For this episode of KSAT Explains, we’ve partnered with two KSAT 12 meteorologists who report on the aquifer daily. They help us explain how the aquifer works, why it’s so heavily regulated and the conservation efforts in place that help keep the aquifer — and the creatures who call the aquifer home — healthy.The Edwards Aquifer and its catchment area cover about 8,000 square miles. It encompasses an area from Edwards and Kinney Counties, and goes as far east as Travis and Hays Counties.
Back when Texas was partially underwater, that water was filled with mollusks and clams. They died and over millions of years, their remains have formed karst, or porous limestone, which is what the aquifer is made out of.One of the best ways to understand the aquifer is to go down into one of the thousands of caves located in the Texas Hill Country. That’s why Justin Horne headed out to Comal County to take a trip down a limestone cave.
“There are some caves in Bexar County and Medina Valley and Hays County, where we’ve been able to go through the cave down deep enough, that we’ve actually seen the Edwards Aquifer itself,” Schindel said. “It goes to show you how fragile it is.”The Edwards Aquifer’s formation is fascinating and dates back millions of years. But it’s during the aquifer’s more recent history where things have become more complicated.
“The judge said ... you either need to manage this or the federal government and me are going to come in and do it,” Hardberger said. “The Legislature has never moved so fast.” “I think that’s a testament to how important it’s become and how the conservation ethic has taken root,” Ruiz said. The EAA’s mission is not over. One way the EAA and the City of San Antonio are preserving the aquifer for future generations is through conservation easements. Through sales tax funding, the city has bought more than 160,000 acres of conservation easements over the aquifer. A conservation easement simply means the landowners agree not to develop the land in an effort to protect the aquifer.
Making sure the protected species that inhabit the aquifer remain at heaty levels is something the EAA believes we al should care about. “Who doesn’t love a salamander that’s kind of odd and a little creepy looking, but cute at the same time?” said Katherine Bockrath, Ph.d., lead researcher at the center. “I think people gravitate to it an its cuteness and its slight creepiness, but also its mystery.”
“We have some here that have lived about 10 to 15 years so far,” Daw said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they live 20 years or more.”
Source: Healthcare Press (healthcarepress.net)
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