Uvalde pool of the edwards balcones fault zone aquifer. What does the edwards aquifer contributing zone mean for my. According to tceq, the recharge zone is defined as the region where geologic layers of the aquifer are exposed at the surface and water infiltrates into the. As shown in table a, san antonio initially considered developing alternative water supplies to decrease its dependence on the aquifer. Water is unable to percolate into the aquifer in the contributing zone because much of. The edwards aquifer maxwell school of citizenship and. Exhibit a edwards aquifer recharge zone water quality. Protecting point features is enough to protect the aquifer. Texas administrative code secretary of state of texas. The edwards aquifer is one of the most prolific artesian aquifers in the world. Saws role in development of the edwards aquifer recharge zone. Each lot or tract of land on the recharge zone on which ossfs are to be located shall have an area of at least one acre 43,560 square feet per single family dwelling. Before building on the recharge, transition, or contributing zones of the edwards aquifer, you must first have your. Describes regulatory boundaries of edwards aquifer recharge zone based on the adoption of the texas commission on environmental quality tceq recharge zone boundary, defined in september of 2005.
Water enters the aquifer easily in the recharge zone, but the subsurface drainage is generally inadequate to hold all the water that falls in large rain events. In this zone, contaminants in surface water can readily enter the aquifer. Aquifer storage and recovery in the edwards aquifers. 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. The recharge zone is the land over the edwards aquifer that recharges the aquifer. April 8, 2020 describes regulatory boundaries of edwards aquifer recharge zone based on the adoption of the texas commission on environmental quality tceq recharge zone boundary, defined in. Ruling in bragg case clouds future of texas groundwater pumping. Edwards aquifer recharge zone chapter 2 rules tceq. Technical reports document library edwards aquifer authority.
The edwards aquifer contributing zones polygon file was created from modeled boundaries 2003 lidar and customized boundaries based on contours, drainage. The ensuing media discussion focused on trees and habitat for the threatened goldencheeked warbler, but the site is also over the edwards aquifer recharge zone. Aquifer storage and recovery asr uses an aquifer to store surplus water that will be available for later use when needed. Eaa, edwards aquifer, edwards aquifer authority, recharge, recharge zone,subchapter rules. Water quality study on stormwater runoff in an urbanizing vs rural area of the edwards aquifer recharge zone details view download. Genesis of the edwards balcones fault zone aquifer the. This structural high has the general shape of a ridge that is widest near the edwards aquifer recharge zone to the north and thins and plunges to the south green et al. Weeks, 1945, an overall downtothesoutheast system of normal faults that is associated with the transition between the edwards plateau and gulf coastal plain province, with a total throw in excess of 350 m over a width of up to 50 km weeks, 1945. Efforts by a national cooperative geologic mapping program project to compile the geology of the edwards aquifer recharge area in southcentral texas have helped to refine the hydrostratigraphy of one of the most permeable and productive carbonate aquifers in. Geologic map of the edwards aquifer recharge zone, south. Glenn and jolynn bragg case significantly clouded the future of regulated groundwater pumping in texas the court affirmed a trial courts ruling that the eaa violated the braggs private property rights. Recharge to and discharge from the edwards aquifer in the san. This downloadable pdf document explains how to use the tools available in the viewer.
Visit the regulatory history of the edwards aquifer web page to learn more about how the program was developed. Protecting caves and karst features protects the aquifer the law requires me to identify and protect caves and karst features on my site that is on the recharge zone. The edwards aquifer is intensely faulted and fractured carbonate limestone that lies within the balcones fault zone. User guide this downloadable pdf document explains how to use the tools available in the viewer metadata the edwards aquifer maps come from official printed maps, containing regulatory boundaries based on previous geologic interpretations of the edwards aquifer zones that is, the recharge, transition, and contributing within the transition zones, as defined. There is a legend showing the different zones, type of highways, and boundaries. No specific locations of caves or karst features are given. Edwards aquifer maps and gis located in the heart of south central texas, the edwards aquifer is the natural water resource that supports approximately 2 million of us. Txdot installed entering edwards aquifer recharge area signs at or near each entrance to each highway over the recharge zone on loop 1 mopac south and us 290sh 71. Downloads directory please refer to the readme and metadata files for detailed documentation about this geospatial database. Located on the eastern edge of the edwards plateau in the u. Recharge conduits and sinkholes quickly become filled and the remaining water has to flow over the surface and on past the recharge zone. Upstream from the earz, the edwards aquifer contributing zone eacz provides indirect recharge because surface streams flow towards the earz.
We constructed the maps presented here as shapefiles in arcmap 9. The contributing zone is bounded by the recharge zone on one side and county. The san antonio water system shall require, as condition of approval of service contracts for service in jurisdictions other than the city of san antonio, compliance. The edwards aquifer is a unique groundwater system and one of the most prolific artesian aquifers in the world. The edwards aquifer maps come from official printed maps, containing regulatory boundaries based on previous geologic interpretations of the edwards aquifer zones that is, the recharge, transition, and contributing within the transition zones, as defined in 30 tac 2. The files are available for download as easytouse esri layer packages, compatible with arcgis 9. It is part of a much larger system that spans approximately 8,800 square miles.
The tceq edwards aquifer recharge zone shapefile is in utm zone 14 north coordinates and north american datum 1927. About the edwards aquifer san antonio water system. The well protection program supports the edwards aquifer authoritys eaas mission to effectively manage and protect the aquifer by accounting for all wells operational and nonoperational and ensuring they are properly constructed and maintained. The edwards aquifer the edwards aquifer is a karst aquifer. Edwards aquifer forms, instructions, and checklists tceq. Estimate of recharge to the edwards balcones fault zoneand. Geologic structure of the edwards balcones fault zone aquifer. About edwards aquifer recharge zone city of austin texas.
The aquifer system consists of three complexly interrelated aquifersthe edwards trinity, the edwards, and the trinity aquifers figs. The recharge zone is a 1,250 square mile area where highly faulted and fractured edwards limestones outcrop at the land surface, allowing large quantities of water to flow into the aquifer. User guide this downloadable pdf document explains how to use the tools available in the viewer metadata the edwards aquifer maps come from official printed maps, containing regulatory boundaries based on previous geologic interpretations of the edwards aquifer zonesthat is, the recharge, transition, and contributing within the transition zones, as defined. Generalized structural surface of the top of the edwards aquifer in the san antonio area, texas 6. It stretches across thousands of acres over several counties in south central texas. Recharge to the edwards aquifer is derived mainly from seepage into the aquifer from streams that cross the outcrop of the aquifer and direct infiltration of precipitation on the outcrop. The signs were to inform drivers and members from the public that they are over the recharge zone of the edwards aquifer and that the area is environmentally sensitive. Maps home regulatory zone maps shapefiles calibrated rain maps. Edwards aquifer authority guardians of the aquifer. Geologic map of the edwards aquifer recharge zone, southcentral texas compiled by charles d.
Regulated activity shall have that meaning ascribed to it by title 30, texas administrative code 2. Saws role in development of the edwards aquifer recharge zone the greater edwards aquifer alliance recommends. All shp and gdb layers are compressed as zip files. Listed by both the state of texas and the federal government as endangered. Major faults of the balcones fault zone and relation to the edwards aquifer in the san antonio area, texas 5. Location of hydrogeologic sections through the edwards aquifer. Nov 28, 2017 describes regulatory boundaries of edwards aquifer recharge zone based on the adoption of the texas commission on environmental quality tceq recharge zone boundary, defined in september of 2005. By submitting your application, you confirm that your edwards aquifer protection plan is final, contains all required information and attachments, and includes the correct number of copies. Threatened and endangered species in the edwards aquifer. It covers an area of approximately 4000 square miles stretching from rio grande river, near del rio, to the town of salado in bell county fig. The texas blind salamander, typhlomolge rathbuni is the top carnivore in the hays county area of the san antonio segment of the balcones fault zone edwards aquifer.
The metadata a document describing the dataset is also provided in pdf format. Geologic map of the edwards aquifer recharge zone, southcentral texas. For barton springs, about 85% of aquifer recharge comes from six major surface streams that cross the recharge zone. On august 28, a ruling by the texas fourth court of appeals in the edwards aquifer authority v. The watershed areas used for estimating recharge to the edwards aquifer in the san antonio area fig. Edwards aquifer recharge zone open data city of austin. 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. The edwards trinity aquifer system is in carbonate and clastic rocks of cretaceous age in a 77,000squaremile area that extends from southeastern oklahoma to western texas. The complex geology of the recharge area includes lithologic units assignable to the lower cretaceous edwards group and. The edwards balcones fault zone aquifer is a major aquifer in the southcentral part of the state. Group by meeting date month group by meeting date year group by meeting location. Allows users to view edwards aquifer maps of regulated zones. The salient forms the eastern border of the uvalde pool.
April 8, 2020 describes regulatory boundaries of edwards aquifer recharge zone based on the adoption of the texas commission on environmental quality tceq recharge zone boundary, defined in september of 2005. The edwards aquifer also hosts unique groundwater, cave, and spring ecosystems. The reference is to utm zone 14 north coordinates and north american datum 1983. Today well be discussing the second zone, which consists of the areas in south texas where the rainwater flows through the ground and is contributing, or adding to, to the edwards aquifer supply.
Map of the edwards aquifer region showing the contributing zone, recharge zone, and artesian zone, as well as j27 and j17 wells and comal springs and san marcos springs. The dynamics and size of the this geologic anomaly make it one of the most wondrous aquifers in the nation, through its storage capacity, flow characteristics, water producing capabilities and efficient recharging ability. Metadata the edwards aquifer maps come from official printed. Groundwater contamination cases in texas as per tceq publication sfr056 current and. E spill reporting, f regulated materials registration, storage, and planning, g aboveground and underground storage tanks, and h prohibited activities, 7. May 6, 2020 this layer represents the boundaires of watersheds which have a contributing impact on the edwards aquifer.
A crew clearing brush bent a valve on a sewer lift station, which then leaked intermittently for about a month before it was detected and repaired. Efforts by a national cooperative geologic mapping program project to compile the geology of the edwards aquifer recharge area in southcentral texas have helped to refine the hydrostratigraphy of one of the most permeable and productive carbonate aquifers in the united states. Sep 10, 2019 this structural high has the general shape of a ridge that is widest near the edwards aquifer recharge zone to the north and thins and plunges to the south green et al. During storm events, sinkholes and fractures in the stream bed can quickly provide large volumes of water to recharge. The edwards aquifer protection program was created to protect this precious resource. With a few exceptions in the city of austin, development is prohibited within water quality transition zones and critical water quality zones that are located over the south edwards aquifer recharge zone the portion of the recharge zone south of lake austin. On the surface the edwards aquifer is comprised of three areas. Includes the drainage basin of a l the creeks and rivers that eventua ly flow over the aquifer srecharge zone. Roughly 70 percent of the recharge zone is located west of bexar county. Edwards aquifer data recharge, contributing, and transition zones. Edwards aquifer authority contact us edwards aquifer.
Barton springs segment of the edwards balcones fault zone. This is partly due to the lower population within the county. Quality of stormwater runoff from an urbanizing watershed and a rangeland watershed in the edwards aquifer recharge zone, bexar and uvalde counties, texas, 199698. The structure of the edwards balcones fault zone aquifer is controlled by the mioceneage balcones fault zone hill and vaughan, 1898. Edwards aquifer authority wells edwards aquifer authority. It consists primarily of partially dissolved limestone that creates a highly permeable aquifer. Recharge zone means that portion of the city and its etj that overlays the edwards aquifer recharge zone as defined in title 30, texas administrative code 2.
Aquifer thickness ranges from 200 to 600 feet, and freshwater saturated thickness averages 560 feet in the southern part of the aquifer. The edwards balcones fault zone aquifer in the san antonio, texas, area was the first to be designated a sole source aquifer by the environmental protection agency in 1975. User guide this downloadable pdf document explains how to use the tools available in the viewer metadata the edwards aquifer maps come from official printed maps, containing regulatory boundaries based on previous geologic interpretations of the edwards aquifer zones that is, the recharge, transition, and contributing within the transition zones. Edwards aquifer recharge zone open data city of austin texas. Oct 29, 2014 saws role in development of the edwards aquifer recharge zone the greater edwards aquifer alliance recommends. All data available for download were used in the creation of the spatial data for the edwards aquifer portal.
In order to obtain an authorization to construct in the edwards aquifer recharge zone, the following conditions must be met. Jun 12, 2014 last week we talked about the edwards aquifer recharge zone, which makes up one of the three different types of zones within the aquifer as a whole. The eaa regulates the portion of the balcones fault zone edwards aquifer a jurisdictional area that provides water to over 2 million people, and covers more than 8,000 square miles across eight counties. A view of the cleared property in july 2018 from washita way in the legend hills neighborhood. Edwards aquifer forms, instructions, and checklists application forms, instructions, and checklists for edwards aquifer protection plans. The act grants all of the powers, rights, and privileges necessary to manage, conserve, preserve, and protect the aquifer. Geologic map of the edwards aquifer recharge zone, southcentral texas alternate title scientific investigations map 2873 series title usgs scientific investigations aggregation karst information portal ticklers issue. Wells in poor condition pose a significant risk of contamination to the aquifer. E spill reporting, f regulated materials registration, storage, and planning, g aboveground and underground storage tanks, and h prohibited activities.
Describes regulatory boundaries of edwards aquifer recharge zone based on the adoption of the texas commission on environmental quality tceq. In december 2005, aquifer activists sued to stop work on new toll lanes over the recharge zone on 281 north of 1604. The complex geology of the recharge area includes lithologic units assignable to the lower cretaceous edwards. Edwards aquifer authority shapefiles edwards aquifer. In the recharge zone, the edwards limestone outcrops on the surface of the land and is directly recharged from rainfall and stream channels above it. After downloading, doubleclick the file and specify an output location to unpack the files. Stormwater discharge activities located in the edwards aquifer recharge or contributing zones must also meet the edwards aquifer protection program requirements for activities in bexar, comal, kinney, medina, or uvalde county, contact water program staff in our san antonio regional office for answers to your questions about these requirements for activities in hays, travis. In january, an undetected sewer leak led to a work stoppage instead.
Critical perioddrought management edwards aquifer authority. Recharge zone area where the stratigraphic units constituting the edwards aquifer crop out, including the outcrops of geologic formations in proximity to the edwards aquifer where caves, sinkholes, faults, fractures, or other permeable features would create a potential for recharge to surface waters into the edwards aquifer. In addition, the edwards aquifer feeds the comal and san marcos springs, provides. These maps are presented on united states geological survey 7. The recharge z one of the barton springs segment of the edwards aquifer is roughly five mi les wide and extends roughly 20 miles long, from the colorado river south to the buda and kyle areas. This map is an illustrated map showing the edwards aquifer recharge zones in relation to major highways and cities. The edwards aquifer provides san antonio with an abundant source of groundwater vital to the livelihood of a growing population and an expanding economy. Barton creek, onion creek, slaughter creek, bear creek, little bear creek, and williamson creek slade, dorsey, and stewart, 1986.
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