Edwards Aquifer

Edwards Aquifer

The Edwards Aquifer is one of the most prolific artesian aquifers in the world. Located on the eastern edge of Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas, it discharges about 900,000 acre feet (1.1 km³) of water a year and directly serves about two million people. [http://www.edwardsaquifer.net/data.html] The Edwards Aquifer is also home to several unique and endangered species.

Geography

The aquifer's recharge zone, where surface water enters the aquifer, follows the Balcones Fault line, from Brackettville (roughly along U.S. Highway 90), through San Antonio, and north to Austin (roughly along Interstate 35). Its contributing zone, where shed water is transported near the surface to the recharge zone, extends about 40 miles (64 km) north of the recharge zone at the west end, and tapers to end at a point in the east. The artesian zone, where water springs from wells naturally due to the higher elevation of the recharge zone, extends 10-20 miles (16-32 km) south on the west end to only a few miles south on the east end. Across the eastern half of the aquifer, the recharge and artesian zones occupy common area.

Economy

The plentiful water provided by rivers fed from the Edwards Aquifer is the primary reason Spanish missionaries were able to establish so many missions, like the Alamo Mission in San Antonio. Later, immigrants found the Texas Hill Country welcoming because of the food, energy, and water provided by these rivers. Without this supply in the arid plateau, early colonization would have been far more difficult. Cities like San Antonio, New Braunfels, and San Marcos have been able to support large populations without the need to develop surface water resources. Farmers and ranchers south of the aquifer benefit greatly or entirely from the irrigation possible from these rivers.

Ecology

The Edwards Aquifer is home to several unique species, including the widemouth blindcat, Texas blind salamander, helotes mold beetle, the robber baron cave harvestman, and the robber baron cave spider. These species actually live in the caves, and are either completely without eyes or their eyes are so underdeveloped that they are essentially eyeless. The springs fed from the aquifer are also home to many unique species, such as the Fountain Darter, San Marcos Gambusia (which might already be extinct), and the San Marcos salamander. Texas Wild Rice is also found only in the upper San Marcos River.

ee also

*Edwards Plateau
*Balcones Fault
*San Marcos River
*Comal River
*Guadalupe River
*Central Texas
*San Antonio Water System
*Texas Hill Country
*Texas Blind Salamander

External links

* [http://edwardsaquifer.org/ Edwards Aquifer Authority]
* [http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/EE/mwe1.html Handbook of Texas Online, s.v. "EDWARDS UNDERGROUND WATER DISTRICT,"]
* [http://www.edwardsaquifer.net/ Edwards Aquifer Home Page, Gregg Eckhardt]
* [http://www.edwardsaquifer.net/species.html Endangered Species of the Edwards Aquifer]
* [http://www.sosalliance.org/eaproplan.shtml Save Our Springs Alliance - Edwards Aquifer Protection Plan]
* [http://www.aquiferalliance.org/ Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Edwards — may refer to:People: See Edwards (surname) * Edwards family, a prominent family from ChilePlacesAustralia*Edwards Beach, New South Wales *Edwards Islet, TasmaniaUnited States*Edwards, Arkansas *Edwards, California *Edwards, Colorado *Edwards,… …   Wikipedia

  • Aquifer — Typical aquifer cross section An aquifer is a wet underground layer of water bearing permeable rock or unconsolidated materials (gravel, sand, or silt) from which groundwater can be usefully extracted using a water well. The study of water flow… …   Wikipedia

  • Edwards Plateau — The Edwards Plateau is a region of west central Texas which is bounded by the Balcones Fault to the south and east, the Llano Uplift and the plains region to the north, and the Pecos River to the west.It consists primarily of limestone, with… …   Wikipedia

  • Barton Springs — Not to be confused with Barton Springs Pool, a recreational swimming pool, part of Barton Springs. Barton Springs Main Barton Spring, inside Barton Springs Pool Type Karst spring …   Wikipedia

  • Comal Springs (Texas) — Comal Springs The largest of the Comal Springs form the headwaters of the Comal River. Type Karst spring Location New Braunfels …   Wikipedia

  • Save Our Springs Alliance — (SOS) was originally called the Save Our Springs Legal Defense Fund, a nonprofit corporation created to protect the citizen drafted SOS Ordinance of 1992 to conserve Barton Springs in Austin, Texas. [ [http://sosalliance.org Save Our Springs… …   Wikipedia

  • San Marcos Springs — Infobox Spring spring name=San Marcos Springs caption=The Wetlands Boardwalk encircles Spring Lake at San Marcos Springs type=Karst spring location=San Marcos, Texas, U.S.A. [ [http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/Fs05997/ USGS Fact Sheet 059 97] ]… …   Wikipedia

  • List of aquifers — The following is a partial list of aquifers around the world. A of aquifers is also available.North AmericaCanada * Oak Ridges Moraine North of Toronto Ontario * Laurentian River SystemUnited States* Biscayne Aquifer * Bruceian Aquifer * Edwards… …   Wikipedia

  • San Antonio Springs — Infobox Spring spring name=San Antonio Springs caption=Location of San Antonio Springs type=Karst springs location=San Antonio, Texas, U.S.A source=Edwards Aquifer provides=San Antonio River flow=20 ft³/s (566 L/s) magnitude=2 elevation=680 ft… …   Wikipedia

  • Barton Springs Pool — is a man made swimming pool located on the grounds of Zilker Park in Austin, Texas. The pool exists in the channel of Barton Creek and is filled by water from Main Barton Spring, the fourth largest spring in Texas. The pool is a popular venue for …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”