Wells in poor condition pose a significant risk of contamination to the aquifer. Maps home regulatory zone maps shapefiles calibrated rain maps. Includes the drainage basin of a l the creeks and rivers that eventua ly flow over the aquifer srecharge zone. Saws role in development of the edwards aquifer recharge. Metadata the edwards aquifer maps come from official printed. The edwards aquifer is intensely faulted and fractured carbonate limestone that lies within the balcones fault zone. Roughly 70 percent of the recharge zone is located west of bexar county. Geologic map of the edwards aquifer recharge zone, south. Technical reports document library edwards aquifer authority. Ruling in bragg case clouds future of texas groundwater pumping.
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. About edwards aquifer recharge zone city of austin texas. Recharge to and discharge from the edwards aquifer in the san. This map is an illustrated map showing the edwards aquifer recharge zones in relation to major highways and cities. For barton springs, about 85% of aquifer recharge comes from six major surface streams that cross the recharge zone. Water is unable to percolate into the aquifer in the contributing zone because much of. 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. The edwards aquifer is one of the most prolific artesian aquifers in the world. The edwards aquifer the edwards aquifer is a karst aquifer. Exhibit a edwards aquifer recharge zone water quality.
The edwards aquifer provides san antonio with an abundant source of groundwater vital to the livelihood of a growing population and an expanding economy. 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. Upstream from the earz, the edwards aquifer contributing zone eacz provides indirect recharge because surface streams flow towards the earz. E spill reporting, f regulated materials registration, storage, and planning, g aboveground and underground storage tanks, and h prohibited activities. All shp and gdb layers are compressed as zip files.
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. Edwards aquifer recharge zone chapter 2 rules tceq. Barton creek, onion creek, slaughter creek, bear creek, little bear creek, and williamson creek slade, dorsey, and stewart, 1986. A view of the cleared property in july 2018 from washita way in the legend hills neighborhood. It stretches across thousands of acres over several counties in south central texas. 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. The complex geology of the recharge area includes lithologic units assignable to the lower cretaceous edwards group and. Geologic map of the edwards aquifer recharge zone, southcentral texas compiled by charles d.
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. 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. 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. After downloading, doubleclick the file and specify an output location to unpack the files. Edwards aquifer forms, instructions, and checklists tceq. Barton springs segment of the edwards balcones fault zone. Groundwater contamination cases in texas as per tceq publication sfr056 current and. Located on the eastern edge of the edwards plateau in the u. Eaa, edwards aquifer, edwards aquifer authority, recharge, recharge zone,subchapter rules. It is part of a much larger system that spans approximately 8,800 square miles. Group by meeting date month group by meeting date year group by meeting location. The edwards balcones fault zone aquifer is a major aquifer in the southcentral part of the state.
The edwards aquifer also hosts unique groundwater, cave, and spring ecosystems. Protecting point features is enough to protect the aquifer. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. These maps are presented on united states geological survey 7. 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. Regulated activity shall have that meaning ascribed to it by title 30, texas administrative code 2. Edwards aquifer authority guardians of the aquifer.
Geologic map of the edwards aquifer recharge zone, southcentral texas. 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. Allows users to view edwards aquifer maps of regulated zones. The structure of the edwards balcones fault zone aquifer is controlled by the mioceneage balcones fault zone hill and vaughan, 1898. 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.
Saws role in development of the edwards aquifer recharge zone the greater edwards aquifer alliance recommends. 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. Edwards aquifer recharge zone open data city of austin texas. 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. Water quality study on stormwater runoff in an urbanizing vs rural area of the edwards aquifer recharge zone details view download. We constructed the maps presented here as shapefiles in arcmap 9. Generalized structural surface of the top of the edwards aquifer in the san antonio area, texas 6. 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. Quality of stormwater runoff from an urbanizing watershed and a rangeland watershed in the edwards aquifer recharge zone, bexar and uvalde counties, texas, 199698. Before building on the recharge, transition, or contributing zones of the edwards aquifer, you must first have your. What does the edwards aquifer contributing zone mean for my. In december 2005, aquifer activists sued to stop work on new toll lanes over the recharge zone on 281 north of 1604.
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. In january, an undetected sewer leak led to a work stoppage instead. 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. Edwards aquifer forms, instructions, and checklists application forms, instructions, and checklists for edwards aquifer protection plans. 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. The tceq edwards aquifer recharge zone shapefile is in utm zone 14 north coordinates and north american datum 1927. 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. 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. 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.
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. This is partly due to the lower population within the county. 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. On august 28, a ruling by the texas fourth court of appeals in the edwards aquifer authority v. Aquifer storage and recovery asr uses an aquifer to store surplus water that will be available for later use when needed. The aquifer system consists of three complexly interrelated aquifersthe edwards trinity, the edwards, and the trinity aquifers figs. Oct 29, 2014 saws role in development of the edwards aquifer recharge zone the greater edwards aquifer alliance recommends. The complex geology of the recharge area includes lithologic units assignable to the lower cretaceous edwards. E spill reporting, f regulated materials registration, storage, and planning, g aboveground and underground storage tanks, and h prohibited activities, 7. This downloadable pdf document explains how to use the tools available in the viewer. Saws role in development of the edwards aquifer recharge zone. The act grants all of the powers, rights, and privileges necessary to manage, conserve, preserve, and protect the aquifer.
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. Describes regulatory boundaries of edwards aquifer recharge zone based on the adoption of the texas commission on environmental quality tceq. During storm events, sinkholes and fractures in the stream bed can quickly provide large volumes of water to recharge. 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. Uvalde pool of the edwards balcones fault zone aquifer. The metadata a document describing the dataset is also provided in pdf format. 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. In addition, the edwards aquifer feeds the comal and san marcos springs, provides. Major faults of the balcones fault zone and relation to the edwards aquifer in the san antonio area, texas 5. 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. Edwards aquifer authority contact us edwards aquifer. All data available for download were used in the creation of the spatial data for the edwards aquifer portal.
In this zone, contaminants in surface water can readily enter the aquifer. 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. Threatened and endangered species in the edwards aquifer. Downloads directory please refer to the readme and metadata files for detailed documentation about this geospatial database. The edwards aquifer contributing zones polygon file was created from modeled boundaries 2003 lidar and customized boundaries based on contours, drainage. 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 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. About the edwards aquifer san antonio water system. Listed by both the state of texas and the federal government as endangered. The edwards aquifer is a unique groundwater system and one of the most prolific artesian aquifers in the world. Visit the regulatory history of the edwards aquifer web page to learn more about how the program was developed. No specific locations of caves or karst features are given. 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. Edwards aquifer data recharge, contributing, and transition zones. 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. 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. Geologic structure of the edwards balcones fault zone aquifer.
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. Texas administrative code secretary of state of texas. 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. As shown in table a, san antonio initially considered developing alternative water supplies to decrease its dependence on the aquifer. Genesis of the edwards balcones fault zone aquifer the. Estimate of recharge to the edwards balcones fault zoneand.
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. The contributing zone is bounded by the recharge zone on one side and county. Edwards aquifer authority wells edwards aquifer authority. The edwards aquifer protection program was created to protect this precious resource. The files are available for download as easytouse esri layer packages, compatible with arcgis 9. 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. The reference is to utm zone 14 north coordinates and north american datum 1983.
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. Recharge conduits and sinkholes quickly become filled and the remaining water has to flow over the surface and on past the recharge zone. The watershed areas used for estimating recharge to the edwards aquifer in the san antonio area fig. There is a legend showing the different zones, type of highways, and boundaries.
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. 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. The recharge zone is the land over the edwards aquifer that recharges the aquifer. Aquifer storage and recovery in the edwards aquifers. Location of hydrogeologic sections through the edwards aquifer.
On the surface the edwards aquifer is comprised of three areas. 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. The edwards aquifer maxwell school of citizenship and. 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. Aquifer thickness ranges from 200 to 600 feet, and freshwater saturated thickness averages 560 feet in the southern part of the aquifer. In order to obtain an authorization to construct in the edwards aquifer recharge zone, the following conditions must be met. 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. Edwards aquifer authority shapefiles edwards aquifer. 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 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 in 30 tac 2. 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. It consists primarily of partially dissolved limestone that creates a highly permeable aquifer.
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