edwards aquifer owls '14 presentation
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Edwards Aquifer OWLS '14 PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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A Case Study of the Edwards Aquifer
Nathan PenceExecutive Director – Endangered Species Programs
Edwards Aquifer Authority
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Edwards Aquifer
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Edwards Aquifer
• Balcones Fault Zone• Limestone and Artesian Aquifer• Aquifer responds directly to pumping or recharge • 4350 square miles• Austin, San Marcos, New Braunfels, San Antonio• Headwaters to San Marcos and Comal Springs
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Edwards Aquifer cont.
• Guadalupe River baseflow• Home to Endangered Species
• Comal Springs Dryopid Beetle• Comal Springs Riffle Beetle• Fountain Darter• Peck’s Cave Amphipod• San Marcos Salamander• San Marcos Gambusia• Texas Blind Salamander• Texas Wild Rice
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Demands on Edwards Aquifer• Municipal Water• Agriculture Use• Industrial Use• Recreational• Biological • Spring Flow• Pumping vs. Springflow
Pumping vs Springflow
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Limitations of the Edwards Aquifer
• 1956 Drought of Record– Comal Springs ceased to flow for 6 months
• Increased demand • San Antonio: population of 2 million• Surrounding communities
• Increased Development / Reduced Recharge• Drought magnifies all
• Endangered Species Act of 1973
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Legal Challenges• Sierra Club v USFWS 1991
• Sierra Club alleged that unrestricted withdrawals from the aquifer would cause take of Endangered Species. Courts agreed and established “take” and “jeopardy” flow rates; water supply restrictions
• 2012 Deadline for “Continuous Minimum Springflows” for the species
• Senate Bill 1477 - 1993• Established EAA and set withdrawal limits