The spring-fed pool was an icon of all that was green and groovy about Austin, Texas, a placid paradise where people swim all year round. But an investigative project by American-Statesman staff revealed that a wide-range of toxic wastes had contaminated Barton Springs Pool and other nearby creeks to such an extent that it might qualify as a Superfund site. The newspaper commissioned expert tests of soil and sediments and found high levels of toxics ranging from arsenic to benzo(a)pyrenes, with possible sources including an old gas manufacturing operation. The findings, their interpretation, a possible cover-up of prior government tests, and what to do about it have erupted into an immense political controversy. As the newspaper covers the ongoing debate, it often appears better informed and more interested in the public good than most officials and politicians. The reporting team included Kevin Carmody, Mike Ward, Steven Kreytak, Stephen Scheibal, and Ralph K.M. Haurwitz. (See series main page: http://www.austin360.com/aas/specialreports/bartonsprings/)