Oh Noes!!!111!!!! Barton Springs In Austin Might Be Closing For
Awhile!!  Categories: Texas Photo by rutlo Barton Springs,
Austin's landmark pool that has chilled generations even in the
hottest Texas summers, is in trouble. It's not trouble that
can't be fixed, but it will require time and money.  Time, as in
closing the pool for six to eight months. Money, as in almost $5
million the city doesn't have.  The Austin American-Statesman is
reporting on a city memo that says the underground tunnel that
diverts dirty creek water around the pool has developed a dozen
or so cracks and holes.  Workers have been throwing bricks in
the holes to plug them, but amazingly this is seen as only a
short-term solution.  Fixing it permanently will be a bigger
job.  A fix good enough for 10 years would cost about $2.5
million; one that would last 75 years would be $4.7 million.
Which doesn't sound like all that much in these days of tossing
around stimulus money like Christmas cookies, but Austin is in a
tough budgetary spot.