Pleasant Valley Spring: A Newly Documented Karst Spring of the Texas Hill Country Trinity Aquifer
Texas Hill Country springs provide baseflow for rivers that recharge the downstream Edwards Aquifer. This study is an initial characterization of Pleasant Valley Spring (PVS) and recognition of its significance for the Hill Country, Middle Trinity Aquifer, and the Edwards Aquifer. PVS is a perennial, artesian, karst spring complex located in the bed of the […]
Influence of Faulting and Relay Ramp Structures on Groundwater Flow in the Karstic Edwards and Trinity Aquifers, Central Texas, USA
The Cretaceous-age Edwards and Middle Trinity Aquifers of central Texas are critical groundwater resources for human and ecological needs. These two major karst aquifers are stratigraphically stacked (Edwards over Trinity) and structurally juxtaposed (normal faulting) in the Balcones Fault Zone. Studies have long recognized the importance of faulting on the development of the karstic Edwards […]
Potentiometric Investigation of Two Large Springs Discharging From the Middle Trinity Aquifer, Western Hays County, Texas.
Pleasant Valley Spring (PVS) and Jacob’s Well Spring (JWS) are large karst springs providing perennial baseflow to the Blanco River and Cypress Creek, respectively, which eventually recharges the Edwards Aquifer. In order to better understand groundwater flow and sources of recharge to these springs (springsheds), we created a potentiometric map of the area surrounding the […]
Groundwater Flow as Evidenced from a Historic Petroleum Contamination Site, Barton Springs Segment of the Edwards Aquifer, Austin, Texas
Leaking petroleum storage tanks from gas stations are one of the most common sources of contamination of groundwater in the U.S. and Texas. In 1992 a 2,900 gallon gasoline and diesel release occurred at the Big Wheel Truck Stop located on the highly sensitive Edwards Aquifer in Austin, Texas. The fate and transport of the […]
Potentiometric Surface Investigation of the Middle Trinity Aquifer in Western Hays County, Texas
Pleasant Valley Spring (PVS) and Jacob’s Well Spring (JWS) are large karst springs providing perennial baseflow to the Blanco River and Cypress Creek, respectively, which eventually recharges the Edwards Aquifer. JWS flow has become intermittent in recent years due to drought and increased pumping driven by nearby population growth within the Cypress Creek watershed. In […]
Hydrologic Influences of the Blanco River on the Trinity and Edwards Aquifers, Central Texas, USA
The Blanco River of central Texas provides an important hydrologic link between surface and groundwater as it traverses two major karst aquifer systems—the Trinity and Edwards Aquifers. The Blanco River is characterized by alternating gaining and losing stretches due to the presence of springs that discharge water into the river and swallets that drain water […]
Refining the Freshwater/Saline-Water Interface, Edwards Aquifer, Hays and Travis Counties, Texas
This study refines the freshwater/saline-water interface in the Edwards Aquifer of Travis and Hays Counties based upon 855 data points compiled from measured or estimated total dissolved solids (TDS) in groundwater. Changes to the boundary include localized lateral shifts of up to 1.3 miles and an apparent net loss of 3.8 mi2 of areal extent […]
Policy Overview of the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District
An overview of the District, water planning, available groundwater, groundwater resources, permitting, recharge, history of droughts and floods, and contact information.