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(Wally Gobetz)
The city has reopened the Barton Springs Pool after shutting it down during the winter storm.
Austinites can shake off their winter boots and take a dip at two reopened city pools, the city of Austin announced.
<p>The Barton Springs Pool and Deep Eddy pool were shut down due to the winter storm, but both reopened as of today.</p><p>Barton Springs Pool went back into business Thursday morning and will have the following schedule through Sunday:</p><ul class="ee-ul"><li>5 a.m.-8 a.m. <em>Swim at Your Own Risk</em></li><li><em></em>8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. <em>Guarded Swim</em></li><li><em></em>6-10 p.m. <em>Swim at Your Own Risk</em></li></ul><p>After Sunday, the pool will go under regularly scheduled maintenance and close from Monday, March 1 to Friday, March 12. Reopening updates will be given on the pool's website.</p><p>Deep Eddy Pool will open for lap swim Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and resume regular operations except for on Friday, Feb. 27, Tuesday, March 2 and Tuesday, March 9, when it will be closed. The pool will have expanded hours as Barton Springs goes under maintenance.</p><p>Both pools will have free admission until further notice.</p><p>The city has not reopened Big Stacy, Bartholomew and Springwood pools due to structural and plumbing damage caused by the winter storm.</p>
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(Christa McWhirter/Austonia)
Although the sun is bright and Austin is getting the warmth it so often is used to, plant are feeling the effects of the deep freeze.
Whether you have a tree that has been suffering since the snow hit Austin or indoor plants that did not receive enough sunlight, plant experts in town have the best advice to give your plants the best likelihood of living.
<p>Austonia spoke to local garden expert <a href="https://www.dianasdesignsaustin.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Diana Kirby</a> on advice for plant owners. Kirby emphasized plants are still in danger of frost, regardless of the end of the winter storm, and encourages patience with all plants. Pruning plants immediately after Winter Storm Uri can subject plants to further damage if there is another freeze.</p><p>Plant owners should keep a close eye on their plants until the end of March. If you have a hard time finding greenwood on shrubs or perennials, cut them back to the base and give your plant time to grow. According to Kirby, since this new freeze was a new experience to the Austin area, a lot of plants that could usually survive Texas winter have died all around, such as Rosemary.</p><p>"If you have already pruned, and we have another frost, you need to take extra precautions with those plants," Kirby said. "If you think some plants have survived, wait to prune."</p><p>When it comes to Yucca, Nolinas and a few Agave plants, they will survive if they have a firm central crown. You can also determine the health of your palm trees and Sago palms by checking the crown in the center of the plant. If the center is not rotten, cut off all leaves, have patience and it should grow back healthy.</p><p><span></span>Here are some other tips from Garden Seventeen, a greenhouse and garden store located at 604 Williams St., on best ways to take care of your plants following Winter Storm Uri.</p>
<p><strong>Plant experts recommend these fertilizers:</strong><br/></p><ul class="ee-ul"><li>Microlife 6-2-4 for perennials, trees and shrubs.</li><li>Rose Glo or SUPERthrive for annuals, vegetables, herbs, container plants, houseplants, cacti and succulents. </li><li>Liquid seaweed for "anything and everything."</li></ul><p>Although taking these steps does not ensure the survival of the plant, it will help drastically and give it the best chance possible. The best way to see if your plants will make it is to wait and observe new growth in the spring. Fertilizing indoor and outdoor plants is the most important step, and directions should be followed to lower the risk of burning the plant.</p>
For tropicals, cacti and other indoor plants:
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTY4MDUyNy9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY3NTQyMTg3MH0.I9Tbxdok-ZljpJ1udVUdn78SuL9Mz8sNcNEovXkmVkE/img.jpg?width=980" id="7a5f4" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="0d8291560fae6ff8fc9f0ebcded0eb06" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="2200" data-height="1466" />(Rowan Marney)
<p>1. Check for damage on plants such as wrinkling, browning, yellowing or wilting by feeling the stem. If it feels soft, cut down to where plants feel most solid. Any browning of discolorations means that you need to cut back further.</p><p>2. Fertilize your plants using a plant vitamin solution or fertilizer such as SUPERthrive or Rose Glo, as well as using liquid seaweed at the next watering cycle. Biomatrix is also an option to help stimulate roots and encourage new growth.</p><p>3. Give it time. Watch your plants to see if any new growth appears in the spring to determine if it's healthy.</p>For outdoor landscaping and potted plants:
<img lazy-loadable="true" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTY4MDUyOC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzNzM4MzkwM30.Tt5rLvYVToV1VqRHyguFvVOKNvGts1TaskXE-_C-9Ss/img.jpg?width=980" id="c816c" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="86155474552eb2f0001bb91be839a982" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" data-width="2200" data-height="1466" />(Rowan Marney)
<p>1. Cut back shrubbery by no more than ⅓ of the plant's overall size and fertilize.</p><p>2. Cut perennials down to ground level and fertilize the plant.</p><p>3. Trees that began to bud before the storm may not bloom again this spring such as mountain laurel, fruiting trees, etc.</p><p>4. For younger trees, any branches that are bent should be removed.</p><p>5. To find out if a woody plant is alive, carefully scrape the bark with a knife. If it shows green, the plant is still alive and healthy.</p><p>6. Cut back damaged areas from container plants that were left outside and water using fertilizer.</p><p>7. Give it time. Watch your plants to see if any growth appears in the spring to determine if it's healthy.</p>From Your Site Articles
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(Roschetzky Photography/Shutterstock)
In early February, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk told fellow Texas transplant Joe Rogan that Austin was the "biggest boomtown that America has seen in half a century."
Days later, thousands across the city had no access to running water or power as Winter Storm Uri devastated the region.
<p>The jury's still out on whether or not the record-breaking storm will impact the city's recent "Texodus," where thousands of Californians and tech companies began setting their sights on Austin. </p><p>Regardless, Austin felt like anything but the nation's most up-and-coming city as residents were forced to endure the cold in their powerless homes and search for drinkable water.</p><p>Austin and all of Texas could face a push-and-pull situation as the state decides whether or not to keep some of the policies that may have led to the tech boom in the first place. On one hand, lax taxes, low utility costs and more bang-for-your-buck real estate brought in Californians looking for a cheaper cost of living; on the other, Texans learned the hard way that "you get what you pay for" as city infrastructures failed and the power grid shut down, paradoxically, in the nation's most energy-rich state. </p><p>Austinite and Tech Crunch Senior Writer Mary Ann Azevedo said that while she isn't sure where the funding will come from, she hopes to see leaders turn toward the future and invest in city and state infrastructures.</p><p>"One would hope but if the past is any indication, we are unlikely to see many changes," Azevedo said. "However, if enough noise is made and change is demanded, then perhaps we will see some changes in terms of investing in updating current infrastructure. Where those funds will come from remains to be seen as it's highly unlikely we'll get state income taxes."</p><p>On Friday, Azevedo saw for herself the devastating effects of the storm on an unprepared city. While in the process of rationing bottled water and hoping for her faucets to once again turn on, Azevedo wrote an <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/02/19/will-the-texas-winter-disaster-deter-further-tech-migration/" target="_blank">article for Tech Crunch</a> pondering the question: could this storm set back Austin's recent tech migration?</p><p>Azevedo asked the public in a <a href="https://twitter.com/bayareawriter/status/1362548529525358593?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1362548529525358593%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Faustonia.com%2Fr%2Fentryeditor%2F2650727978publish" target="_blank">tweet</a> to which she received mixed responses.</p><p>Some agreed that the storm was a historic event that Texas could have never properly prepared for. Because of the community's resilience and teamwork, some saw the event as a story of coming together more than the failure of the city or state.</p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">What I saw here in Austin was community coming together<br/><br/>Neighbors helping each other. Taking in friends and strangers. Local restaurants stepping up, even after a year of a pandemic crisis.<br/><br/>I've lived here my entire life, it's the community that makes it great, always will<br/>— Mark Magnuson (@MarkMagnuson) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkMagnuson/status/1362765552171814917?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></div><p><br/></p><p>Others saw it as a moment of reflection for city and state infrastructure as the economy looks to make up for lost time.</p><p><br/></p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I hope businesses put pressure on politicians to ensure that the infrastructure of TX is sound. The lost productivity over the last several days and potentially into the future is huge, not to mention the lost of life and trauma. (Oh & our offices flooded due to a main break.)<br/>— Kate Moon🇺🇸 (@Katemooooon) <a href="https://twitter.com/Katemooooon/status/1362563173010657283?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></div><p><br/></p><p>A few outsiders looking in agreed that they would or had avoided Austin because of its location in Texas in the first place.<br/></p><p><br/></p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I'm not a founder, but I chose to move from SF to Portland, OR rather than Austin precisely BECAUSE Austin (the great city that it is) is located in the state of Texas. 🤷🏽♀️<br/>— Debra J. Farber (@privacyguru) <a href="https://twitter.com/privacyguru/status/1362551399834263553?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></div><p><br/></p><p><br/></p><p>Winter Storm Uri may have brought communities together, but it also brought questionable Texas leadership national attention, including U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz's decision to <a href="https://austonia.com/ted-cruz-cancun" target="_blank">travel to Mexico</a> during the crisis. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton also faced the spotlight after it was revealed that he <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2021/02/22/ken-paxton-utah/" target="_blank">traveled to Utah</a> in the midst of the storm.</p><p>Some said the state's power failure could look costly for companies who may choose to be under different leadership after the storm.</p><p><br/></p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Startups & Tech don't want to have to build out their own utilities in addition to the rest of their infrastructure. Until Texas solves this energy incompetence they will take a pass.<br/>— Clayton Slaughter (@schmubba) <a href="https://twitter.com/schmubba/status/1362745156794019848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></div><p><br/></p><p>Of all who answered, Azevedo said she found most thought the winter storm would make no difference on the "Texodus," but she's not so sure that's rooted in logic.<br/></p><p>"Mixed reactions, but the majority of people here in Austin and Texas seem to think it will have little to no impact," Azevedo said. "And as many people pointed out, each region has natural disasters that impact them in one way or another. But I think it's a bit unrealistic to think this won't be a turnoff for some."</p><p>To Azevedo, the disaster may not take away all of Austin's current allure, but it's likely that some will see the city in a new light after Winter Storm Uri.</p><p>"It's tough to say but I do think it does make Austin a little less appealing," Azevedo said. "Here we are supposed to be the next 'boomtown,' yet last week so many of us were either out of power or water, or both—largely due to aging infrastructure on poor decision-making on the part of our leaders. It's not the best look."</p><p>Although the power and water failure may not be the greatest advertisement for prospective tech companies, some such as Tesla, Oracle and Samsung have already taken root in Austin. Azevedo said that these companies are undoubtedly unhappy with the situation but likely won't be leaving anytime soon.</p><p>"They chose to base their headquarters, build factories or large campuses here for reasons and they will likely stand by those decisions still," Azevedo said. "However, if any of those decision-makers had to endure what many of us did last week, I can imagine it was disappointing and a bit of a reality check."</p><p>The hard freeze is over, but Winter Storm Uri's rippling effects will likely be seen for weeks or months. It's hard to say whether that will make Austin, Texas a "boomtown" no more.</p>
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(Dpysh/CC)
ERCOT control room in 2012.
Five non-Texan members of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, including the chairman and vice chairman, will resign Wednesday after the state's power grid failure left millions without electricity for days during Winter Storm Uri.
<p>The joint resignation letter wrote that Board Chairman Sally Talberg, Board Vice Chairman Peter Cramton, Finance and Audit Committee Chairman Terry Bulger and Human Resources Raymond Hepper would resign. Another, Market Segment Director Vanessa Anesetti-Parra, wrote that she would resign in a separate statement. In addition to the chairmen, another out-of-state applicant who was a candidate for an ERCOT position has also withdrawn.</p><p>The information was posted on the Public Utility Commission of Texas' <a href="http://interchange.puc.texas.gov/search/documents/?controlNumber=51812&itemNumber=14" target="_blank">website</a> on Tuesday.</p><p>All five members live outside of Texas despite the council running 90% of the state's nationally-independent power grid. Many are disappointed that <a href="https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/local/five-ercot-board-members-live-out-of-state-texas-jeff-leach-calls-for-change/287-2a1286b8-9cf5-4336-ae58-97b1997f9fa0" target="_blank">one-third of ERCOT members live out of state</a>, meaning leaders were miles away as the crisis unfolded.</p><p>ERCOT has been under fire recently for making painfully inadequate safeguards in preparation to the weeklong winter storm. Millions of residents were left with rolling blackouts or no power at all as temperatures lingered well below freezing for nearly a week. To add to the controversy, it was <a href="https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/texas/texas-power-outages-ercot-meeting-before-winter-storm-hit/269-86a97580-81b0-48da-821e-fa9167aa42b9" target="_blank">reported</a> Friday that ERCOT spent less than a minute to discuss winter preparedness at a two-hour meeting earlier this month. </p><p>In the joint resignation letter, the chairmen wrote that they were leaving due to controversy about their out-of-state residency and that they felt for Texans who lost power during the storm.</p><p>"We want to acknowledge the pain and suffering of Texans during this past week," the statement read. "Our hearts go out to all Texans who have had to go without electricity, heat, and water during frigid temperatures and continue to face the tragic consequences of this emergency. We have noted recent concerns about out-of-state board leadership at ERCOT. To allow state leaders a free hand with future direction and to eliminate distractions, we are resigning from the board."</p><p>Gov. Greg Abbott, who called on ERCOT leadership to resign <a href="https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/article/Gov-Abbott-calls-on-ERCOT-leaders-to-resign-over-15955602.php" target="_blank">last week</a>, said in a statement that the council failed to make sure Texans would be safe during the winter storm.</p><p>"When Texans were in desperate need of electricity, ERCOT failed to do its job and Texans were left shivering in their homes without power." Abbot wrote. "ERCOT leadership made assurances that Texas' power infrastructure was prepared for the winter storm, but those assurances proved to be devastatingly false. The lack of preparedness and transparency at ERCOT is unacceptable, and I welcome these resignations."</p><p>On Friday, Abbott said ERCOT's failure to meet demands is what triggered an investigation into the nonprofit. "We want to make sure that whatever happened in ERCOT falling short never happens again."</p><p>Before the out-of-state chairmen resign, the members noted that they would continue to investigate ways to learn from ERCOT's past mistakes and give Texas a brighter future.</p><p>"Before we step aside, we are beginning the process of reviewing this extreme cold weather event and resulting power crisis," they wrote. "With the right follow through, Texas can lead the nation in investing in infrastructure and emergency preparedness to withstand the effects of severe weather events—whether in the form of flooding, drought, extreme temperatures, or hurricanes. We want what is best for ERCOT and Texas."</p>
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