News
RVI Unveils Preliminary Master Plan for Jacob’s Well Natural AreaFebruary 18, 2012 16:12
Stakeholders of the Jacob’s Well Natural Area and Hays County staff met Feb. 15 at Camp Jacob to review RVI’s preliminary master plan (the most recent phase in site planning for the historic spring)...
- How to best preserve and restore the site to demonstrate land and water stewardship
- Best way to provide safe public access and ensure protection of the sensitive natural landscape
- Whether or not to permit overnight camping
- Restrictions on bicycles & dogs in the preserve
- How to manage fencing, signage and boundary identification
- Managing access while making the property as open as possible
- Methods to protect and rehabilitate the wetlands and the riparian area along the creek
- How to restore the area around the spring and manage access to Jacob's Well
- Entry points, impervious cover restrictions, parking capacity & location
The Wimberley Valley Watershed Association , with the help of Hays County, has removed nearly four acres of impervious cover from the site. RVI landscape and architectural planners, Chris Lalitch and Barbara Austin, are assessing the need to remove existing impervious cover before any new structures or parking areas are added. Site restrictions on impervious cover will limit what is built in the future. All structures will incorporate rainwater harvesting and energy efficient design; every effort is being made to use natural pervious materials for nature trails and parking areas to allow water to seep back into the aquifer.
Lalitch and Austin summarized the open house presentation and introduced some new sketches of how buildings might be designed with approximations of where the structures may be located. They also confirmed that there will be two, possibly three, entry points for the preserve. The preliminary plans allow for a total of 32 parking spaces and three school buses.
There are not plans to fence around the entire property. Lalitch said that currently there are plans to fence approximately 3,000 feet of the property around the riparian area designated as zone 9 (the southernmost section in the flood zone) and there will be some restricted use. Boundary markers made out of cedar, recycled materials, stone and native plantings may be used along Mt. Sharp Road.
JWNA consists of nine distinct planning “zones” – from the mostly wild, upland area (about 35 acres) in zone one all the way down to Jacob’s Well and the riparian area around Cypress Creek. Each one of these zones is being planned for restoration according to its unique characteristics. Zone one is expected to be left largely undisturbed with some trails, a possible bird tower and a wildlife viewing areas to accommodate bird watchers, wildlife researchers and visitors walking from local neighborhoods.
The main entrance will be off of Mt. Sharp Road and will lead to a bluff in Zone 2 with wide unobstructed views and an overlook. RVI envisions a partially enclosed “Stewardship Center” here, nestled into the hillside. It will be energy efficient and facing southwest for natural ventilation in the summer. The indoor and outdoor environments in this structure will be knitted together and the estimated size of the structure is 3,400 square feet which includes a covered terrace. There will also be two adjacent indoor restrooms, a storage area, office space, kitchen & catering facilities and possible retail space.
The “Stewardship Center” will act as the central hub for visitors to the natural area and serve as a center for community education and watershed research. The structure will be surrounded by educational kiosks with natural outdoor seating, beehives, bat houses and “play trails,” an innovative concept that encourages kids to explore along a trail. The “Playscapes” themselves will be nature-oriented with organic rather than man made materials.
Winton Porterfield, of Wimberley Springs Partners, expressed his desire for exhibits to illustrate the unique historical and cultural history of the area and think creatively about how to present the water education exhibits. David Baker, executive director for the Wimberley Valley Watershed Association, also suggested an archeological assessment of the Native American artifacts on the property in order to incorporate additional information of historical significance; the other stakeholders present agreed with the suggestions made.
Hays County legal counsel Mark Kennedy said the property will be handicap accessible, according to ADA standards. Currently, the county is leaning towards a sun-up to sun-down policy for the preserve. The southern entrance at Camp Jacob will remain open during the day to accommodate local residents and will have a few parking spaces and bike racks. Biking to the preserve is encouraged; in order to preserve the trails and wildlife, biking will not be permitted within the natural area. Mayor of Woodcreek, Eric Eskeland, mentioned the need for more planning to connect trails for the residents from Woodcreek who enjoy walking to the well. Stating a vision for one day connecting the Winters Parkway Trail from Blue Hole to Jacob's Well.
Hays County has established a web site to track the progress of the Jacob's Well Natural Area master plan. http://www.co.hays.tx.us
Posted: February 18, 2012 16:12 Go to blog
What do you envision the Jacob’s Well Natural Area to be? Let Master Planners RVI hear from you!February 8, 2012 14:28
RVI, a landscape planning consultant firm located in Austin, is in the process of creating a Master Plan for the Jacob’s Well Natural Area. Their task is to interpret the community’s vision for the site. RVI recently held a forum at the Wimberley Community Center that welcomed public input on the development and management of the property. With the addition of interviews of stakeholders such as county and WVWA staff, JWNA volunteers, and a committee of local representatives, RVI has created the first phase of the plan. You can follow the progress on the Hays County’s website: http://www.co.hays.tx.us/jacobswell...
RVI, a landscape planning consultant firm located in Austin, is in the process of creating a Master Plan for the Jacob’s Well Natural Area. Their task is to interpret the community’s vision for the site. RVI recently held a forum at the Wimberley Community Center that welcomed public input on the development and management of the property. With the addition of interviews of stakeholders such as county and WVWA staff, JWNA volunteers, and a committee of local representatives, RVI has created the first phase of the plan. You can follow the progress on the Hays County’s website: http://www.co.hays.tx.us/jacobswell.
This ongoing and open dialogue has generated some considerations that WVWA would like to share. After years on the ground, WVWA can offer parameters that fully represent the best of our ongoing work and research. But no matter what your ideas or concerns may be, please take the time to add to this vision.
WVWA feels that in light of the current water climate and growing population pressures, the decision to restore the 100 acres back to a perfectly balanced ecosystem is an idea whose time has come. Jacob’s Well has long been a site of great beauty and wonder, and a place held sacred by past cultures that have lived on its banks. Today it still is at the heart of the Wimberley Valley.
We would like to see the site identified and developed as a natural heritage site, maintained as a nature preserve and not a recreational park, and function as a place where both children and adults can connect with nature. Although we all enjoy camping, dogs, sports, and bicycling, these are high-impact activities and are not recommended as they will overrun the site’s sensitive resources. The conservation easements currently in place will help insure that land and water conservation comes first.
The focus of visitors to Jacob’s Well should be one of immersion in nature, which inevitably leads to joy, and is naturally followed by a sense of stewardship. Access by trails would invite discovery in an unstructured style that sparks the imagination. The Children in Nature movement has pointed out that American children are averaging 7 minutes a day in time out-of-doors, which has led to a host of stressed behaviors. The same is true for adults - time spent in nature serves to alleviate a deeply seated sense of disconnection we feel with the natural order of things.
WVWA envisions the only new structure to be a stewardship center, to share the extensive knowledge we have gained from living so close to the aquifer. Built with the green building practices of wind and solar energy, rainwater harvesting, water re-use and waterless toilets, the building would not only sit lightly on the land, but serve as a model for sustainable design. There would be no additional structures, not even kiosks, but in fact further “undeveloping” of the site by lessening the current amount of impervious cover and removing any buildings in the flood plain.
The site has been severely impacted by development and over grazing in the past and is need of restoration. Priority should be placed on enhancing plant diversity, aquifer recharge, protecting water quality, and creating wildlife habitat.
Facilities and funding should be provided for the valuable scientific research that happens at the site. It is this research that has enabled us to make these specific recommendations. Partnerships with local organizations, volunteer groups, schools, and universities should also be supported, as with developing a formal relationship with Texas State’s River Systems Institute. All partners should be actively involved in developing a groundwater management program that protects not only the flow of Jacob’s Well, but all Wimberley Valley aquifer springs, even in times of drought.
Please write, call, or email your comments to:
RVI Planning Team
712 Congress Ave, Suite 300
Austin, Texas 78701
512-480-0032
Barbara Austin
baustin@rviplanning.com
Chris Crawford
ccrawford@rviplanning.com
Posted: February 8, 2012 14:28 Go to blog
TWDB to Decide “Desired” Future of Trinity Aquifer on March 1stFebruary 1, 2012 16:53
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) was scheduled to review two challenges and decide on the reasonableness of the Desired Future Conditions for the Trinity Aquifer in the Texas Hill Country at their February 1st board meeting. At the request of WVWA, the Board President granted a continuance yesterday and moved the agenda item to the March 1st scheduled board meeting. TWDB is expected to rule on a protest to the Desired Future Condition (DFC) goal adopted by GMA 9, a goal that some argue is not sustainable...
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) was scheduled to review two challenges and decide on the reasonableness of the Desired Future Conditions for the Trinity Aquifer in the Texas Hill Country at their February 1st board meeting. At the request of WVWA, the Board President granted a continuance yesterday and moved the agenda item to the March 1st scheduled board meeting. TWDB is expected to rule on a protest to the Desired Future Condition (DFC) goal adopted by GMA 9, a goal that some argue is not sustainable. The proposed DFC allows for an average of 30 feet of additional groundwater decline over the next 50 years (an average of 19 feet across Hays County).
Due to the fact that it takes only a 2 to 3 feet drop in aquifer level above Jacob’s Well to cause the spring to stop flowing, WVWA appealed the ruling to the TWDB on the grounds that this level of decline is unreasonable and unsustainable as it fails to protect the flow of water to individual well owners and to the springs and creeks that are the economic engines of the Hill Country. Read more about WVWA’s appeal.
The impacts of this action threaten not only public treasures like Jacob's Well, but the productivity of private and public drinking water supply wells and natural springs across the region. The WVWA is not alone. Public comments recorded at numerous meetings throughout the Hill Country over the past five years showed the public's overwhelming desire to set Desired Future Conditions with a goal of zero drawdown on the aquifers. One hundred and sixty interested parties filed 777 pages of notarized statements with the TWDB in support of WVWA’s appeal.
In addition to the appeal by WVWA, TWDB will also consider and rule on an appeal of the DFC petition that was filed by the developers of the Flying “L” Guest Ranch, Ltd in Bandera County. In their appeal, Flying L appeal argued that the proposed DFC allowed for too little drawdown and would make it difficult for groundwater districts to guarantee existing permitted uses.
TWDB staff released a 65 page briefing memo on January 25 that outlines the two petitions and recommends that the proposed 30 ft DFC is somehow reasonable, even though it will allow a large increase in aquifer pumping and most likely cause Jacob’s Well spring and other springs across the region to stop flowing for longer periods of time. The full text of the memo can be read here. The staff memo bases its argument of “reasonableness” mainly on the fact that the process that GMA9 followed to adopt the DFC was administratively complete and met all of the legal requirements in terms of what was considered in its adoption. The TWDB report notes that “the statutes do not contain a requirement that the DFC ensure the aquifer is managed sustainably.”
What the memo does not adequately address, however, is the massive amount of technical information and scientific evidence presented by WVWA that demonstrates the many negative impacts that such a large drawdown in the aquifer will have on the Wimberley Valley, its economic base, and its natural resources.
Such negative impacts include domestic (privately owned) wells going dry more frequently under even short periods of dry weather, not just with severe droughts; Jacob’s Well and Cypress Creek flowing only intermittently, except in wet years; a reduction in income for businesses throughout the Hill Country that rely on a flowing river to draw people to their doors; and a reduction of sub surface flows from the Trinity to the Edwards Aquifer, recharge that sustains Barton Springs during times of severe drought.
In their recommendation, TWDB staff state that ”the reasonableness of the DFC with respect to socio-economic impacts, environmental impacts, and the exercise of personal property rights will depend on the way in which the Districts incorporate the MAG into their management plans and rules and make related decisions regarding permit authorizations and administration.” The report does not seem to consider the significant impact that the DFC and the associated large increase in pumping will have in an area that is already experiencing groundwater decline under current pumping.
Local Groundwater Conservation Districts are the State’s preferred method of groundwater management, but it is important that state and regional planners provide much-needed leadership for balancing the very complex issues involved in groundwater management. The WVWA encourages the TWDB members to consider advising GMA 9 to revise the DFC in Hays County to address the needs of private landowners and businesses reliant on flowing springs and rivers. The current board of the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District (HTGCD) has not proven itself trustworthy in the task of balancing these competing needs. They have continued to issue new permits in the absence of an approved MAG (including a new golf course next to Jacob’s Well), and voted for an aquifer drawdown that will ultimately compromise the economic security of the Wimberley Valley and its future water supplies.
Regardless of how the TWDB Board rules on March 1st, their decision is not binding on the GMA 9 or the local Districts. This makes it imperative that residents and landowners hold their District accountable for managing our groundwater in a sustainable way and oppose aquifer mining. Board members of local GCD’s must understand the limitations of the Groundwater Availability Model and take responsibility for impacts of their decisions on the economy, environment, and private property rights of their constituents.
TWDB is scheduled to hear arguments and rule on the DFC appeals at their board meeting March 1st at 10:30am.
WVWA encourages residents and concerned citizens across the region to attend the meeting on March 1st to show support for adoption of a new DFC that will sustainably manage the Wimberley Valley’s precious groundwater resources, one that protects local drinking water supplies, Jacob’s Well, Blue Hole and the future of Cypress Creek. If you cannot attend the meeting, please email the TWDB at boardmembers@twdb.texas.gov with your comments.
The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 1st, at 10:30am. Stephen F. Austin Building, 1700 N. Congress, Room 170, Austin.
Posted: February 1, 2012 16:53 Go to blog
Wimberley Residents Weigh in on Master Plan for Jacob's Well Natural AreaJanuary 23, 2012 19:05
Wimberley residents shared their ideas on how best to preserve and share with the public the Jacob’s Well Natural Area when RVI, the landscape architects hired by Hays County to plan the recently acquired 80+ acres around the well, held an open house at the Wimberley Community Center last Thursday.
It was the first time the public got an overview of how the nature preserve might look and heard some of the proposals about what kinds of activities and exhibits will be there...
It was the first time the public got an overview of how the nature preserve might look and heard some of the proposals about what kinds of activities and exhibits will be there...
Wimberley residents shared their ideas on how best to preserve and share with the public the Jacob’s Well Natural Area when RVI, the landscape architects hired by Hays County to plan the recently acquired 80+ acres around the well, held an open house at the Wimberley Community Center last Thursday.
It was the first time the public got an overview of how the nature preserve might look and heard some of the proposals about what kinds of activities and exhibits will be there. Just over 50 people, not including presenters Barbara Austin and Chris Lalitch of RVI and architect Nathan Quiring of the Clayton & Little architectural firm, attended the open house. Hays County Pct. 3 Commissioner Will Conley said he thought “the response was overwhelmingly positive” and that finding common ground between the wide range of groups represented in Hays County can sometimes be a challenge.
The presentation laid out the main goals of the preserve to protect the well and restore the natural area, construct wetlands and habitats for native plants and wildlife, to provide environmental education to the public and a place for the community to gather and recreate. Everyone agreed that the conservation easement required that the natural habitat of the site be protected and restored and the less invasive the “development” of the land the better. Hiking trails will allow water to seep back into the aquifer and parking will be pervious and any impervious cover will be severely limited and provide for rainwater catchment on all buildings. .
RVI broke the property up into nine zones and proposed possible ways to best utilize them. Beginning from the highest elevation to the furthest north they are:
Zone 1 – primarily wild undisturbed uplands, thought to be a good place for bird watching and hiking
Zone 2 – the most easily accessible entry point off Mt. Sharp Road, the site for the Stewardship Center Zone 3 – prairie rehabilitation, nature trail with educational kiosks/ rest stops and possible rain gardens
Zone 4 – continuation of the trail with more rest stops, recycled furnishings, forest & land management
Zone 5 – environmental restoration and research, possible labs, study or exhibition areas
Zone 6 – more restoration and research, overlook, improve parking & capture/filter run-off
Zone 7 – informational signage for Jacob’s Well, bank restoration, deck, classroom and overlook
Zone 8 – riparian zone alongside Cypress Creek will be fenced to limit access, nature trail with rest stops
Zone 9 – day use “recharge zone,” large open space for picnics, bike racks and improved parking area
Although there may be some additional structures built on the property, Quiring said they will be designed using as much “green” technology as possible and leave a “net zero” carbon footprint. Some of the proposed buildings include a stewardship center to house the main visitor center, a multi-use meeting area with a catering kitchen, restrooms and a covered picnic area.
Lalitch said RVI is not laying out plans for structures at this stage. “We are in the program stage of the planning.” They’re deciding what goes where based on input gathered from various sources, including the public. RVI conducted a site analysis during the months of October and November in 2011 and presented their preliminary findings to the stakeholder’s group just before Thanksgiving to plan and oversee the project. What they learned in that phase provided the basis for the Thursday’s presentation.
Conley said they already have $400 thousand dedicated to the project and Hays County Commissioner’s Court voted to approve surveying the property in the near future. Somewhere down the line, he said he’d like to have a satellite of the River System’s Institute on the property. That will most likely find a home in the area currently known as “Camp Jacob.”
With the public’s input, RVI is now entering the preliminary master planning phase which will continue for a few more weeks. They anticipate completing and refining the final plan by the end of March. Interested residents who may have missed the open house are invited to contact RVI, Clayton & Little or Commissioner Conley to submit their ideas and comments on the future plans at the Jacob’s Well Natural Area.
Contact Information:
RVI Planning + Landscape Architecture
712 Congress Avenue
Suite 300
Austin, Texas 78701
(512) 480-0032
Clayton & Little
1001 East 8th Street
Austin, Texas 78702
(512) 477-1727
Posted: January 23, 2012 19:05 Go to blog
February 2012 NewsletterJanuary 23, 2012 16:15
Get the latest news in the February 2012 Newsletter with a report on the relationship between the Blanco River and Barton Springs during drought period....
Hays County Seeks Public Input
Blanco River Recharges Barton Springs During Drought
Posted: January 23, 2012 16:15 Go to blog
January 2012 NewsletterDecember 19, 2011 15:08
Get the latest news in the January 2012 Newsletter with a report on the Public Hearing on the proposed aquifer decline and the Volunteer Recognition event....
Public Hearing on Proposed 30-foot Aquifer Decline
Volunteer Recognition Event
Posted: December 19, 2011 15:08 Go to blog
December 2011 NewsletterDecember 9, 2011 13:28
Get the latest news in the December 2011 Newsletter with articles covering the Public Hearing on the proposed aquifer decline and the project underway to develop a master plan for JWNA....
Public Hearing on Proposed 30-foot Aquifer Decline
New Master Plan
Posted: December 9, 2011 13:28 Go to blog
WVWA DFC HearingNovember 1, 2011 11:41
The WVWA encourages residents and concerned citizens to attend the Nov. 16 hearing in a show of support for adoption of a sustainable DFC that will protect local drinking water supplies, Jacob’s Well, Blue Hole and the future of Cypress Creek.
...
The WVWA encourages residents and concerned citizens to attend the Nov. 16 hearing in a show of support for adoption of a sustainable DFC that will protect local drinking water supplies, Jacob’s Well, Blue Hole and the future of Cypress Creek.
...
The WVWA encourages residents and concerned citizens to attend the Nov. 16 hearing in a show of support for adoption of a sustainable DFC that will protect local drinking water supplies, Jacob’s Well, Blue Hole and the future of Cypress Creek.
The WVWA DFC Hearing will take place at 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Nov. 16 in Johnson Hall at the Wimberley Community Center. WVWA encourages residents and concerned citizens to attend the hearing in a show of support for adoption of a sustainable DFC that will protect local drinking water supplies, Jacob’s Well, Blue Hole and the future of Cypress Creek.
Support the appeal by sending a Letter of Concern to Texas Water Development Board.
Citizens for Responsible Development (CARD) Resolution Supporting the Appeal by the Wimberley Valley Watershed Association of the GMA 9 DFC.
Public Comment Affidavit
Wimberley Valley Watershed Association Nov. 16 Desired Future Conditions (DFC) Hearing
Press Release
Earlier this year, the Wimberley Valley Watershed Association filed a petition appealing the 30 foot decline of water levels in the Trinity Aquifers in the Texas Hill Country set by the Groundwater Management Area 9 (GMA 9) in July 2010. This decline was approved in conjunction with the "Desired Future Condition", or DFC process that is designed to project groundwater pumping through 2060.
WVWA is appealing on the grounds that this level of decline is unreasonable and unsustainable and is calling for the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District (HTGCD) and GMA 9 to revise the drawdown amount as it will deplete the aquifer. There is widespread evidence the 30 foot DFC will negatively impact private property rights of well owners, landowners, aquatic habitats and businesses dependent on the spring flow, which feeds the creeks and rivers in the Hill Country.
Background:
In Texas, the "rule of capture" generally gives landowners the right to capture and use the groundwater beneath their land as they see fit and the only thing limiting their use of that water is the size of the pump. The problem is groundwater is also a shared resource and when one individual, business or water supplier pumps out too much; it takes away what is left for those around them – so much so that wells and springs that have produced for decades are going dry.In general terms, a DFC is a statement of what an aquifer should look like in the future. It may represent water levels, amounts of water in storage, discharge to springs or base flow to rivers and streams. The Texas Water Development Board oversees the DFC process.
Present:
The purpose of the WVWA appeal is to request action from the TWDB, GMA-9 and the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District to determine a realistic DFC for groundwater sustainability in the areas in the Texas Hill Country that recharge and support base flows to Jacob's Well and Cypress Creek.The filed appeal states that the proposed DFC of a 30 foot average drawdown would allow even more pumping in Hays County than the TWDB-approved management plans' available groundwater. Recent experience shows that current pumping by itself may be unsustainable, as evidenced by the unavailability of water in wells and springs during the current drought and the drought of 2008-09.
During the height of the 2008-9 drought in Central Texas, daily mean flow at Jacob's Well essentially stopped for 167 days. The 2009 cessation of flow occurred with only an approximate 2-3 foot drawdown; much less than the average drawdown allowed in the proposed DFC.
For the last 11 months, central Texas has been in one of the driest periods in recorded history. Jacob's Well and Cypress Creek, which both weathered the Drought of Record in the 1950s (a drought lasting approximately 10 years) have stopped flowing. The current lack of spring flow has resulted in the braids of Cypress Creek drying up and parts of the Blanco River are dry as well.
The economic impact of depleting the groundwater in the Wimberley Valley (where groundwater is the only source of potable water) has yet to be determined, but geological data on the base flow in springs and rivers documents the critical nature of maintaining habitat, ensuring good water quality, sustaining property values and sustaining businesses involved in recreation and tourism.
The depletion of springs and rivers also jeopardizes the substantial public and private investment in river parks and nature preserves such as Jacob's Well Natural Area and Blue Hole Regional Park. Investments in those two parks alone total more than 13 million dollars to date.
Jack Hollon, president of WVWA said, "In summary, a 30 foot average drawdown of the Trinity Aquifer in GMA 9 would lead to a major degradation of economic, ecological and quality of life conditions across the Texas Hill Country."
The WVWA DFC Hearing will take place at 10 a.m., Nov. 16 in Johnson Hall at the Wimberley Community Center. It is expected to last until 3 p.m. There will be numerous expert testimonies but the TWDB will not hear public opinion that day. Instead, for 10 days following the hearing, the TWDB will accept the written public opinions of concerned citizens.
WVWA encourages residents and concerned citizens to attend the hearing in a show of support for adoption of a sustainable DFC that will protect local drinking water supplies, Jacob's Well, Blue Hole and the future of Cypress Creek. After the hearing, public opinion letters should be mailed to:
Joe P. Reynolds, Esq.
TWDB
1700 North Congress Avenue
P.O. Box 13231
Austin, Texas 78711-3231
Phone: (512) 936-2414
Fax: (512) 475-2053
Email: mailto:Joe.Reynolds@twdb.state.tx.us?Subject=DFC%20Hearing
You can read the Executive Summary of the petition appealing the DFC below. Or download as a PDF here.
Read the full petition and supporting affidavits here.
Executive Summary
Desired Future Condition Being Appealed: Wimberley Valley Watershed Association ("WVWA" or "Petitioner") files this petition to appeal the desired future condition (DFC) adopted by GMA 9 on July 26, 2010 (Resolution No. 072610-01) of "an average drawdown of approximately 30 feet through 2060," as it applies to the Trinity Aquifer within the boundaries of the Hays-Trinity Groundwater Conservation District (HTGCD).Appeal:The 30 ft. average drawdown for the Trinity Aquifer, as adopted by GMA 9 on July 26, 2010, and as it applies to the Trinity Aquifer in the HTGCD, is unreasonable and will cause excessive economic and ecological impacts to private well owners, landowners, aquatic habitats and businesses dependent on spring and base flows to streams, and to downstream users in the Edwards Aquifer region. The proposed DFC does not take into account the desired future condition of the Trinity Aquifers during drought periods, when impacts on water resources are most acute.
If you aim at 30ft drawdown on average, you could see much higher drawdowns in many areas during drought years. A lot of misunderstanding exists about the implications of implementing a 30ft average decline across the GMA9 area. Under the proposed policy, the 30 feet drawdown is not the maximum that you might see; the 30' DFC is a regional and multi-year average and actual drawdowns in pumping centers (such as around cities) will likely see much more extreme declines during droughts. Areas in northern Hays Country experienced actual drawdowns of over 175 feet in the drought of 2008-2009.
It is highly likely that the adopted DFC, allowing for 19 additional feet of average decline across Western Hays Country, will result in many dry wells and significant periods of zero spring flow from Jacob's Well and other springs that supply base flows to Cypress Creek, the Blanco River, and Onion Creek. The proposed DFC would allow more pumping in Hays County than the TWDB-approved District Management Plan's available groundwater. Recent experience shows that current pumping may itself be unsustainable, as evidenced by the unavailability of water in wells and springs during the 2008-2009 drought. In 2009, 42 existing and operating groundwater wells in the HTGCD were reported dry. This required residents to purchase and haul water and/or lower pumps due to declining water levels, all at high cost. Some residents were forced to spend up to $15,000 to drill a new deep well. The Blanco River, Onion Creek, Jacob's Well, and many other springs and streams in the Hill Country stopped flowing. This was during a period of significantly less pumping than would be allowed in the adopted DFC.
Additionally, the proposed DFC will have unreasonable ecological and economic consequences, by reducing base flows to springs and streams that sustain aquatic habitats and recreational waters. Jacob's Well is a prime example of how current pumping is already stressing the limits of water availability in the Trinity Aquifer. During the height of the 2008-2009 drought, daily mean flow at Jacob's Well essentially stopped for 167 days (6 months). Before 2000, the spring had not stopped flowing in recorded history. The 2009 cessation of flow occurred with only an approximate 2 to 3 ft of drawdown immediately up gradient of the spring, much less than the 19 ft average drawdown allowed in the proposed DFC. Base flow in springs and rivers is critical for maintaining habitat, for ensuring good water quality, for sustaining property values along streams and for sustaining businesses involved in recreation and tourism. A study of property values along the perennial Cypress Creek near Wimberley predicted a 25 to 45% drop in market values if creek flow is substantially reduced, a loss of up to $15 million dollars to land owners and a corresponding loss in property tax revenues. The drying up of springs and rivers also jeopardizes the substantial public and private investment in riverine parks and nature preserves such as Blue Hole Regional Park and Jacob's Well Natural Area. To date, public and private investments in these two parks alone total over $13 million.
Furthermore, the proposed DFC will have unreasonable impacts on downstream users in the Edwards Aquifer region, by reducing lateral, subsurface inflows from the Trinity Aquifer that substantially impact critical spring flows during droughts. Recent studies have shown that the Blanco River contributes water to Barton Springs during drought conditions, when flow is most critical to maintain habitat and water quality. Adoption of the proposed DFC would shift the economic burden of water conservation from Trinity Aquifer users to Edwards Aquifer users. The modeling used to support the proposed DFC has several limitations in how the assumptions and results will be applied to the real world. First, the coarse resolution of the model means that it is impossible for any person or agency to predict with confidence the actual number, location, and longevity of dried up wells and springs due to the proposed increases in pumping. Moreover, the adopted DFC does not properly account for the distinctive character of the Upper, Middle and Lower Trinity Aquifers. Each of these aquifers functions in a manner that is sufficiently independent to justify separate DFC criteria for each aquifer. The limitations of the model and the averaging that goes into reporting the results make the proposed DFC inconsistent with sound water-resource management, given the sheer number of environmental and economic unknowns it creates.
In short, the adopted DFC fails to ensure conservation and protection of groundwater in the Trinity Aquifer within Hays County. The conservation and protection of groundwater to balance multiple and competing uses is a primary mission of groundwater conservation districts and regional water planning groups. HTGCD and Regions K and L Water Planning Groups have formally adopted management goals that work to ensure the long-term sustainability of aquifers, and thus the prevention of aquifer mining. The proposed DFC directly contradicts the stated goals of these groups, making it difficult or impossible to implement the kind of adaptive management strategy that has the greatest chance of success.
Posted: November 1, 2011 11:41 Go to blog
Landowner Watershed WorkshopOctober 1, 2011 11:34
The Nature Conservancy is hosting a Landowner Watershed Workshop on the riparian zones of the Pedernales and Blanco Rivers. Details available here....
The Nature Conservancy is hosting a Landowner Watershed Workshop on the riparian zones of the Pedernales and Blanco Rivers. Details available here.
Posted: October 1, 2011 11:34 Go to blog
Jacob’s Well Fall FestivalSeptember 1, 2011 11:02
The Jacob’s Well Fall Festival is a celebration of the historic Trinity Aquifer spring known as Jacob's Well. Hays County is now the owner of 81 acres of the Jacob's Well Natural Area (JWNA) and responsible for the long-term stewardship of the site. The Wimberley Valley Watershed Association has done an outstanding job over the past decade of assembling the preserve lands and continues to work on programs to keep the water in Cypress Creek clean, clear and flowing. The WVWA manages the protected lands and the environmental education, scientific research, and community outreach programs offered at JWNA...
The Jacob’s Well Fall Festival is a celebration of the historic Trinity Aquifer spring known as Jacob's Well. Hays County is now the owner of 81 acres of the Jacob's Well Natural Area (JWNA) and responsible for the long-term stewardship of the site. The Wimberley Valley Watershed Association has done an outstanding job over the past decade of assembling the preserve lands and continues to work on programs to keep the water in Cypress Creek clean, clear and flowing. The WVWA manages the protected lands and the environmental education, scientific research, and community outreach programs offered at JWNA. The Nature Conservancy, WVWA, and the River Systems Institute will work with Hays County and local stakeholders to create a site master plan to sustain this special place for the people of Hays County and future generations. We are excited about the event and hope that it will inspire the community to be good stewards of this vital part of our natural heritage.
Festival Overview
The Jacob’s Well Fall Festival is a celebration of the historic Trinity Aquifer spring known as Jacob's Well. Hays County is now the owner of 81 acres of the Jacob's Well Natural Area (JWNA) and responsible for the long-term stewardship of the site. The Wimberley Valley Watershed Association has done an outstanding job over the past decade of assembling the preserve lands and continues to work on programs to keep the water in Cypress Creek clean, clear and flowing. The WVWA manages the protected lands and the environmental education, scientific research, and community outreach programs offered at JWNA. The Nature Conservancy, WVWA, and the River Systems Institute will work with Hays County and local stakeholders to create a site master plan to sustain this special place for the people of Hays County and future generations. We are excited about the event and hope that it will inspire the community to be good stewards of this vital part of our natural heritage.
For the first few hours, the volunteers of Jacob’s Well will be presenting the best of what they do – educating the public about water conservation with games and activities. Visitors will hear Mother Nature telling stories under the trees, meet scuba divers and rescued bats from Bat Conservation International, and learn what their water footprint is. A water footprint is a measure of how much water an individual consumes. Gardeners and ranchers will have the opportunity to learn the high value of native plants and grasses. There will be a raffle of low-flow water saving devices, and prizes for the Nature Scavenger Hunt and the best water costumes. Water costumes are encouraged, which should offer some lively entertainment.
At 5:30pm, there will be a welcoming ceremony with addresses by representatives from the Hays County Commissioner’s Court, the Wimberley Valley Watershed Association, The Nature Conservancy, and the River Systems Institute. This will be followed by a Rain Dance, performed by students from our namesake school, Jacob’s Well Elementary, and a prayer of thanks to the Springs for its blessing on human-kind by Dr. Mario Garza. Dr Garza is the chair of the Board of Directors of the Indigenous Cultures Institute out of San Marcos. The evening will end with 2 hours of music from the Hal Ketchum and Mike Bond and The Sun-Dried Texans. Ketchum, who now lives in Wimberley, has distinguished himself as a hitmaker with 15 Top 10 singles and five million albums sold, known for his vibrant talent and natural soulfulness.
Parking will be at the VFW site on Jacob’s Well Road, with a shuttle running to the drive on the new property. Visitors can buy tickets at the admissions table, and if they chose to become a member at $35, entrance is free. Bike riders are also free. Tickets will be sold in advance at sites around Wimberley.
The Boy Scout Troop 127 of the Sacred Springs District will provide both sausage and vegetarian wraps.
For the first few hours, the volunteers of Jacob’s Well will be presenting the best of what they do – educating the public about water conservation with games and activities. Visitors will hear Mother Nature telling stories under the trees, meet scuba divers and rescued bats from Bat Conservation International, and learn what their water footprint is. A water footprint is a measure of how much water an individual consumes. Gardeners and ranchers will have the opportunity to learn the high value of native plants and grasses. There will be a raffle of low-flow water saving devices, and prizes for the Nature Scavenger Hunt and the best water costumes. Water costumes are encouraged, which should offer some lively entertainment.
At 5:30pm, there will be a welcoming ceremony with addresses by representatives from the Hays County Commissioner’s Court, the Wimberley Valley Watershed Association, The Nature Conservancy, and the River Systems Institute. This will be followed by a Rain Dance, performed by students from our namesake school, Jacob’s Well Elementary, and a prayer of thanks to the Springs for its blessing on human-kind by Dr. Mario Garza. Dr Garza is the chair of the Board of Directors of the Indigenous Cultures Institute out of San Marcos. The evening will end with 2 hours of music from the Hal Ketchum and Mike Bond and The Sun-Dried Texans. Ketchum, who now lives in Wimberley, has distinguished himself as a hitmaker with 15 Top 10 singles and five million albums sold, known for his vibrant talent and natural soulfulness.
Parking will be at the VFW site on Jacob’s Well Road, with a shuttle running to the drive on the new property. Visitors can buy tickets at the admissions table, and if they chose to become a member at $35, entrance is free. Bike riders are also free. Tickets will be sold in advance at sites around Wimberley.
The Boy Scout Troop 127 of the Sacred Springs District will provide both sausage and vegetarian wraps.
Details - When, Where and What
Festival Activities
Posted: September 1, 2011 11:02 Go to blog
Texas Parks and Wildlife Feature on Jacob's WellAugust 1, 2011 10:59
At first sight, Jacob’s Well appears to be a deep, dark hole at the bottom of a pool of creek water — nothing more. Pay attention to how the hole, about 15 feet in diameter, has perpetually gushed pure artesian water out of the ground since before humans first wandered around this part of what is now known as the Hill Country, and it takes on deeper meaning. Listen to stories about it, and it becomes something much more than just a special natural place. Read the full article here....
At first sight, Jacob’s Well appears to be a deep, dark hole at the bottom of a pool of creek water — nothing more. Pay attention to how the hole, about 15 feet in diameter, has perpetually gushed pure artesian water out of the ground since before humans first wandered around this part of what is now known as the Hill Country, and it takes on deeper meaning. Listen to stories about it, and it becomes something much more than just a special natural place. Read the full article here.
Posted: August 1, 2011 10:59 Go to blog
David Baker Receives AwardAugust 1, 2011 10:55
David Baker has been recognized for his leadership in conservation of the well-loved natural landmark known as Jacob’s Well by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. He is the state winner in the Individual category for their 2011 Texas Environmental Excellence Awards.
The Texas Environmental Excellence Awards celebrate the bold efforts of citizens, communities, businesses, and organizations to preserve and protect the Texas environment. Read More
...
The Texas Environmental Excellence Awards celebrate the bold efforts of citizens, communities, businesses, and organizations to preserve and protect the Texas environment. Read More
...
David Baker has been recognized for his leadership in conservation of the well-loved natural landmark known as Jacob’s Well by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. He is the state winner in the Individual category for their 2011 Texas Environmental Excellence Awards.
The Texas Environmental Excellence Awards celebrate the bold efforts of citizens, communities, businesses, and organizations to preserve and protect the Texas environment. Read More
The Texas Environmental Excellence Awards celebrate the bold efforts of citizens, communities, businesses, and organizations to preserve and protect the Texas environment. Read More
Posted: August 1, 2011 10:55 Go to blog
