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. The edwards aquifer rules are an effective mechanism we can use to protect this valuable resource. It is about 5,400 square miles, and elevations range between 1,000 and 2,300 feet above sea level. Hydrogeology and groundwater flow in the edwardstrinity aquifer system, westcentral texas by eve l kuniansky and ann f. A groundwater divide in hays county hydrologically separates the aquifer into the san antonio and austin regions. An aquifer is an underground layer of waterbearing permeable rock, rock fractures or unconsolidated materials gravel, sand, or silt. The edwards aquifer is an underground layer of porous, honeycombed, waterbearing rock that is between 300700 feet thick. Hydrogeological maps a guide and a standard legend bgr.
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. Aquifers oftexas november1935 texas water development board craig d. The edwards aquifer balcones fault zone forms a narrow belt extending through nine counties, including travis county. Edwards aquifer authority groundwater users edwards. The edwards aquifer is an underground layer of porous limestone that stores water. Related terms include aquitard, which is a bed of low permeability along an. The recharge zone is the land over the edwards aquifer that recharges the aquifer.
Located on the eastern edge of the edwards plateau in the u. The vulnerability of the edwards aquifer, the high usage of the aquifer as a drinking water supply, and the presence of endangered species led the state of texas to formulate a regulatory structure to address development proposals in the earz and eacz to ensure aquifer water quality does not significantly degrade. Edwards aquifer authority history edwards aquifer authority. The edwards aquifer contributing zones polygon file was created from modeled boundaries 2003 lidar and customized boundaries based on contours, drainage. Njdep njgs openfile map ofm 24, aquifers of new jersey. The edwards aquifer authority is a groundwater district, mandated by the 1993 edwards aquifer authority act. The links below provide access to data and information regarding oklahomas groundwater resources. Geological survey covers the edwards aquifer recharge zone from austin to northwest of uvalde and depicts the complicated geology of the area along with counties, cities and highways. There are forty plus species living in the aquifer with the salamander, and most of them are just as endangered as the salamander. From the large map you can see that most of san antonio is built over the artesian zone, allowing the city to drill its municipal wells directly down into the aquifer.
Water in the aquifer occurs in fractures, voids, and solution channels in the edwards and associated limestone. The aquifer basics web site provides a general summary of information published in the ground water. The san antonio segment of the aquifer extends in a 160 mile archshaped curve from brackettville in the west to near kyle in the northeast, and is between five and. Jenness, elaine mmember lynwood sanders, member 6 fernandez, vice chairman barron, m. An example of a significant and sustainable carbonate aquifer is the edwards aquifer in central texas.
This map is available at information services 1888askusgs. Edwards aquifer, central texas geosciences libguides. May 07, 2018 at one time, the edwards aquifer was the only source of water that san antonio received its drinking water. This part of the edwards aquifer provides the municipal, industrial. As crucial a source of drinking water that it is, the edwards aquifer has an economic importance. But the city is growing rapidly in the vulnerable contributing and recharge zones, putting the aquifer, its unique. Found in title 30 texas administrative code chapter 2, these rules address activities that could pose a threat to water quality in the edwards aquifer, including wells and springs fed by the aquifer and water sources to the aquifer, including. Dockum aquifer groundwater availability model texas water. The edwards aquifer of central texas is an extensive, karstified flow system developed in rocks deposited on a cretaceous limestone platform.
While the edwards stretches from temple to del rio, the barton springs segment is of most interest to austinites since the water reemerges near the heart of downtown at barton springs. May 6, 2020 this layer represents the boundaires of watersheds which have a contributing impact on the edwards aquifer. To view a map of your area and discover if you are, indeed, located within the contributing zone. Saqram aquifer system west inventory of shared water. Recharge zone of the edwards aquifer hydrologically.
Edwards aquifer authority maps edwards aquifer authority. The edwards aquifer literally is the life blood of the hill country. Sep 26, 2017 the edwards aquifer literally is the life blood of the hill country. Groundwater resources and global maps 10atlasgralmapsmrnwnw. Map groundwater resources of the world transboundary aquifer. Cities like san antonio have long depended on the edwards aquifer for water, making it an integral part of the environment and geology of the region. Edwards aquifer map mapping and geographic information. 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. The map on groundwater resources of the world unescobgr whymap. At present, it is exploited from the tabuk plain in saudi arabia to wadi rum in jordan, in an area delineated in this inventory as the tabukmudawwaradisi area. Open the map viewerbest viewed using internet explorer v9. Edwards aquifer, central texas geosciences libguides at. Regional aquifersystem analysisedwardstrinity aquifer system u. It consists primarily of partially dissolved limestone that creates a highly permeable 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. It is an update of the transboundary aquifers of the world map update 2014 igzac 2014. Development of the aquifer was controlled by changes. The purpose of this map is to show an overlay of protection zones meant to ensure the quality of water in the edwards aquifer. Hydrologic boundaries divide the edwards aquifer in the austin area for which barton springs is the major discharge point. Review of the edwards aquifer habitat conservation plan. Learn aquifer water with free interactive flashcards. It shows various characteristic groundwater environments in their areal extent.
The edwards aquifer is one of the most prolific artesian aquifers in the world. The aquifer basics web site provides a general overview and maps of the principal aquifers of the united states by rock type and via alphabetical list. The aquifers are organized in the order of their magnitude of annual withdrawals, with the aquifer experiencing the largest amount of pumpage listed first. The edwards aquifer extends 400 kilometers from del rio, east to san antonio though austin, and northeast to bell county. Edwards aquifer protection program, november 2008 uvalde. The aquifer continues to be a source of drinking water for millions of people in central texas. This aquifer has exhibited the greatest diversity of any know aquifer system. Edwards aquifer map mapping and geographic information systems. Use the edwards aquifer map viewer to see the areas of texas that are subject to regulation by the tceq under the edwards aquifer protection program. Aquifer mapping program midregion council of governments, nm. The full spatial extent of some aquifers and aquifer systems cannot be shown on the main map because the full. Pedersen, executive administrator texas water development board william b. Usgs map of the principal aquifers of the united states.
Regional aquifer system analysisedwardstrinity aquifer system u. Several larval instars have been observed in collections taken throughout the year indication that the comal springs riffle beetle has overlapping, asynchro. These wells include watersupply, irrigation, and industrialsupply wells sited and tested for maximum yield. Whymap and the world map of transboundary aquifer systems. Hydrogeology and groundwater flow in the edwardstrinity. Geren,member authorization for use or reproduction of any original. Aquifer thickness ranges from 200 to 600 feet, and freshwater saturated thickness averages 560 feet in the southern part of the aquifer.
Choose from 221 different sets of aquifer water flashcards on quizlet. A more thorough understanding of each aquifer may be gained by referring to the suggested reports following each aquifer description. Bibliography of the edwards aquifer, texas, through 1993 pdf. This carbonate aquifer has historically been providing high quality water for nearly 2 million people, and even today, is full because of tremendous recharge from a number of area streams, rivers and lakes.
Edwards aquifer map viewer view the edwards aquifer maps of regulated zones with your web browser. 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 aquifer through cracks, fissures, caves, and. In addition, the edwards aquifer feeds the comal and san marcos springs, provides. All life stages, except eggs, of comal springs riffle beetle are present throughout the year. The three primary zones in the aquifer are the contributing zone, recharge zone, and the transitionartesian zone as shown in the edwards aquifer contributing zones map. According to the edwards aquifer website, the contributing zone occurs on the edwards plateau, also called the texas hill country. Diffuseflow conceptualization and simulation of the edwards aquifer, san antonio region, texas pdf. Introduction the edwards aquifer is one of our most valuable, irreplaceable, and endangered public treasures. Map pdf 5 mb textonly version this pdf 305 kb version of the report is accessible as defined in section 508 of the rehabilitation act of 1973, amendments of 1998. If any of the species are lost from the system it will have an effect on the texas blind salamander. Edwards is the focus of this study due to its unique physical nature as a karst aquifer resulting in highly sensitive environmental areas that provide habitat to fourteen.
The groundwater resources map of the world at the scale of 1. Edwards aquifer authority science document library. Click here to download a pdf of the above map and table. However, model users interested in details about the development of the dockum aquifer groundwater availability model should still refer to the gam reports listed below.
Openfile map ofm24 ranking values for aquifers and confining units in new jersey aquifer median rank yields gpm aquifers in new jersey can be ranked on their ability to yield ground water to highcapacity wells. 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. 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. It includes the edwards and some associated limestones. 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. Hypogene processes in the edwards aquifer in southcentral. The edwards aquifer authority has recently enacted legislation to limit the developers ability to install impervious cover over the recharge zone environmental officials are trying to avoid the wash of pollutants from streets, cars, and new industry into the aquifer. An assessment of aquifer storage and recovery in texas. It is the solesource of drinking water for more than 1. It is part of a much larger system that spans approximately 8,800 square miles. Hydrology and water quality of the edwards aquifer associated with barton springs in the austin area, texas by raymond m. What does the edwards aquifer contributing zone mean for. Review of the edwards aquifer habitat conservation plan the edwards aquifer is the primary source of water for drinking and irrigation in the san antonio area, and supplies the two largest freshwater springs in texas, comal springs and san marcos springs.
Name meeting date meeting time meeting location meeting details agenda minutes video ecomment. This downloadable pdf document explains how to use the tools available in the viewer. The edwards balcones fault zone aquifer is a major aquifer in the southcentral part of the state. Thats the historic average for october of the j17 well, 658 feet above sea level, the measure that influences everything related to the edwards aquifer. Prepared in support of a study by the center for research in water resources, university of texas at austin. The edwards aquifer covers about 4530 square miles in parts of 11 counties in texas. Dockum aquifer groundwater availability model texas. The act grants all of the powers, rights, and privileges necessary to manage, conserve, preserve, and protect the aquifer. In 2006, the texas water development board twdb contracted with intera, inc. The balcones fault zone edwards aquifer of southcentral texas is one of the most important karst aquifers in the united states and provides water to 1. This groundwater availability model has been superseded by the high plains aquifer system groundwater availability model, which includes the ogallala, edwardstrinity high plains, and dockum aquifers. Section i1 special legend for aquifer and groundwater systems maps. In fact, this area would not have grown to what it is today without the aquifer. Geological survey waterresources investigations report 864036 prepared in cooperation with the city of austin austin, texas 1986.
Do you have questions about watersheds or the edwards aquifer in the city of austin. The edwards aquifer the edwards aquifer is a karst aquifer. The edwards aquifer extends in a narrow belt from bell county in the northeast to kinney county in the southwest index map and provides water for at least nine counties in southcentral texas. The study of water flow in aquifers and the characterization of aquifers is called hydrogeology.
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