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Dockless scooters are ending up in Austin's creeks and lakes, causing environmental concerns

An Austin Parks and Recreation employee told KVUE they're constantly pulling scooters out of Lady Bird Lake and Waller Creek.

AUSTIN — They’ve been spotted hanging in trees and sticking out of trash cans.

Now, people are leaving dockless scooters in lakes and creeks in Austin.

While the city doesn't keep track of how many scooters they find in the water, an Austin Parks and Recreation employee told KVUE they’re constantly pulling them out of Lady Bird Lake and Waller Creek.

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The dockless scooters are electric, so they have batteries that can rust and leak into the water, causing environmental concerns.

"Any potential toxic materials that would be in those rechargeable batteries, depending on how watertight those cases are, could then leech into the lake,” Chris Herrington, the Environmental Officer with City of Austin’s Watershed Department, said.

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Whether it's an act of rebellion, frustration or just sheer disregard for the consequences, “it would be dumping, it would be illegal,” Herrington said.

Scooter company “juicers” -- the people that pick up the scooters for charging -- can track those using GPS. They will also remove scooters from the water when necessary,

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