Residents could soon see movement at Bastrop's Wastewater Plant No. 3, following a July 14 approval from Bastrop City Council to issue $11 million in certificates of obligation for the planning and design phases.

Why it matters: The decision launches the first phase of a $60 million infrastructure project that officials said is necessary to keep up with the area's rapid growth.

Zooming in: In a staff report, city Finance Director Judy Sandroussi said the debt issuance will not only finance the much-needed expansion, but will also create a new revenue stream for the city.

What's changing: Beyond basic wastewater treatment, the plant will produce potable water and reusable effluent that City Manager Sylvia Carrillo-Trevino said can be sold to industrial customers—a first for Bastrop.

Something to note: Sandroussi said the expansion will serve the surrounding extraterritorial jurisdiction and accommodate anticipated growth from developments, including Elon Musk-affiliated projects.

Wildlife Rescue of Central Texas is inching closer to opening its first permanent Bastrop facility later this year—a milestone board President Hayley Hudnall said cannot come soon enough as demand climbs.

A growing need: The nonprofit’s home-based rehabilitators have taken in over 200 injured or orphaned wild animals this year, surpassing the roughly 150 animals taken in annually since the organization opened in 2024.

“There’s been a huge need out this way for a while now,” Hudnall said, noting that the closest rescue facility currently open is in Austin.

Looking ahead: Hudnall said construction of the final cages and fencing is wrapping up ahead of applying for wildlife rehabilitation permits.

Until the facility opens, rehabilitators will continue accepting animals from their homes, nursing injured wildlife and helping reunite young animals with their mothers

A new subdivision in Leander, off-campus student housing in Austin, and a pair of oil change spots are among the five most expensive projects filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation in the Austin metro this week.

1. 900 West 23rd ($80 million): This project involves the new construction of off-campus student housing.

2. Glory Hill Subdivision ($3.5 million): Glory Hill Subdivision is a new construction project in Leander for 43 single-family lots on 15.45 acres.

3. Brushy Creek MUD Sewer Capacity Project ($1.9 million): This project involves the installation of 3,000 linear feet of 12" sewer line, crossing through an existing accessible parking space located at Brushy Creek North Park.

4. Jiffy Lube ($1.8 million): This project includes the construction of a commercial building for use as a 2,226 square-foot Jiffy Lube.

5. Valvoline ($1.4 million): A 3,447 square-foot Valvoline Instant Oil Change is planned for Austin.

Sandy Creek resident Georgia Bishop was out of town when 22 inches of rain fell on parts of northwest Travis County over the July 4, 2025, weekend. When Bishop returned home days later, her community was significantly changed.

What happened: Residents of the hard-hit Sandy Creek neighborhood described a “wall of water” that tore through their community last July, washing away homes, cars and roads. Nine people died in the flooding, including Bishop’s best friend, 16-year-old Felicity Jarmon.

The context: One year later, residents of the unincorporated Travis County community are still working to rebuild from last July’s catastrophic flooding. Central Texas has seen two straight years of intense, deadly flooding in July, leaving some residents on edge as they recover from last year’s disaster and mourn lost loved ones.

Community Impact spoke with Bishop and Kylie Nidever, whose neighborhood in Hunt flooded last year, on July 13, days before heavy rainfall hit large swaths of the state once again. Officials confirmed two deaths due to this year's floods, while 137 people died last July.