Barton Springs Pool Reopens Saturday After Infrastructure Repairs

Austin's iconic Barton Springs Pool will reopen to the public on Saturday after a delayed reopening tied to repairs on aging infrastructure.

The longer-than-expected closure allowed workers to safely complete the Barton Springs Skimmer Bypass Project, which involved removing and mitigating a decommissioned skimmer bypass structure dating to the 1940s.

City officials said crews encountered unexpected conditions while removing aging infrastructure inside the pool, requiring additional time and specialized equipment.

Why was Barton Springs Pool closed?

Crews discovered the deteriorating infrastructure during routine inspections earlier this year. Officials said parts of the original bypass structure — built to manage Barton Creek flow — had eroded for decades, creating the potential for sections to collapse into the pool.

The city initially closed Barton Springs in late February to remove the structure ahead of a major flood event that could damage it and force a longer shutdown.

Barton Springs Pool staff members prepare a hose while the pool is closed Wednesday September 4, 2024, for repairs that will likely take weeks to complete. The city determined there are two holes in an abandoned pipe dating from the 1940s that was allowing water to leak and creating a safety hazard below the pool's dam that could "pose a significant safety risk, up to and including loss of life," the department said in a news release.

How the project protects the Barton Springs salamander

As crews worked to remove the structure, they had to follow strict protocols because the pool is in an endangered species habitat where the Barton Springs salamander lives.

The maintenance falls under the city's Barton Springs Pool Habitat Conservation Plan and Incidental Take Permit. Officials have said the work is also intended to benefit the species by linking portions of their habitat separated by erosion.

When will Barton Springs Pool reopen?

Saturday, March 21, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

• Swim at your own risk: 5 a.m. to 8 a.m.
• Guarded swim: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Swim at your own risk: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

March 21, 2026