C N I & Y T U Q E I I N O T A R O T S E R & N O T C E T O R P I C I L B U P & Y T I L I B I S S E C C A T N E M E G A G N E . 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 I N O T A R O B A L L O C & T S U R T . 6 H T W O R G & T N E M P O L E V E D E L B A N A T S U S I & D E S U O H N U R O F T R O P P U S I S N O T A L U P O P E L B A R E N L U V H T U O Y & N O T A C U D E I T N E M E G A G N E . 7 . 8 . 9 I P H S R E D A E L & N O T A V O N N I I . O 1 86 Rain to River: A Strategic Plan to Protect Austin’s Creeks & Communities | FINAL DRAFTENACT | FINAL DRAFT SUSTAIN WORKFORCE CAPACITY AND WISDOM Govern Responsibly SUSTAIN WORKFORCE CAPACITY AND WISDOM Govern Responsibly 3.7. Cultivate a Balanced and Proactive Work Culture 3.8. Maintain and Share Knowledge What We Will Do: We’re shifting from a reactive culture to one that values prevention, planning, and proactive service. This means protecting staff time for planning, collaboration, and professional development, while ensuring urgent needs don’t crowd out long- term work. Leadership will set clear priorities, provide training, and make explicit tradeoffs so proactive expectations are achievable and not an added burden. We will also center the needs of our operations staff to ensure they have the support and resources required to meet level of service expectations and reduce burnout. Why This Matters to Community: • Ensures staff have the capacity to deliver consistent, high- quality service. • Builds trust by prioritizing safety and planning over reactive fixes. • Supports equitable service delivery by reducing gaps caused by resource constraints. Why This Matters to Staff: • Protects time for planning, collaboration, and professional growth. • Reduces burnout through clear prioritization and realistic workload expectations. • Strengthens capacity and tools for proactive work across teams. 87 By 2036, Austin Watershed Protection will sustain a healthy, equitable, and proactive workforce culture where staff have the time, tools, and leadership support to plan ahead, work safely, and focus on solutions that prevent harm and deliver lasting benefits for the community and environment. Community Priority Tracker S S E N D E R A P E R P Y C N E G R E M E I I & N O T A G T M D O O L F I I N O S U L C N I I & Y T U Q E . 2 1 . I N O T A R O T S E R & N O T C E T O R P I & E C N E I L I S E R E T A M I L C Y T I L I I B A N A T S U S E C R U O S E R L A R U T A N C I L B U P & Y T I L I B I S S E C C A T N E M E G A G N E . 3 . 4 . 5 I N O T A R O B A L L O C & T S U R T . 6 I & D E S U O H N U R O F H T W O R G & T N E M P O L E V E D S N O T A L U P O P E E L L B B A A N R E A N T L S U U V S . 8 7 T R O P P U S . I I P H S R E D A E L & N O T A V O N N I I . O 1 H T U O Y & N O T A C U D E I T N E M E G A G N E . 9 What We Will Do: We’re committed to capturing and sharing the expertise that makes us strong. By creating consistent documentation practices and a centralized digital knowledge base, we’ll make it easier for staff to learn from past work, build on proven ideas, and adapt to new challenges. This approach ensures lessons learned today become the foundation for tomorrow’s decisions, reducing fragmentation and improving continuity as staff, tools, and structures evolve. Why This Matters to Community: • Strengthens service delivery by ensuring decisions are informed by experience and evidence. • Builds trust through transparency about how knowledge shapes actions and outcomes. • Supports continuity so progress isn’t lost when staff or leadership changes. Why This Matters to Staff: • Makes critical information accessible and usable for planning and implementation. • Preserves institutional memory to support learning and innovation. • Reduces duplication and uncertainty by providing clear documentation standards. By 2036, Austin Watershed Protection will maintain a living knowledge system that preserves institutional memory, supports learning across generations of staff, and strengthens decision-making at every level. Community Priority Tracker S S E N D E R A P E R P Y C N E G R E M E I I & N O T A G T M D O O L F I I N O S U L C N I I & Y T U Q E . 2 1 . I N O T A R O T S E R & N O T C E T O R P I & E C N E I L I S E R E T A M I L C Y T I L I I B A N A T S U S E C R U O S E R L A R U T A N C I L B U P & Y T I L I B I S S E C C A T N E M E G A G N E . 3 . 4 . 5 I N O T A R O B A L L O C & T S U R T . 6 I & D E S U O H N U R O F H T W O R G & T N E M P O L E V E D S N O T A L U P O P E E L L B B A A N R E A N T L S U U V S . 8 7 T R O P P U S . I H T U O Y & N O T A C U D E I T N E M E G A G N E . 9 I P H S R E D A E L & N O T A V O N N I I . O 1 88 Rain to River: A Strategic Plan to Protect Austin’s Creeks & Communities | FINAL DRAFTENACT | FINAL DRAFT 05 APPENDIX PROJECT TEAM ACKNOWLEDGMENTS GLOSSARY III VII Community Activation Group learning about green stormwater infrastructure ii APPENDIX | FINAL DRAFTPROJECT TEAM ACKNOWLEDGMENTS We sincerely thank the individuals and organizations listed here for their time, expertise, and dedication throughout this process. Your thoughtful contributions have been instrumental in shaping meaningful outcomes, and we deeply appreciate the effort you invested to make this work possible. We also want to recognize the many community members and staff who participated in surveys, attended events, and joined conversations. Your input has been essential every step of the way. We are proud to be stewards of this vision and look forward to working together to turn it into action. Steering Committee Francisco Andrada, Jr. Trent Atkins John Beachy Will Burdick Lazaro Cardenas Kaela Champlin Annabell del Castillo Anupa Gharpurey Ana Gonzalez Pam Kearfott Rebeka McKay John Middleton Julius Ochoa Janna Renfro Lee Sherman Kye Tavernier Jose Valles Technical Advisory Group Michael Amaral Taja Beekley Guadalupe Cantu Lazaro Cardenas Albert Castro Andrew Clamann John Clement Jameson Courtney Francisco De Leon Joan Esquivel Leah Gibson Leticia Gonzalez Kshitiz Gyawali Ryan Hebrink Susana Herrera Daniel Herrera Marvin Hope Susan Kenzle Matthew Leach Jorge Losoya Planning Team Sari Albornoz Haider Anwar Andrea Bates James Collins Kelly Gagnon Courtney Guidry Matt Hollon Tymon Khamsi Nick Kincaid Kerstin Johansson Jorge Losoya Tania Maya-Ramirez Chase Norris Michelle Parke Kelly Strickler Tatum Troutt Jessica Wilson Erin Wood Bobby Zaidi iii Engagement Strategy Team Susan Birkenmayer Natalie Elorza-Welling Joan Esquivel Susan Garnett Leah Gibson Aaron Hicks Zach Jarjoura Stephanie Lott Jaime Nolasco Vickie Pugh Andrea Rojas Patrick Riester Adrian Ruiz Katie Sternberg Hanh Thai Becca Villarreal Jessica Wilson Executive Leadership Jorge Morales Will Burdick Nikki Fowler Liz Johnston Saul Nuccitelli Janae Spence Ramesh Swaminathan KC Coyne Anupa Gharpurey Jose Guerrero Sara Hartley Chris Herrington Mike Kelly Technical Advisory Group Jacob Martinez David Massey Rebeka McKay Kristina McLaren Sergio Mendoza Linsday Olinde Abel Porras Henry Price Marcus Pryor Sofia Reyes Aaron Richter Angelita Rodriguez Marvin Rodriguez Rupali Sabnis Kevin Schilly Kelly Strickler Lindsey Sydow Kye Tavernier Hanh Thai Jose Valles Meira Vedros Karen Villatoro Jessica Wilson iv Rain to River: A Strategic Plan to Protect Austin’s Creeks & Communities | FINAL DRAFTAPPENDIX | FINAL DRAFTCommunity Ambassadors Rakhi Agrawal Faiz Baghezza Edria Fleming Reyna Flores Amber Fowler Alyson Vargas Bryan Nya Mirna Rodriguez Tanya Walker Jenzie Zane Mini-Grant Partners Bobbie Garza-Hernandez Elaine Lofton Danielle Ward (Reichman) Lilia Rosas Juan Rodriguez Mora Ricardo Zavala Community Activation Group Brenda Berstis Angela Bigham Janis Bookout Fidel Campuzano Gonzalez Dianna Dean Brittany Ellis Brad Massingill Valerie Menard Marisa Perales Kyla Peterson Sheridan Ray Mirna Rodriguez v Community Activation Group Juan Rodriguez Mora Rage Schuyler Helen Siegel Sue Spears Valerie Tamburri Selena Xie Ricardo Zavala Focus Group Collaborators Alex Arguello Fidel Campuzano Gonzalez Marcus Cardwell Melinda Chow Eric Clow Marcela Contreras Amelia DeVivo Meg Erskine Shirene Garcia Devin Miller Kyla Peterson Celine Rendon Gilbert Rivera Marissa Trussell Quinn Ulrich Tanya Walker Partner Organizations African American Youth Harvest Foundation allgo American YouthWorks Art Spark Texas Asian American Employee Network Partner Organizations Asian American Resource Center Asian Family Support Services of Austin Asian Texans for Justice Austin Animal Services Austin Area Urban League Austin Chinese-American Network Austin Climate Action and Resilience Austin Development Services Austin Economic Development Austin Energy Austin Equity and Inclusion Austin Homeless Strategies and Operations Austin Independent School District Austin Mutual Aid Austin Neighborhoods Council Austin Parks and Recreation Austin Planning Austin Pride Austin Public Health Austin Public Library Austin Voices for Education and Youth Austin Water Austin Youth Climate Equity Council Austin Youth Forest Council Austin Youth River Watch Black Austin Coalition Black Women Who Blazier Elementary Bridging Barriers (University of Texas at Austin) Burnet Middle School Buzz Mill Shore Corps Capital Area Master Naturalists Partner Organizations Center for Government & Civic Services at Austin Community College Central Texas African American Family Support Conference Central Texas Youth Alliance (formerly CTOYC) Central Texas Juneteenth Committee Colorado River Alliance Community Powered ATX Community Resilience Trust Deaf Artisan Market Day Del Valle Community Coalition Dove Springs Proud Earth Day Austin East MLK Combined Neighborhood Plan Contact Team EcoRise El Buen Samaritano Emerging Green Leaders Equity Action Team Festival Beach Food Forest Forklift Danceworks Foundation Communities Friends of Grand Meadow Park Go Austin/Vamos Austin (GAVA) Great Springs Project Green Workforce Collaborative Hill Country Alliance Huston-Tillotson University Indigenous Cultures Institute KAZI 88.7 FM Austin La Raza Roundtable Lower Colorado River Authority Partner Organizations PODER Project CRESSLE (University of Texas at Austin) Queertopia Raasin in the Sun Red Salmon Arts Refugee Collective Roots & Wings Festival Save Barton Creek Association Scouting America Shoal Creek Conservancy Sierra Club South Austin Creek Alliance St. John’s Faith Community Garden STEMSign Stonewall Equity Employee Network (SEEN) Texas Alliance for Retired Americans (TARA Austin) Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Montopolis Recreation and Community Center The Mosaic Workshop The Trail Foundation TreeFolks University of Texas at Austin Waterloo Greenway Conservancy Whole Communities Whole Health (University of Texas at Austin) Consultant Team Jodon Maclem LaCole Foots (Project Lead) Kitty McLeod Adam Hossain Mend Collaborative Michelle Bright Kari Spiegelhalter Bindu Nicholson Kennedy Rauh MEASURE Meme Styles Paulette Blanc Dr. Zameshia Williams Dr. Dee Miller Deanna Cureton Dominique Charlie Oquendo Geosyntec Marty Christman Olivia Bramlet Dr. Tane Ward In Memory We honor the memories of Dawn Maria Howell and Rakhi Agrawal, whose thoughtful contributions enriched our process and helped shape this plan. We also remember Nick Down and Dana Lappin, whose light and laughter shine on in everything we do. vi Rain to River: A Strategic Plan to Protect Austin’s Creeks & Communities | FINAL DRAFTAPPENDIX | FINAL DRAFTGLOSSARY AQUIFER Porous rock layers that store rainwater underground like a sponge. The Edwards Aquifer in Austin is formed from limestone and is highly susceptible to pollution. CAPITAL PROJECTS Large-scale, long-term projects aimed at improving infrastructure, such as upgrading storm drains, restoring eroding creek banks, or building water quality ponds. CLIMATE CHANGE The long-term, human-caused warming of the earth driven by greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels. Locally, this can lead to increasing temperatures as well as more frequent droughts and flooding. CREEK FLOODING Overflow of water from major creeks and their tributaries onto nearby land, roads, or structures during heavy rain, creating hazardous conditions and property damage. DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE Systems of natural and built features—such as creeks, channels, pipes, tunnels, and stormwater ponds—that manage stormwater to reduce flooding, erosion, and water pollution. ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE Movement to address systemic inequities that place low-income communities and communities of color at greater risk from pollution, climate impacts, and hazardous facilities. EQUITY The condition when race no longer predicts a person’s quality of life outcomes in our community. In Austin’s watersheds, this means repairing historic harms like lack of infrastructure and ensuring fair access to safe and healthy waterways. EROSION The process by which soil and rock are worn away by flowing water, which can destabilize creek banks and threaten homes, roads, and other infrastructure. EROSION MITIGATION Efforts to prevent or reduce creek bank erosion and protect property through stream restoration, bank stabilization, and regulations that limit future erosion risks. FLOODPLAIN The area adjacent to a creek or river that is subject to flooding. The 100-year floodplain is the area that is predicted to flood during a 100-year storm, which has a 1% chance of occurring in any given year. This area may change based on an improved understanding of risk factors or changing conditions. FLOOD RISK REDUCTION Efforts to protect people and property from flooding through drainage improvements, safety measures, and community preparedness. GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE Networks of natural and landscaped areas—such as parks, wildlands, forests, and waterways—that provide environmental benefits and improve quality of life. GREEN STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE Features designed to use vegetation and soils to mimic natural processes and manage rain where it falls, soaking water into the ground and filtering pollutants. Examples include rain gardens, porous pavement, and rainwater harvesting. IMPERVIOUS COVER Surfaces that do not allow water to soak into the ground, including asphalt, concrete, and buildings. Impervious cover increases stormwater runoff and contributes to flooding, erosion, and water pollution. INFILTRATION The process by which water soaks into the ground, replenishing groundwater and providing baseflow for our creeks. LAKES / RESERVOIRS In Austin, the waterbodies commonly referred to as lakes are actually man-made reservoirs. Lake Travis, Lake Austin, and Lady Bird Lake were created by dams on the Colorado River to provide flood control, drinking water, power generation, and recreation. Lake Walter E. Long was created by a dam on Decker Creek to cool the adjacent power plant and is primarily kept full with water pumped from the Colorado River. LIVED EXPERIENCE Knowledge gained from being directly affected by an issue such as flooding, based on personal history and perspective. It provides firsthand understanding that can inform policies, programs, or projects. STORMWATER RUNOFF Rainfall that does not soak into the ground and instead flows over land surfaces into storm drains and creeks. It carries pollutants and contributes to downstream erosion and flooding. LOCAL FLOODING Flooding that occurs outside of floodplains when undersized storm drains and channels are overwhelmed by heavy rain, causing water to flow into nearby streets, yards, and buildings. WATER QUALITY PROTECTION Efforts to keep Austin’s creeks, rivers, lakes, and springs clean and healthy by reducing pollution, restoring natural areas, enforcing regulations, and monitoring conditions. WATERSHED An area of land where all rainfall and stormwater runoff drain to a common creek, lake, or river. Watersheds are defined by natural high points and ridgelines in the landscape that separate one drainage area from another. LOW-WATER CROSSING A road or bridge designed to allow water to flow over the driving surface during rain events, making them dangerous or impassable during a flood. NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS Actions that protect, restore, or manage natural systems to address challenges like flooding, water quality, and climate impacts while providing benefits for people, ecosystems, and biodiversity. RESILIENCE Resilience is the capacity of communities, local governments, and businesses to coordinate and prepare for, respond to, and recover from both sudden shocks— such as extreme heat or flooding—and ongoing stressors like aging infrastructure, public health inequities, or rising housing costs, to ensure Austinites can adapt and thrive. Turtles basking on a log in Lady Bird Lake viii APPENDIX | FINAL DRAFTTogether, we can shape a city that is safer, more equitable, and more connected to the natural rhythms that define it. From the smallest raindrop to the vast flow of the Colorado River, Austin’s story is one of water. Rain to River is our commitment to steward that story wisely for this generation and the ones to come. The rugged beauty and wonder of McKinney Falls