But in 1998, the city agreed to a new maintenance regimen at the pool. The current flow is about 30 cfs, and due to the ongoing drought, the spring flow hasn't reached 54 cfs since last year. So the last time pool maintenance workers were allowed to scour algae from the bottom of the pool was May 18, 1999. The situation angers many people who are wondering if the long battle for Barton Springs has been lost. And everyone is looking for someone to blame.
Some swimmers blame the city.
Others blame what they say is declining water quality caused by upstream development. Others blame the lethargy of the pool staff, saying they should be doing more to corral the algae with skimming nets. Instead, the listing generated a new regulatory scheme that has outraged many pool users who used to be strong supporters of the efforts to save the pool. Whatever the reason for the current predicament, some of the luster has been lost at Barton Springs. Although swimmers must now pick globs of algae from their hair and bodies, the new laissez-faire attitude toward pool maintenance is having some benefits.