Located on the eastern edge of the edwards plateau in the u. The edwards aquifer is one of the most prolific artesian aquifers in the world. The story of water and texas starts here, some 650 feet below the surface, in san antonio. Landmark texas water rights case may lead to future takings. The edwards aquifer authority manages, enhances, and protects the edwards aquifer. Residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural edwards aquifer water users should use common sense and best practices to avoid water waste. The edwards aquifer authority is a groundwater district, mandated by the 1993 edwards aquifer authority act. On june, comal springs part of the edwards aquifer system and one of the largest freshwater springs in the southwest stopped flowing for the first time in recorded history.
While the edwards stretches from temple to del rio, the barton springs segment is of most interest to austinites since the water reemerges near the heart of downtown at barton springs. Issue permits based on historical use regulates pumping sets pumping cap 450,000 acftyr. Edwards aquifer authority weather modification, inc. It is one of the greatest natural resources on earth, serving the diverse agricultural, industrial, recreational, and domestic needs of almost two million users in.
Menard abstract the bibliography comprises 1,022 multidis ciplinary references to technical and general liter ature for the three regions of the edwards aquifer, texas san antonio area. Last year, the edwards aquifer authority imposed stage iii restrictions for more than a month, beginning in midaugust. However, legal challenges prevented the authority from operating until june 1996. Edwards aquifer authority groundwater users edwards. In addition, the edwards aquifer feeds the comal and san marcos springs, provides. The edwards aquifer is one of the most valuable water resources in the central texas area. The edwards aquifer literally is the life blood of the hill country. Francine romero studies texas and edwards aquifer water issues. Edwards aquifer authority history of the aquifer edwards aquifer. Stage 4 restrictions may be declared at the discretion of the city manager upon completion of a 30day monitoring period following stage 3 declaration.
Landmark texas water rights case may lead to future. This aquifer provides water for municipal, industrial, and agricultural uses. Edwards aquifer authority history edwards aquifer authority. Below are the pictures of the resources that edwards aquifer authority brought to the resource room. It is one of the greatest natural resources on earth, serving the diverse agricultural, industrial, recreational, and domestic needs of almost two million users in south central texas. Gregg eckhardt is an environmental scientist who has been studying the edwards aquifer and issues surrounding it since 1972. This was one of the longestpending cases on the courts docket and attracted two dozen amicus filings. The edwards aquifer authority eaa was established in 1996 after lawsuits that were filed for the protection of endangered species in comal and san marcos springs revealed the need for aquifer management. The eaa regulates the portion of the balcones fault zone edwards aquifer a jurisdictional area.
Introduction the edwards aquifer is one of our most valuable, irreplaceable, and endangered public treasures. The edwards aquifer is an underground layer of porous limestone that stores water. According to the edwards aquifer authority, more than two million texas citizens, including farmers and landowners, currently rely on its water to maintain their way of life. In 1994 he perceived a need for internet based resources on the edwards that would be unbiased, educational, and nontechnical, so he created the edwards aquifer website in 1995. The district supplied maps that were previously unavailable, and assisted licensing authorities. In texas, fight over water spills underground the texas. The act grants all of the powers, rights, and privileges necessary to manage, conserve, preserve, and protect the aquifer.
The cities of san antonio, new braunfels, and san marcos have had to enforce water conservation plan ordinances and water use disputes among aquifer users have become more frequent. After much debate, san antonio decided to remain in stage 2. Currently reading edwards aquifer authority must shell out to. Bibliography of the edwards aquifer, texas, through 1993 compiledbyr julie a. The act, a landmark legislation adopted by texas lawmakers in 1993 and put into effect in 1996, created the authority as a special groundwater district with the purpose to manage and regulate the san antonio segment of the balcones fault zone edwards aquifer, more commonly referred to as the edwards aquifer.
Oct 04, 2016 until the edwards aquifer authority eaa was created by the texas legislature in 1993, the aquifer was essentially a freeforall. Edwards is the focus of this study due to its unique physical nature as a karst aquifer resulting in highly sensitive environmental areas that provide habitat to fourteen different threatened and endangered species. The edwards aquifer authority eaa and the united states geological survey usgs have monitored annual well and spring discharges since 1934. Mission statement edwards aquifer authority goals edwards aquifer authority act the edwards aquifer authority was created by the texas legislature to preserve and protect this unique groundwater resource.
Only 5,000 illgner says 6,000 acft of 50,000 acft secured thus far. The edwards aquifer authority is a groundwater district that was mandated by the 1993 edwards aquifer act. Information and resources for smallbusiness owners and local governments planning any construction activity over the edwards aquifer in texas. The edwards aquifer covers about 4530 square miles in parts of 11 counties in texas.
The edwards aquifer is a unique groundwater system and one of the most prolific artesian aquifers in the world. Edwards aquifer is not just a key source of water for over 2 million texans. The authority has asked its users, which include the city of. Hydrogeology and groundwater flow in the edwardstrinity aquifer system, westcentral texas regional aquifersystem analysisedwardstrinity by eve l. In texas, fight over water spills underground the texas tribune. Edwards aquifer authority the eaas mission is to manage, enhance, and protect the edwards aquifer. Edwards aquifer authority must shell out to pecan farmers. The eaa regulates the portion of the balcones fault zone edwards aquifer a jurisdictional area that provides water to over 2. Edwards aquifer authority distinguished lecturer series spring 2014 6220 culebra rd, san antonio tx 78238 fri, april 18 2014, 9. News, analysis and comment from the financial times, the world. Hydrogeology and groundwater flow in the edwardstrinity. Jul 31, 20 last year, the edwards aquifer authority imposed stage iii restrictions for more than a month, beginning in midaugust.
On the second day, july 12 th, 2012, a better sunny and dry weather totally brought the mood up and we decided to go out on a sixhour workshop. Cities like san antonio have long depended on the edwards aquifer for water, making it an integral part of the environment and geology of the region. Find out what works well at edwards aquifer authority from the people who know best. Until the edwards aquifer authority eaa was created by the texas legislature in 1993, the aquifer was essentially a freeforall. Accordingly, the edwards aquifer authority eaa was authorized by the state legislature to develop, implement, and enforce a critical management plan cmp. To protect the esalisted species, the edwards aquifer authority eaa and four. The book, dedicated to educating readers on the complex aquifer. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. A number of cities rely on the aquifer as their only source of drinking water. Thats the historic average for october of the j17 well, 658 feet above sea level, the measure that influences everything related to the edwards aquifer. In fact, this area would not have grown to what it is today without the aquifer. Edwards aquifer authority express information systems. Review of the edwards aquifer habitat conservation plan. Dlife service united states department ofthe interior.
Allowing water to run off into a gutter, ditch, or drain or failing to repair a controllable leak is considered water waste. Ea rip edwards aquifer recovery implementation program eaa edwards aquifer authority et al. Mar 24, 2020 the edwards aquifer authority manages, enhances, and protects the edwards aquifer, one of the major groundwater systems in texas serving approximately 2 mill. Technical guidance on best management practices rg348. A major problem facing the edwards aquifer is the threat of overdrafting the average annual recharge and maintaining natural springflows. The ogallala aquifer extends through 48 counties of the texas panhandle and is the southernmost.
In 1993, texas legislature replaced edwardsunderground water district with the edwards aquifer authority. This page outlines only the key events in the history of the edwards aquifer protection program. In limestone terrains, commonly called karst terrains, water may flow beneath the surface in caves to emerge at springs. Stage 4 may be declared if the total supply of water from the edwards aquifer and other sources is insufficient to meet customer demand, even while complying with lesser restriction stages. Sep 16, 20 in texas, fight over water spills underground. Group by meeting date month group by meeting date year group by meeting location. Compare pay for popular roles and read about the teams worklife balance. Researchers, regulators and water authorities can use this memoir to. Sep 26, 2017 the edwards aquifer literally is the life blood of the hill country. All content is posted anonymously by employees working at edwards aquifer authority. The edwards aquifer authority is a political subdivision of the state of texas that was created to manage, enhance, and protect the edwards aquifer system. Compared to other journal articles involving the team, this is the first to treat nonagricultural and. This is the edwards aquifer authority company profile. We also have several tceq publications to assist you and program staff are always available to answer your questions.
It is the solesource of drinking water for more than 1. Edwards aquifer authority home edwards aquifer authority. In 1993, the edwards aquifer authority eaa was created by the legislature to regulate aquifer. As recently as two decades ago, san antonio relied exclusively on the aquifer for its water until a lawsuit forced the city to diversify its water sources and establish. It led to a 49page slip opinion running through complicated administrative and constitutional questions. Uncover why edwards aquifer authority is the best company for you. The edwards aquifer authority manages, enhances, and protects the edwards aquifer, one of the major groundwater systems in texas serving approximately 2 mill. Several events set the stage for water management in texas and the creation of the eaa. Water rules and information complying with the edwards aquifer rules.
Get the inside scoop on jobs, salaries, top office locations, and ceo insights. Fourth, this paper is an outgrowth of ten years of work by the authors on edwards aquifer issues. Accordingly, the edwards aquifer authority eaa was authorized by the state legislature to develop, implement, and enforce a. The geological composition and history of the edwards aquifer provides for a. List the four areas of the edwards aquifer authority act directs the edwards aquifer authority to protect. Aquifer alliance protection and preserve the edwards aquifer. It led to a 49page slip opinion running through complicated administrative and. Edwards aquifer authority groundwater permit holder.
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