Erosion threatens hike-and-bike trail

AUSTIN (KXAN) - A section of the hike-and-bike trail around Lady Bird Lake has a major erosion problem.

The problem is at the peninsula where Shoal Creek meets the lake on the north side of the trail by the Seaholm Power Plant.

City officials with the Watershed Protection Department said that throughout the last 30 years, the shoreline has eroded by 20- to 25 feet. That's causing the water to creep closer to the trail.

Tuesday night, there's a public meeting to see what to do about the problem, and two options are on the table.

One is to restore the shoreline and put in limestone boulders.

"The other option is to cut through the peninsula and clear Shoal Creek to flow into Lady Bird Lake. But that would require a bridge over the gap we will create." Morgan Byars, with the Watershed Protection Department.

The peninsula was created in the 1960s so that the creek wouldn't mix with the lake when the power and water treatment plants were being used.

The public meeting happens at 6:30 p.m. at the One Texas Center on Barton Springs Road.