Demand Austin Officials Clean Up Lady Bird Lake

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The Issue

Living in Austin means having access to beautiful natural spots like Lady Bird Lake. However, this beloved location is becoming a dangerous place for our community and our pets. The root of the problem lies in cyanobacteria, often misnamed as blue green algae, which thrives in the lake. This isn't just a trivial issue; it's a serious health threat. Cyanobacteria releases a spectrum of cyanotoxins that can cause severe harm to both humans and animals.

 

For visitors and locals alike, the threat is real. Cyanotoxins such as hepatotoxins and neurotoxins attack vital organs, leading to severe health consequences and even fatalities. Our pets, especially dogs, are at greater risk because they instinctively lick their fur, mistakenly ingesting deadly toxins. We've seen too many tragedies, with dogs suffering fatal effects after innocent trips to splash around in the lake.

 

We need the City of Austin to take immediate action. It's time for officials to clean up Lady Bird Lake and make it safe for everyone. This involves thorough investigation and removal of cyanobacteria. We should all be able to enjoy the natural beauty of the lake without fearing for our health or the safety of our pets.

 

Let's unite to demand a cleanup of Lady Bird Lake. By addressing this issue head-on, we can protect the health of our community and preserve the beauty of our city. Sign this petition and help us make Lady Bird Lake a safe and welcoming place once again. Your signature can make a difference.

avatar of the starter
Melanie ByrdPetition Starter
Media inquiries

The Decision Makers

City of Austin
City of Austin
Austin Watershed Protection
Responded
“Dear Petitioners, Thank you for sharing your concerns about Lady Bird Lake. The mission of Austin Watershed Protection is to protect the community's lives, property, and environment by reducing the impact of flooding, erosion, and water pollution. We share your love of Lady Bird Lake and your concerns about its ecological health, especially as fellow parents and pet-owners. Austin Watershed Protection has been testing samples from Lady Bird Lake for toxins caused by cyanobacteria since 2016. We expanded our testing sites in 2019, following the tragic news that several dogs died from presumably ingesting toxic algae. Our department continues routine monitoring, primarily between May and October, when the risk tends to be greatest. However, cyanobacteria are present year-round, so people and pets should always be cautious. The City also regularly meets with the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) to discuss their regional monitoring and the latest strategies. The type of cyanobacteria in Lady Bird Lake that is of primary concern is typically found as dense, dark green, slimy “mats” of algae along the riverbed and on boulders. These mats can float to the surface and accumulate near the shore, which is when the risk to dogs and people is greatest because the mats can have concentrated toxins. Other species of cyanobacteria exist as single cells dispersed in the water that can release toxins during a bloom event. These “planktonic” algal blooms can turn the water bright green and limit recreation, and although these species exist in our lakes, we have not yet had a bloom event with associated toxins of recreational concern. The ecology of cyanobacteria is complex, and the specific triggers that cause the organisms to start generating cyanotoxins are not clear. Cyanobacteria are present in all natural water bodies, and it would not be possible to eliminate them, nor ecologically responsible to try. Rather, management efforts try and influence cyanobacteria growth to prevent or minimize potential toxin production. Researchers around the world are actively trying to determine the complex variables that results in toxin production, such as water flow, temperature, light, nutrients, and trace metals. From 2020 through 2025, Watershed Protection oversaw a city-sponsored pilot study applying an inert, chemically-modified clay at two sites in Lady Bird Lake. It was intended to reduce the availability of sediment phosphorus to the mat-forming cyanobacteria. Such phosphorus management treatments have been shown to reduce the biomass of planktonic cyanobacteria in some lakes and ponds, but such an approach had not been applied in a riverine system like Lady Bird Lake for algal mats. Watershed Protection is currently in an observational period as a control following the clay application to determine the efficacy of the five-year pilot program. This will give us a better understanding of how to address cyanobacteria moving forward as we continue exploring alternative methods to manage nutrients, trace metals, or the physical integrity of the mats. Nutrients in Lady Bird Lake can be difficult to manage because they arrive from multiple sources. This includes runoff from our local urban creeks, as well as significant inputs from the Colorado River watershed, mostly outside the City of Austin. Sediments and nutrients are mobilized through runoff from soil, organic matter, and fertilizers every time it rains. One way Austin Watershed Protection manages this is by requiring new developments to have stormwater control measures that help keep pollutants out of creeks and Lady Bird Lake. In addition, the City of Austin performs regular creek and lake cleanups and partners with organizations like Keep Austin Beautiful and The Trail Conservancy to care for Lady Bird Lake because we all recognize its value for the community. We encourage people to follow safe practices when recreating on or near local waterways. This includes not entering the water if it is warm or stagnant or algae is visible. People and pets should avoid contact with algae and rinse their skin and pet’s fur after being in the water. People can report suspected algae-related illness to Austin Public Health. Find more information about algae in Austin’s waterways here: https://www.austintexas.gov/watershed-protection/algae-austins-waterways --City of Austin, Austin Watershed Protection”
T.C. Broadnax
T.C. Broadnax
City of Austin
Kirk Watson
Kirk Watson
Austin City Mayor

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Petition created on July 24, 2026