Bastrop Spring:  A Significant Historical Landmark

Bastrop Spring was designated as a significant historic landmark by the Bastrop City Council September 9, 2008. Susan B. Long of the Bastrop Historic Landmark Commission submitted the request at the July 16, 2008 City Council meeting with the a historic narrative about the springs: Bastrop Springs – The Journey of a Lifetime. The springs were initially identified for their importance by Gunner N. Brune in his book Springs of Texas (excerpts from Brune’s book).

Environmental Stewardship has organized a local stakeholder group to put together plans for restoring the springs and to provide interpretive signage to inform the public about the historic and ecological relevance of the springs. Download Bastrop Springs Narrative (pdf).

If you are interested in participating please contact us.

Bastrop Springs are located in Riverwalk/Ferry Crossing Park at the base of the stairs down from Wells Fargo Bank (see photo on right)

Local Stakeholder-Partners:

  • City of Bastrop Park Board
  • City of Bastrop Parks Department
  • Bastrop Historic Landmark Commission
  • Bastrop Main Street
  • Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD)
  • Lost Pines Master Naturalists
  • Sierra Club Lost Pines Conservation Committee
  • The River Studio, LLC (a private landscape architect)
  • Private Citizens
  • Environmental Stewardship

Concept Drawings of Bastrop Spring Project:

Based on initial discussions with the local partners listed above and evaluation of the site the concept drawing to the left was developed by The River Studio who has been providing pro-bono assistance on the project. Flow from the spring (recently measured to be about 2-5 gallons per minute) will cascade down a natural rock face and pool by the sidewalk before passing under the sidewalk by way of a bridge that will provide visual contact with the flowing water.

Flow from the spring will feed a wetlands habitat which will emerge between the Riverwalk sidewalk and the Colorado River. Currently the spring flow is routed through a galvanized culvert inserted vertically next to the sidewalk and then through a 4 inch PVC pipe which empties into the river in the midst of a growth of elephant ear plants on the river bank (see photos above).

The drawing to the right shows the overall concept for restoring the spring located by the Riverwalk at the bottom right of the stairway which descends from future side of the Bastrop Historical Society and History Museum (currently City Hall).

The conceptual vision is to also restore (install) a wetland’s spring pool between the Riverwalk sidewalk and the Colorado River with aquatic plants and animals. The existing river overlook pier would be re-built to include interpretive signs to educate about the relationship between the Colorado River and the Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer which crosses under the river up-river from this site (between the 969 river bridge and Fisherman’s Park).

A boardwalk through the wetlands will connect to a new interpretive pier down river from the existing pier. The down-river pier will educate about the relationship of the Colorado River to the riparian (river side) habitat and other ecological functions.

The satellite image to the left shows the location of the spring restoration site, the sidewalk and stairway, current City Hall, Loop 150/Chestnut Street leading to the Old Iron Bridge.

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