Old Mill Spring (pool, slabs, parking)

[yam]

I'm curious about the abandoned spring between Barton Springs Pool and Robert E Lee road. The pool at the bottom is surrounded by several tiers of old stone walls that are cracked and falling down, and always has a spray hose and a light running at the bottom. Why is such a beautiful natural feature in such poor repair and fenced off from public access? What's the reason for the hose and the light? Who maintains this place anyway? I asked a few neighbors; one said it was illegal to enter the walled sections since it was a salamander habitat. Another said it was fenced off after a couple of kids drowned there in the 80's. Even if this is a protected area for salamanders, wouldn't it make sense to repair the walls so it doesn't fall apart? And make this beautiful feature more accessible, even if the pool at the bottom remains off limits?

Also curious about the old foundations near the parking lot. What structures used to be there, and why were they removed and never replaced? Whatever the goal was, it seems to have backfired since these slabs have become a favorite area for transients to gather. The area behind Barton Springs is a great resource for the city, I don't understand why it is in such disrepair.