This report addresses issues surrounding the current Texas system in place for sex education in public schools, looking at the particular challenges that the state of Texas faces and the contemporary school courses that are being offered to teens. The project takes into consideration the relevant statistics, current local sentiment in the Austin area concerning sex education, and the discussion over who bears the responsibility for education successive generations about sexuality. Finally, this report evaluates various shortcomings of the current system, and suggests various redefined approaches to sexuality education that seek to solve the problems at hand. / text

This paper serves as a “kicking-the-tires” analysis of low impact developments as a method of stormwater management. Specifically, this paper examines the feasibility, benefit, and current practice of low impact developments in Austin, Texas. Merits, strengths, and weakness are comparatively determined primarily on the basis of the impact and efficiency of design, particularly relating to ability to handle water volume and potential to improve water quality. By examining case studies and “applied” examples the potential of low impact development application is considered for the expected, potential, and/or alleged benefits of low impact implementation. / text

This study examines the language choices of Tamil immigrants, part of a South Asian diasporic community, in Austin, Texas. The researcher posits reasons why Tamil language maintenance/shift occurs for this Tamil community in the United States English-dominant macrosociety. The study also examines the domains in which Tamil and English are used and the various sociolinguistic factors which influence the language maintenance/shift of Tamil. Tamil immigrant participants were selected by snowballing, a non-probability purposive sampling technique. This multi-modal study used both quantitative (a questionnaire) and qualitative data (participant interviews and participant observations). One hundred and nineteen questionnaires were collected of which 90 were used for this study. In addition, twelve first or second generation Tamil individuals were interviewed. Background for the study included reasons for emigration from the home country, Tamil diglossia, diaspora issues, identity issues, and language as a site of struggle. The theoretical framework included language as power, language as investment, and linguistic imperialism. Examining the language of instruction, participants interestingly evidenced a kline in English use from 67.1% in elementary grades, to 84.8% in the middle and high/secondary school, to 95.3% at the university level. Also, comparing language use as a child versus language use as an adult, there was a kline (continuum) moving from 'always using Tamil' in all domains as a child to 'equally in Tamil and English' in all domains as an adult. Participants were split as to why they used Tamil with some using it for privacy/secrecy and some using it for pride. A much smaller percent used Tamil for intimacy. Finally, with regard to language proficiency, participants evinced a declining kline from understanding, speaking, and reading, writing colloquial Tamil. The participants' proficiency in literary Tamil was also a declining kline with only 16.7% understanding, 17.8% reading, and even less speaking (8.9%) or writing (7.8%) literary Tamil. The results of this research study and an analysis of Moag’s 31 factors for maintenance/loss of Tamil, showed that the prospects for the continued maintenance of Tamil in Austin were limited. Finally, this study provided valuable sociolinguistic insight into this little-studied South Asian diasporic community in Austin, Texas. / text

The purpose of this study was to determine how much art activity is taking place within households in Austin, Texas. By way of a questionnaire, the parents or guardians of children attending schools within the Austin Independent School District were surveyed regarding art activity within their homes. The objective of this investigation was to provide answers to questions such as: In what ways do children participate in art making within the context of the family household? To what extent does it appear a parent’s/guardian’s level of schooling, number of children in the family, and amount of electronic entertainment available to the child correspond with the amount of art activity that takes place in the household? Professional and personal motivations led to this investigation. There is an ever increasing amount of electronic entertainment available to children. Has this recent growth of technology had an effect on the amount of time children spend with art activities in the home? Through my own experiences growing up, and through conversations with others, it was brought to my attention that the number of children residing in a household might have an effect on the amount of art activities taking place within the home, as well as the parent’s or guardian’s level of education. Through the data collected by this investigation, I was able to reach a conclusion regarding the relationship found between the amount of art activities taking place in the households surveyed and the three variables studied in this investigation: (a) the parent’s education, (b) the amount of electronic entertainment available to the children in the home, (c) the number of children residing in the home. Support from the data indicated a significant pattern representing that the parent’s/guardian’s education is related to the amount of art activity taking place within the household. However, there was no pattern found regarding the variable of electronic entertainment devices found in a home and the amount of art making within that home. There was also a significant relationship found regarding the numbers of children residing in the household, and the amount of art activity those children are engaged in. The data collected indicated that a household in which fewer children reside is more likely to participate in more art activities. / text

Increased population and recent droughts in 1996 and 2009 for the Barton Springs segment of the Edwards Aquifer have focused attention on groundwater resources and sustainability of spring flow. These springs serve as a local iconic cultural center as well as the natural habitat for the endangered Barton Springs salamander. In response to the potential compromise of these vulnerable groundwater resources, a two-dimensional, numerical groundwater-flow model was developed for the Barton Springs / Edwards Aquifer Conservation District and other governmental entities to aid in aquifer management. The objective of this study is to develop new methods of quantifying and distributing recharge for this model. The motivation for conducting this study includes the following: recent availability of more extensive data sets, new conceptual models of the aquifer system, and the desire to incorporate estimates of urban recharge. Estimates of recharge quantities and distributions for natural and artificial sources were implemented within this model to simulate discharge at Barton Springs and water-level elevations from January, 1999 to December, 2009. Results indicate that the new methods employed generated good agreement amongst simulated and observed discharge and water-level elevations (Root mean square error of 0.5 m3 sec-1 and 10.5 m, respectively). Additionally, these recharge calculations are decoupled from Barton Springs discharge which eliminates the circular logic inherent with the previous methodology. Anthropogenic, or artificial, recharge accounts for 4% of the total recharge between January, 1999 and December, 2009. Using observed data to quantify contributions from leaky utility lines and irrigation return flows, recharge estimates were completed with spatial and temporal resolution. Analyses revealed that on a month by month basis, anthropogenic contributions can vary from <1 to 59% of the total recharge. During peak anthropogenic recharge intervals, irrigation return flow is the most significant contributor. However, leakage from utility lines provides more total recharge during the study period. Recharge contributions from artificial sources are comparable to the mid-size watershed contributions over the ten-year analysis period. Urban recharge can be a critical source for buffering seasonal fluctuations, particularly during low flow periods. Outcomes are relevant for habitat conservation, drought response planning, and urban groundwater management. / text

The purpose of this report is to analyze the zoning change process in Austin, Texas. The report examines Austin's type of city government followed by an overview of zoning in the United States and Austin. The report chronicles the evolution of the Austin Tomorrow Comprehensive Plan and the Neighborhood Planning Area during the time period 1979-1997. Since 1997, zoning change protocol has become intertwined with neighborhood planning such that both must be discussed in detail. The extreme real estate cycles from 1982 to the present are also discussed. Economic conditions played a key role in the slow enactment of neighborhood planning in Austin. The report examines the jurisdictional boundaries of Austin and the governmental bodies charged with hearing zoning cases. After discussing the motivations of the market participants seeking zoning changes, the report analyzes four case studies to illustrate the basic types of zoning cases today. Finally, the report draws conclusions and offers suggestions for improving the efficiency and fairness of the zoning change process in Austin, Texas. / text

The site is in a garage area in the state capitol complex, Austin Texas. Even though this place is located near by important government facilities and public park and links between UT Campus and Central Business District, there are no people who enjoy the place because there are no function except parking. There are just authoritative and mono-cultural office buildings and boring parking buildings. On the street, there are no trees, retails, and galleries for pedestrians. Existing parking buildings are same type and structure. Because the city has several plans to develop this area in the future such as Waller Creek Development, UT Medical School Master Plan, and Austin's Urban Rail, you can see the importance of this area. The most critical problem is this area is cutting the relationship between UT Campus and Downtown. My question is "How can a new type of parking building contribute to make the Texas Capitol Complex good place?" So I suggest a new type of mix-used parking building. The project goal is to gather people, link separated places: The State Capitol, Waller Creek, UT Campus, CBD, intermingle different functions: garage, gallery, shop, theater, restaurant, lounge, pool, park, and then make the place more dynamic, enjoyable and energetic place. Further, I expect that Austin become interesting city to live and visit through like this new place. / text

As American cities continue to expand and their existing transportation infrastructure becomes strained from increased demand, many cities have turned to light rail transit to not only alleviate congestion but also to provide an economic development stimulus to the areas around the stations. This report focuses on determining the economic impact on areas surrounding announced light rail stations in Austin, Texas while also attempting to quantify changes in land use and demographics experienced in a city who has an established light rail line; Dallas, Texas. In addition to examining any changes associated with the announcement and construction of a light rail project this report will qualitatively examine the role of these project in stimulating gentrification in station areas and what effect gentrification will have in preventing low-income households from accessing the improved transit system. The report will also propose actions that could ensure that these households continue to have access to public transportation, which would mitigate the strain of increasing transportation costs. / text

Drainage area is a measure of the number of acres feeding into a creek. Drainage area threshold is the amount of acreage required for the creek to be included on a map. Watersheds mapped according to higher drainage area thresholds will show creek systems that are shorter and concentrated at the bottom of the watershed. Watersheds mapped according to lower drainage area thresholds show creek systems that are longer and extend further up the watershed. Since all watersheds are subject to different land uses, soil types, geology, etc., they should be mapped according to different drainage area thresholds. Headwaters are where creeks begin. There is empirical evidence that properly functioning headwaters significantly reduce erosion, improve water quality, slow stormwater flows, and provide habitat. If municipalities use lower drainage area thresholds to define their creeks, they can include more headwaters in their creek setback requirements. This professional report identifies the Harris Branch watershed as being under relatively more pressure to develop and exhibiting more environmental risk than other watersheds in Austin, Texas’ Desired Development Zone. Creeks in the watershed are redrawn according to reduced drainage area thresholds using a simple ArcGIS analysis. The analysis reveals a critical mass where creek setbacks appear to be too extensive. If creeks with a drainage area of 5 acres are protected by development code, the setbacks created have excessive branching that could be too restrictive for development. A critical mass ratio should be considered when determining which drainage area threshold is most appropriate for a watershed. The critical mass ratio is equal to the number of branches allowed per a specified distance of creek centerline. The process of identifying this critical mass ratio can help growing cities find a balance between the need to encourage development in designated areas and the need to protect natural creek systems everywhere. I recommend that municipalities review the effects of reducing drainage area threshold for each watershed, and then identify the drainage area threshold that, when protected by setback requirements, allows for extended and connected greenways as well as an increase in density. / text

The Jollyville Plateau Salamander (JPS), Eurycea tonkawae, is a species of salamander endemic to Texas, the United States. It is a candidate for protection under the Endangered Species Act. This report assesses the JPS population abundances at Lanier Spring, Long Hollow Creek at Wheless Spring, and Ribelin Spring in Austin using a mark-recapture method. The maximum likelihood estimation method was used to obtain the population size estimates under two models, the M₀ model and the M[subscript t] model. The M₀ model assumes that every animal has the same capture probability in the population for each sampling period while the M[subscript t] model allows capture probabilities to vary by time. Simulations were performed by using an MCMC algorithm based on the M₀ model. Between 2007 and 2009, the population size estimates for JPS (>16mm snout-vent length, (SVL)) at Lanier Spring varied between 86 and 554 under the M₀ model, between 80 and 549 under the M[subscript t] model, and between 76 and 564 using MCMC simulations. During 2007 monitoring periods, the population size estimates for JPS (>16mm SVL) at Ribelin Spring varied between 105 and 236 under the M₀ model, between 104 and 196 under the M[subscript t] model, and between 105 and 265 using MCMC simulations. During 2007 and 2008 monitoring periods, the population size estimates for JPS (>16mm SVL) at Wheless Spring varied between 368 and 1087 under the M₀ model, between 339 and 1075 under the M[subscript t] model, and between 411 and 1098 using MCMC simulations. Different estimation methods yielded consistent estimates. No clear population trends were detected due to the big fluctuations in estimates in this study. / text