Austin's Barton Springs Pool to Reopen After Repairs

A popular swimming site in Central Texas that's also home to endangered salamanders will soon reopen with updates to help protect the creatures.

Austin city officials on Tuesday announced repairs to the Barton Springs bypass culvert and downstream dam are nearly complete. Barton Springs Pool is scheduled to reopen Saturday after being closed since mid-December.

Experts say the bypass culvert helps protect the water quality in Barton Springs. The pool fed by underground springs provides habitat for the endangered Barton Springs salamander plus the Austin blind salamander -- which is a candidate species for endangered listing.

Biologists will continue to monitor the salamanders at the pool is within Zilker Park.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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