Editing Barton Springs Pool (section)

== Environmental issues ==
The pool has been closed to the public a number of times since the 1980s due to unsafe levels of fecal coliform ([[E. coli]]) bacteria in its waters.  The source of contamination is still undetermined: many point to upstream urban development as the cause, although others note that high bacteria levels were seen in the 1950s, when development was less pervasive. Contamination is usually worse after heavy rains due to the flushing of the effluent of upstream subdivisions into the [[Edwards Aquifer]] recharge zone which feeds the springs.

The environmental conditions of the springs gave birth to a local political movement called the [[Save Our Springs Alliance]] (SOS).  SOS became a force in Austin municipal politics, leading to many "green" initiatives involving [[environmental issue]]s in addition to those of the springs.

[[Robert Redford]], who first learned to swim at Barton Springs Pool, has also been an outspoken ally. In 2007 he and Terrence Malick co-produced The Unforeseen, a documentary highlighting environmental impact to the Edwards aquifer from the surrounding real estate subdivision.

Another environmental issue involving the springs and the pool emerged with the discovery of the [[Barton Springs salamander]], a federally listed endangered or threatened species which only exists in the pool and a few surrounding environs. After some debate, and studies by the city of Austin, Texas state agencies, and the [[U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service]], it was determined that swimmers and salamanders could co-exist (as they had probably been doing for some time).

The pool was also closed in 2003 after a cover story in a local paper claimed that the waters were toxic.<ref>{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Amy |date=2003-01-24 |title=City vs. Statesman: Futrell Comes Out Swinging at the Springs |url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2003-01-24/132818/ |work=Austin Chronicle |location=Austin |access-date=2023-04-14}}</ref> After closing the pool for 90 days, officials from the CDC, USEPA, State of Texas and the City of Austin deemed it safe for swimmers.<ref>{{cite news |last=Apple |first=Lauri |date=2003-04-03 |title=City Hall: Yes, Austin, Barton Springs Is Still Safe |url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2003-04-04/city-hall-yes-austin-barton-springs-is-still-safe/ |work=Austin Chronicle |location=Austin |access-date=2023-04-14}}</ref> The source of the chemicals entering the pool were from a [[Polycyclic_aromatic_hydrocarbons|pavement sealer]] used on a nearby local parking lot. This discovery led to the nation's first ban of coal tar pavement sealers in 2005.<ref>{{cite news |last=King |first=Michael |date=2016-11-25 |title=AMA Calls for a Nationwide Ban on Coal Tar Sealants |url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2016-11-25/ama-calls-for-a-nationwide-ban-on-coal-tar-sealants/ |work=Austin Chronicle |location=Austin |access-date=2023-04-14}}</ref>