A major regional water project has taken another step forward, with crews completing upgrades to a raw waterline along Trails End Road, according to a Feb. 5 update from the city of Leander.

The details: The work is part of the Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority’s deep water intake project, which will eventually pump up to 145 million gallons of raw water per day from the deepest parts of Lake Travis. The effort is designed to help Cedar Park, Round Rock and Leander meet growing demand while strengthening each city’s water supply during drought conditions.

Construction began in 2022 and includes a 2-mile pipeline carrying water from lake intake screens to a new pump station, along with a 78-inch transmission tunnel and pipeline connecting to existing treatment plants.

Of note: To complete recent repairs, the BCRUA plant was temporarily shut down, and Leander relied entirely on the Sandy Creek Water Treatment Plant. However, the facility is now back online. Phases 2 and 2A of the project are expected to be complete by summer 2027.

BASIS Leander is scheduled to open to more than 1,400 students this fall.

The new Leander campus will be the fourth Austin-area charter school opened by BASIS Texas Charter Schools.

The overview: BASIS Leander Primary will serve kindergarten through fifth grade students while BASIS Leander will host sixth through eighth grade students. The secondary school will add an additional grade each school year until serving twelfth grade students.

Head of School Christopher Lester, who was previously Head of School at BASIS Mesa in Arizona, will lead the Leander campus, according to BASIS information.

The details: The 94,125-square-foot campus is slated to feature the following, according to the BASIS website:

• 31 standard classrooms, eight science rooms, three primary science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, rooms
• Four art rooms, five music and drama rooms, and three multipurpose spaces
• A full-size gym, black box theater, exercise room and three outdoor play areas

Barton Springs Pool will close Feb. 23-March 13 for maintenance, including the removal of a decades-old pipeline that's prompted environmental and safety concerns.

What's happening: The multiweek pool closure was announced by the city in February after Austin Parks and Recreation and Austin Watershed Protection identified potentially unstable portions of a 1940s bypass line near the pool. The pipeline experienced damage after multiple floods over the years, and is now at risk of collapsing into the pool area.

In response, the Barton Springs Skimmer Bypass Project was launched to remove some or all of the aging pipeline to address those risks. City departments determined removing the bypass would be the best option based on cost and timeline, with the project scheduled for this winter to minimize recreational impacts.

The project will also have protections in place for the endangered salamander living around Barton Springs, and may end up improving their habitat.

Check out the top 6 most-read stories from Feb. 9-12 in the Austin area. 

1. Unofficial voting results show Na’Cole Thompson wins race for Leander mayor

2. Round Rock officials weigh neighborhood compatibility for Skybox data center

3. True Texas BBQ brings brisket and more to Bastrop H-E-B

4. Twice the Ice changes ownership in Georgetown

5. Portion of Gilleland Creek Trail in Pflugerville to close

6. From tacos to trims: Check out 9 Liberty Hill business updates

Texans will see candidates for 18 statewide positions on the March primary ballot, including one state railroad commissioner, the state land commissioner and the state agriculture commissioner.

The overview: Despite its name, the Railroad Commission of Texas does not govern the state’s railroads. So what do railroad commissioners and the leaders of other Texas agencies do?

Community Impact compiled information about various state agencies to help inform Texans before they head to the polls for the March primary elections.

At the polls: Early voting runs from Feb. 17-27, and primary election day is March 3.