Onion Creek (Texas)

30.1403°N 97.7811°W / 30.1403; -97.7811

Onion Creek (Texas)
Onion Creek in McKinney Falls State Park
Location
CountryUnited States
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationDripping Springs, Texas
Mouth 
 • location
Colorado River
 • elevation
374 feet (114 m)
Length79 miles (127 km)
Basin sizeOnion Creek Watershed

Onion Creek is a small tributary stream of the Colorado River in Texas. It begins 12 mi (19 km) southeast of Johnson City, Blanco County, Texas, and flows approximately 79 mi (127 km) eastward into the Colorado River, 2 mi (3.2 km) northwest of Garfield in Travis County, Texas.[1] While areas surrounding the creek's origin in Blanco County are primarily rural, areas closer to its mouth in Travis County have more urban and industrial development.[2] Passing near Dripping Springs, Driftwood, and Onion Creek, Onion Creek is the source of the waterfalls in McKinney Falls State Park.[1] Onion Creek's watershed spans an area of 211 sq mi (550 km2).

2013 Flood

On October 31, 2013 Onion Creek experienced historic levels of flooding, cresting at 40.15 ft, a level not seen since 1921.[3][4] Over the course of 4h 9-10in of rain fell in the Onion Creek watershed.[5][6][7] The flood had a flow rate of over 120,000 cubic feet per second, more than twice that of Niagara Falls. In the end, five people died and more than 500 homes were damaged by flood waters.[8]

As a result of the flood the City of Austin purchased hundreds of homes in the floodplain.[8][9] These properties have formed the northern section of the Onion Creek Metropolitan Park since 2019.[10]

See also

References
  1. "Onion Creek (Blanco County)". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
  2. Gundlach, Laura. "Effects of Urbanization on the Onion Creek Watershed" (PDF). University of Texas at Austin. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
  3. "Historic flash flood leaves devastation in Austin". USA Today.
  4. "Onion Creek Floods Footage - APD AIR 1 10/31/13". YouTube.
  5. The Halloween Flood 2013
  6. "Memories of 2013 flood haunt Onion Creek residents forced to flee".
  7. "Historic flash flood leaves devastation in Austin". USA Today.
  8. "Austin OKs buyouts for 240 more Onion Creek homes". 6 March 2015.
  9. Lower Onion Creek Flood Mitigation Buyout Project Gets Kudos from Homeowners
  10. Onion Creek Metropolitan Park
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