A nonprofit launching Oct. 1 is aiming to turn Shoal Creek back into the "treasure" it once was, project organizers said.

The Shoal Creek Conservancy's goals include restoring the creek back to a swimmable and fishable resource.

"I see the potential for Shoal Creek to be more than it is. It has beautiful places, but it could be better," SCC Executive Director Joanna Wolaver said. "It has such an opportunity to do more for the city."

In addition to making the creek fishable and swimmable, SCC is looking to improve the trail, greenway, parks and watershed along the 11-mile creek. The nonprofit also aims to remove and deter graffiti along the creek.

"We want to make [Shoal Creek] a great place to be and not just something you drive over," said Ray Canfield, owner of the Shoal Creek Saloon and SCC member.

Canfield said improving the trail along Shoal Creek would be greatly beneficial to the city as it could serve as a primary north-south corridor for pedestrians and cyclists.

"You wouldn't have to be on a sidewalk on Lamar [Boulevard] with telephone poles in the way and cars whizzing by you," he said.

Before launching, SCC did a study that found a nonprofit dedicated to improving the creek would be feasible, SCC founder Ted Siff said. SCC raised $125,000 from businesses and residents for 2013 during a six-month pledge drive that ended Aug. 31. The funds will go toward paying a portion of the nonprofit's budget of $150,000 for its first year, Siff said.

By contributing $20,000, Cirrus Logic made one of the largest donations to the SCC.

Cirrus Logic spokesman Bill Schnell said one reason the 500-employee business moved from Southwest Austin to downtown in 2012 was because the location provided access to the city's urban environment. When the company was looking to give back to the surrounding community, making improvements to Shoal Creek was listed as a top area of opportunity, Schnell said.

"We see a big potential for the creek long term," he said. "It's just the right thing to do for Austin."

Cirrus Logic is one of multiple companies and developments that have invested money into infrastructure along Shoal Creek, Siff said. There have been approximately $1.29 billion in private investments completed along the creek, according to the SCC. Other companies that have completed private investments along the creek include Whole Foods Market and Austin City Lofts, the SCC feasibility study says.

Meanwhile, there are more than $1 billion in private investments in progress along the creek, the feasibility study says.

In addition to donations from businesses, private residents also pledged money to the conservancy, which Wolaver said gave her personal satisfaction.

"It's been exciting to see people come out of the woodwork and say, 'I love the creek, too—how can I get involved?'" Wolaver said.

Help from city

The city of Austin is in the process of implementing multiple improvements along Shoal Creek, said Marty Stump, the city's park development coordinator.

The city is in the final engineering phase for a project that will close a gap in the trail along the creek between Fifth Street and West Avenue, Stump said. Additionally, the new Central Library that is scheduled to open in 2016 will be along the creek.

Future Shoal Creek projects include renovating a portion of the trail surface and increasing access to the trail, Stump said. He said the SCC is an important ally as the city moves forward with improvements.

"The fact that we have public stake- holders that also recognized the need [along Shoal Creek] and stood up to say it's important to them and get involved and bring their resources, that is fundamental to launching these projects," he said.

The city is a vital partner to the SCC efforts, Wolaver said. The nonprofit has no chance of success if the city is not on board and also interested in improving Shoal Creek, she said.

"Our idea is to build on that good stuff that is going on and do more with it," she said. "There is such a need on the creek in the trail and the watershed."

Priorities in its first three years

The Shoal Creek Conservancy is in the process of creating a work plan for its first year as well as its first three years.

The first-year work plan includes:

Engage the community by establishing a "robust" website and social media presence

Initiate discussion regarding flood control issues and solutions

Make substantial progress on lighting the lower reaches of the trail to address safety and other concerns

Create a strong SCC membership to provide a voice for improvements to Shoal Creek

Establish an adopt-a-garden-like program along the creek

Make significant progress on improvements to historic bridges along the creek