A resident of Southeast Austin is facing a troubling situation as she lives beside a creek that has become a dumping ground for discarded furniture. Despite her repeated efforts to alert the city about the issue, the situation continues to worsen.
Esther Govea, who has called Teri Road home for three decades, recalls a time when the city promptly responded to such complaints. However, she asserts that recent attempts to have debris removed have been met with inaction. In October, she submitted a service request through the 311 system regarding the accumulation of furniture in the creek.
“I pay taxes. It’s the job of the City of Austin to come out and take care of this,” Govea expressed. She followed up with calls in November and January, only to be informed that her request had been referred to the Watershed Department.
Frustrated, she remarked, “It’s just like, y’all tell me, ‘mind your own business.'” The situation remains unresolved, and Govea is weary of making repeated calls. “I even cry because, you know, it’s upsetting. This is my yard. I want it to be nice,” she added.
Upon visiting the site, a FOX 7 Austin reporter observed an array of discarded items including mattresses, a couch, and a pet carrier littering the creek. Govea, who is disabled, lamented, “I’m pretty sure that nobody would like to live and have a creek like this. If I was healthy, I would clean it myself.”
Concerned about the potential for flooding, Govea noted that she has not witnessed who is responsible for the dumping.
In response to inquiries from FOX 7 Austin, the Austin Watershed provided a statement regarding the situation. They acknowledged receiving two service requests about the issue in October 2025, one of which was closed as a duplicate. A work order was generated for the other request, but during the initial investigation, no furniture was found. They stated that a work order was created to clear trees and debris from the creek channel, and it has now been elevated to a high priority. The South Crew Superintendent has indicated that a team is expected to address the furniture this week.
The 311 service confirmed that the request was properly submitted to the Watershed Department.
