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113-532: The river begins at San Marcos Springs, rising from the Edwards Aquifer into Spring Lake . Access to much of the headwaters is restricted because of the delicate ecosystem and numerous rare species. The upper river flows through San Marcos, and is a popular recreational area. It is joined by the Blanco River after four miles, and passes through Luling and Palmetto State Park . Near Gonzales , it flows into

226-460: A better functioning ecosystem with more biomass. Pearce and Moran outlined the following method for classifying environmental uses: Habitat loss and destruction can occur both naturally and through anthropogenic causes. Events leading to natural habitat loss include climate change, catastrophic events such as volcanic explosions and through the interactions of invasive and non-invasive species. Natural climate change, events have previously been

339-499: A few geographical exceptions. Groundwater conservation plans are required for permit holders who withdraw more than 3 acre-feet per year (2,700 U.S. gal/d; 10 kL/d), unless irrigators can prove more than 60 percent efficiency in their water use. Conservation plans require the use of Best Management Practices, as determined by the Edwards Aquifer Authority. Habitat conservation Habitat conservation

452-453: A few miles west of Interstate 35 . On certain stretches of highway in Austin and San Antonio, signs indicate that the driver is entering or leaving the recharge zone, as the zone's easternmost edge sits beneath heavy urban and suburban development. Its drainage area, where water is transported near the surface to the recharge zone, extends about 40 miles (60 km) north of the recharge zone at

565-457: A global scale. The commitments and actions of small volunteer associations in villages and towns, that endeavour to emulate the work of well known conservation organisations , are paramount in ensuring generations that follow understand the importance of natural resource conservation. Natural habitats can provide Ecosystem services to humans, which are "any positive benefit that wildlife or ecosystems provide to people." The natural environment

678-463: A growing population and flourishes in the San Marcos River. The San Marcos gambusia is characterized by prominent dark stripes along its body. Its population is unknown, as no samples have been collected since 1983, and is even considered to be extinct. Both fish require clear, clean, continually flowing water with a stable temperature. An endangered plant species specific to the San Marcos River

791-787: A plan and embedding goals within that plan, and monitoring and evaluating species. Considerations such as the species type, environment, and context are aspects of planning a habitat restoration project. Efforts to restore habitats that have been altered by anthropogenic activities has become a global endeavor, and is used to counteract the effects of habitat destruction by humans. Miller and Hobbs state three constraints on restoration: "ecological, economic, and social" constraints. Habitat restoration projects include Marine Debris Mitigation for Navassa Island National Wildlife Refuge in Haiti and Lemon Bay Preserve Habitat Restoration in Florida. Habitat conservation

904-634: A result of conserving their habitat, other species in that community are protected thus serving as an element of gap analysis. In the United States of America, a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) is often developed to conserve the environment in which a specific species inhabits. Under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) the habitat that requires protection in an HCP is referred to as the ‘critical habitat’. Multiple-species HCPs are becoming more favourable than single-species HCPs as they can potentially protect an array of species before they warrant listing under

1017-716: A revival of the Rocky Mountains . As these tectonic processes were occurring, millions of tons of sediments were deposited by alluvial and fluvial processes across Texas. The tremendous weight of these sediments resulted in faulting between the Edwards Plateau and the Gulf. The main geologic unit, known as the Edwards Limestone , is tilted downward toward the south and east and is overlain by younger limestone layers as well as several thousand feet of sediments. The Edwards Aquifer

1130-533: A short period of time (hours to days). Aquifers can be easily contaminated when pollutants enter the recharge zone. Because of this vulnerability to contamination, organizations have formed to protect the Edward's Aquifer recharge zones. Anthropogenically sourced pollutants (pesticides, VOCs, and synthetically derived compounds) can be found within the Edwards Aquifer at minuscule levels. The Edwards Aquifer supports

1243-413: A single species, and as a result habitat corridors are maintained, edge effects are reduced and a broader suite of species are protected. A range of methods and models currently exist that can be used to determine how much habitat is to be conserved in order to sustain a viable population , including Resource Selection Function and Step Selection models. Modelling tools often rely on the spatial scale of

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1356-409: A slight upward curve and approximately measures 160 miles (260 km) east to west at its furthermost boundaries and 80 miles (130 km) north to south at its widest section. The aquifer is geographically divided into four distinct regions: the total drainage area, recharge zone, artesian zone, and saline zone. These zones run east to west, with the drainage area forming the northernmost portion of

1469-742: A time, eventually altered and changed Australia's vegetation so much that many herbivorous megafauna species were left with no habitat and were driven into extinction. Once herbivorous megafauna species became extinct, carnivorous megafauna species soon followed. In the recent past, humans have been responsible for causing more extinctions within a given period of time than ever before. Deforestation , pollution , anthropogenic climate change and human settlements have all been driving forces in altering or destroying habitats. The destruction of ecosystems such as rainforests has resulted in countless habitats being destroyed. These biodiversity hotspots are home to millions of habitat specialists, which do not exist beyond

1582-439: A tiny area. Once their habitat is destroyed, they cease to exist. This destruction has a follow-on effect, as species which coexist or depend upon the existence of other species also become extinct, eventually resulting in the collapse of an entire ecosystem. These time-delayed extinctions are referred to as the extinction debt, which is the result of destroying and fragmenting habitats. As a result of anthropogenic modification of

1695-620: A transient model simulation allows for a change in water storage over time. Steady-state results suggest water leaving the aquifer occurs through springs (73.3 percent), water well pumping (25.7 percent), and to the Colorado River (0.6 percent). Inflow of water to the aquifer mostly occurs through natural recharge (93.5 percent) and water delivered through the aquifer's regional boundaries (6.5 percent). The transient simulation model also suggests discharge primarily occurs through springs, followed by water well pumping; however, changes in water storage

1808-657: A trend of accelerating erosion of the genetic resources of agricultural plants and animals. An increase in genetic similarity of agricultural plants and animals means an increased risk of food loss from major epidemics. Wild species of agricultural plants have been found to be more resistant to disease, for example the wild corn species Teosinte is resistant to 4 corn diseases that affect human grown crops. A combination of seed banking and habitat conservation has been proposed to maintain plant diversity for food security purposes. It has been shown that focusing conversation efforts on ecosystems "within multiple trophic levels" can lead to

1921-516: A wide variety of organisms, and several endemic species. The ecosystem is one of the most diverse subterranean aquatic ecosystems in the world. The widemouth blindcat ( Satan eurystomus ), a unique species of blind catfish, has been pumped out of wells almost 610 meters deep along the FW-SW boundary. However, all aquatic-dependent plants and wildlife in the Edwards Plateau area rely on the aquifer to support essential components of their habitats. Currently,

2034-616: Is Texas wild rice . Only 230 clumps still remain on the river in two different populations, with one population being grown on the Texas State University campus. The San Marcos River is considered to be one of the most biologically diverse aquatic ecosystems known in the Southwestern United States . Consequently, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department have designated

2147-716: Is a group of limestones and is considered a highly heterogenic aquifer . Three stratigraphic columns across the San Antonio area represent the Edwards Aquifer. These stratigraphic units are known as the Maverick Basin. the Devils River Trend, and the San Marcos Platform. The Maverick Basin portion of the Edwards Aquifer consists of the West Nueces, McKnight, and Salmon Peak Formations. The Devils River Trend unit of

2260-415: Is a management practice that seeks to conserve , protect and restore habitats and prevent species extinction , fragmentation or reduction in range . It is a priority of many groups that cannot be easily characterized in terms of any one ideology . For much of human history, nature was seen as a resource that could be controlled by the government and used for personal and economic gain . The idea

2373-460: Is a source for a wide range of resources that can be exploited for economic profit, for example timber is harvested from forests and clean water is obtained from natural streams. However, land development from anthropogenic economic growth often causes a decline in the ecological integrity of nearby natural habitat. For instance, this was an issue in the northern Rocky Mountains of the US. However, there

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2486-410: Is also the economic value in conserving natural habitats. Financial profit can be made from tourist revenue, for example in the tropics where species diversity is high, or in recreational sports which take place in natural environments such as hiking and mountain biking . The cost of repairing damaged ecosystems is considered to be much higher than the cost of conserving natural ecosystems. Measuring

2599-412: Is better", this does not imply that "small is bad". Shwartz argues that human induced habitat loss leaves no alternative to conserving small areas. Furthermore, he suggests many endangered species which are of high conservation value, may only be restricted to small isolated patches of habitat, and thus would be overlooked if larger areas were given a higher priority. The shift to conserving larger areas

2712-458: Is difficult, but modeling segments within an aquifer is common and provides useful information for water users throughout the aquifer. Aquifer storage is correlated with water levels recorded in the J-17 Bexar index well which serves as the sole official monitoring well in the Edwards Aquifer. The J-17 well, is located in the artisanal confined Edwards Aquifer at a location AY-68-37-203 based on

2825-432: Is generally highly porous and permeable, which makes it able to hold and move a lot of water. The limestone is broken by faults and joints. Water flows through these fractures and continues to dissolve the limestone, creating larger and larger pore spaces over time. Some units also store water in eroded fossil burrows that formed through the burrowing action of worms and crustaceans at the seafloor. The effective porosity , or

2938-495: Is heavily dependent upon the amount of monthly precipitation and water well pumping volumes. Edwards Aquifer Authority regulates withdrawal permits, transfers, and groundwater conservation plans under authority granted by the Texas legislature. Groundwater law in the state of Texas is governed by the Rule of Capture, which gives landowners the right to pump groundwater beneath their land, with

3051-497: Is provided for all volunteers. The clean-up is coordinated yearly by Tom Goynes, president of the Texas River Protection Association, and is usually the first Saturday of every March. San Marcos has many different wildlife species, including endangered ones, that reside in the San Marcos River. Species are listed threatened or endangered based on declining numbers or loss of habitat. The Texas blind salamander and

3164-495: Is somewhat justified in society by placing more value on larger vertebrate species, which naturally have larger habitat requirements. Since its formation in 1951 The Nature Conservancy has slowly developed into one of the world's largest conservation organizations. Currently operating in over 30 countries, across five continents worldwide, The Nature Conservancy aims to protect nature and its assets for future generations. The organization purchases land or accepts land donations with

3277-479: Is the largest public water utility system that serves the eight counties of the San Antonio metropolitan area. A total of 92 water wells with a daily pumpage rate of 203.7 million U.S. gallons (771 megaliters) supply water to SAWS' customers. In addition to the 2.3 million San Antonio residents are the communities of New Braunfels and San Marcos that depend on the aquifer for clean drinking water. Farming and ranching communities are other significant dependents of

3390-409: Is the month with the lowest precipitation, averaging 1 inch (25 mm), while May and September average the most, 3 inches (76 mm). The proximity of the Edwards Plateau to the Gulf of Mexico and its location in the middle latitudes creates variation in the weather patterns experienced between different years, seasons, and months. Approximately 1.5 million people obtain their drinking water from

3503-741: Is their "Pride Campaigns". For example, in the Andes in South America, Rare has incentives to develop watershed protection practices. In the Southeast Asia's "coral triangle" Rare is training fishers in local communities to better manage the areas around the coral reefs in order to lessen human impact. Such programs last for three years with the aim of changing community attitudes so as to conserve fragile habitats and provide ecological protection for years to come. WWF Netherlands, along with ARK Nature, Wild Wonders of Europe, and Conservation Capital have started

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3616-425: Is vital for protecting species and ecological processes. It is important to conserve and protect the space/ area in which that species occupies. Therefore, areas classified as ‘biodiversity hotspots’, or those in which a flagship, umbrella, or endangered species inhabits are often the habitats that are given precedence over others. Species that possess an elevated risk of extinction are given the highest priority and as

3729-467: The Barton Springs segment of the Edwards Aquifer. Between 1990 and 2015, the population increased by two thirds, at this rate, the population of the basin will be doubled in 2050. The population across the counties have approximately the same growth rate of 10% per year. However, Comal and Guadalupe have a greater growth rate of more than 25% per year. This will increase the number of people relying on

3842-498: The Blanco blind salamander , is unlisted because it is unknown whether the species is extant or extinct. Land use through the region atop the Edwards aquifer varies between rangeland, agricultural and residential/urban. The northern portion is primarily rangelands and contains most of the streams feeding the recharge zone. Until the late 1990s much of the land area that recharged the aquifer

3955-567: The Guadalupe River after a total of 75 miles (121 km). This course is the first section of the Texas Water Safari . The history and naming of the river is somewhat unclear. It may have been discovered by Alonso de León 's expedition in 1689, but some scholars believe they instead had found the Colorado or Navidad Rivers . The convention came to call the first sizable river beyond

4068-624: The Philippines and Zambia . Rare has been in operation since 1973 with current global partners in over 50 countries and offices in the United States of America, Mexico, the Philippines, China and Indonesia. Rare focuses on the human activity that threatens biodiversity and habitats such as overfishing and unsustainable agriculture. By engaging local communities and changing behaviour Rare has been able to launch campaigns to protect areas in most need of conservation. The key aspect of Rare's methodology

4181-425: The environment , 2) there was a civic duty to maintain the environment for future generations, and 3) scientific, empirically-based methods should be applied to ensure this duty was carried out. Sir James Ranald Martin was prominent in promoting this ideology, publishing numerous medico-topographical reports that demonstrated the damage from large-scale deforestation and desiccation , and lobbying extensively for

4294-515: The 1700s looked to the Edwards Aquifer as their primary source of water. Springs fed by the aquifer played a key role in deciding the location of the Alamo mission and other settlements in the Texas Hill Country. As Europeans continued to settle the region, and as Texas was acquired by the United States, the Edwards Aquifer continued to supply water for farming, ranching, and rural domestic use. In

4407-630: The 1950s Texas experienced the worst drought on record . Legislature for protection of the Edwards aquifer began in 1959 with the creation of the Edwards Underground Water District, which created and supplied maps and worked with licensing departments for development interests. Starting in the 1970s, the Texas Water Quality Board (TWQB) first recognized the aquifer and issued regulations regarding surface recharge zones. Following these first steps, regulations began to include

4520-652: The ESA, as well as being able to conserve broad ecosystem components and processes . As of January 2007, 484 HCPs were permitted across the United States, 40 of which covered 10 or more species. The San Diego Multiple Species Conservation Plan (MSCP) encompasses 85 species in a total area of 26,000-km2. Its aim is to protect the habitats of multiple species and overall biodiversity by minimizing development in sensitive areas. HCPs require clearly defined goals and objectives, efficient monitoring programs, as well as successful communication and collaboration with stakeholders and land owners in

4633-492: The Earth either received less sunlight or grew colder, causing certain fauna and flora to flourish whilst others perished. Previously known warm areas in the tropics, the most sensitive habitats on Earth, grew colder, and areas such as Australia developed radically different flora and fauna to those seen today. The big five mass extinction events have also been linked to sea level changes, indicating that large scale marine species loss

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4746-538: The Edwards Aquifer habitat conservation plan due to the wildlife that reside in or near the river. This plan was established in 2006 as an attempt between several Texas cities that use the many resources of the San Marcos River to manage aquatic habitats and water resources of the Comal and San Marcos springs. This plan helps manage control of non-native species, species stability, control of native species, sediment removal, reduction of contamination, and flow protection. Work on

4859-610: The Edwards Aquifer feeds the Comal and San Marcos Springs , provides springflow for recreational and downstream uses in the Nueces , San Antonio , Guadalupe , and San Marcos river basins, and is home to several unique and endangered species. Located in South Central Texas, the Edwards Aquifer encompasses an area of approximately 4,350 square miles (11,300 km ) that extends into parts of 11 counties. The aquifer's boundaries begin at

4972-413: The Edwards Aquifer for municipal, industrial and daily use. One of the major cities on the aquifer is San Antonio, America's 7th largest city, with a population of over 1 million. San Antonio is heavily dependent on the Edwards Aquifer for their municipal, industrial and daily use. Another major city on the aquifer is Austin. More than 50,000 people in the city of Austin (6% of Austin's population) rely on

5085-610: The Edwards Aquifer in two ways: it either falls as precipitation and percolates directly into the aquifer, or it enters as streamflow flowing through the Recharge Zone. The Recharge Zone occurs along the Balcones Fault Zone where the Edwards Plateau drops steeply and meets the Gulf Coastal Plain. Here, highly fractured limestones are exposed at the Earth's surface, which allow rain and streamflow to infiltrate directly into

5198-521: The Edwards Aquifer is composed mostly of Devils River Limestone with a thickness of approximately 550 feet (170 m). The third unit of the Edwards Aquifer, the San Marco Platform, consists of the Kainer, Person, and Georgetown Formations. The Edwards Aquifer is a highly productive karst aquifer made up of Edwards Group limestones . The Edwards limestone is variable in hydrologic character, but

5311-475: The Edwards Aquifer some water may barely move, while in other areas water may travel miles (thousands of meters) in a single day. On average, the Edwards aquifer has been modeled with a transmissivity of about 100 square feet per day (9 m /d). In the south, the Edwards Aquifer dips beneath the lowland plains of the gulf coast. This area south of the recharge zone is referred to as the Artesian Zone, where

5424-608: The Edwards Aquifer. At present, the water quality of the aquifer has satisfied drinking water standards and there have been no significant issues with pollution contamination. Regular water quality testing through the USGS NAWQA Program occurred between 1996 and 2006. On a yearly basis, ions, metals, nutrients, bacteria, pesticides, VOCs , and synthesized chemicals remained below the EPA's published Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) . Dissolved nitrates (NO3) are detected throughout

5537-764: The Galápagos’ Islands, Ecuador. It was also a WWF grant that helped with the formation of the College of African Wildlife Management in Tanzania which today focuses on teaching a wide range of protected area management skills in areas such as ecology, range management and law enforcement. The WWF has since gone on to aid in the protection of land in Spain, creating the Coto Doñana National Park in order to conserve migratory birds and The Democratic Republic of Congo , home to

5650-649: The Guadalupe, but at the time, the Comal River was often called the Guadalupe, and part of the Guadalupe often called San Ybón. In 1808, the Spanish established San Marcos de Neve, just south of present-day San Marcos. They had friendly relations with the Tonkawa Indians, but the hostile Comanche tribe forced them to leave in 1812. In 1998 and 2015, the river was affected by severe flooding. San Marcos hosts many events on

5763-488: The San Marcos River banks are the main focus of the restoration projects in a large effort to protect the Edward Aquifer. Non-native plants are uprooted and new plants are planted to take their spots. Also, six new access points were to be added to the river in attempts to allow people to get in and out of the water without harm to the river banks. The city was to spend close to $ 1 million in this restoration attempt, to makes

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5876-589: The San Marcos River. The Texas Water Safari event has run every year since 1963; it uses canoes powered only by human muscle. This event uses the San Marcos River and the Guadalupe River, spanning from Aquarena Springs in San Marcos to Seadrift, Texas , a total of 260 miles. This event is actually composed of many parts, including an information seminar, the safari race, a preliminary race, and another short race. Racers must take enough food and provisions to last them

5989-475: The San Marcos Springs and Spring Lake critical habitat, so some parts of the river are privatized. Critical habitat refers to a particular geographical area that contains all of the physical, chemical and biological attributes needed for the continued success of an endangered plant or animal and that may require special efforts for their management and protection. Much of the San Marcos River is protected by

6102-421: The San Marcos salamander are endangered species that are only found in certain section of the San Marcos River and the Edwards Aquifer. Other endangered species include the fountain darter and San Marcos gambusia , which reside in the San Marcos River. The fountain darter is characterized by the mottled brown body and dark markings that help it camouflage into the bottom of the San Marcos River banks. It has

6215-567: The Texas Comptroller and Texas Water Development Board, the Southern region's economic growth and irrigation practices have put pressure on water demands that exceed supply, and this is expected to increase with economic and demographic trends between 2010 and 2060. All of these economic practices in the region put pressure on both the quantity and quality of water in the Edwards Aquifer. A recent study showed that salinity in groundwater wells in

6328-517: The United States Geologic Survey have developed numerical groundwater flow models for the San Antonio and Barton Springs aquifer segments to determine the amount of water in the aquifer, the direction it is flowing, and its velocity. These are used to estimate the sustainable levels of groundwater withdrawal throughout the aquifer. Given ample data is needed for numerical simulations, yet often lacking, regional modeling of large aquifers

6441-629: The United States Geological Survey (USGS) have monitored annual well and spring discharges since 1934. Annual well discharge—the sum of all well discharges in a year— ranged from 219,300 to 542,500 acre-feet (271 to 669 GL) between 1955 and 2012. The average well discharge for this period was approximately 371,667 acre-feet (458 GL), equivalent to 183,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Annual spring discharge ranged from 69,800 to 802,800 acre-feet (86 to 990 GL) between 1955 and 2012. The average spring discharge for this period

6554-418: The United States, only the fauna of the Edwards Aquifer of Texas has a significant component of marine-derived species. Of the major karst regions in the United States, it is the only one with a significant marine component. Of the 64 stygobionts known from the Edwards Aquifer, 17 are marine relics. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) consider the Comal and San Marcos Springs ecosystems to have one of

6667-457: The adopted state water plan (2005, 79th Texas Legislature HB 1763). Senate Bill 2 of the 77th Texas Legislature also required the groundwater conservation districts to submit groundwater management plans to the Chair of any Regional Water Planning Group in which any part of the district is located so that they may specify any area(s) that conflict with the approved Regional Water Plan[1]. In addition to

6780-448: The amount of water that is capable of being recovered, of the Edwards aquifer is estimated to be about 5%. The aquifer ranges in thickness from about 300 to 700 feet (90 to 200 m). Unlike sand and gravel aquifers that store water in very small pore spaces, karst aquifers store water in large pockets or caverns, forming underground "rivers" and "lakes". The rate at which groundwater moves through these conduits can vary tremendously. In

6893-459: The aquifer and the saline zone forming the southernmost portion. The artesian zone intersects the saline zone to the south and west at the fresh water - saline water boundary (FW-SW). The aquifer's recharge zone, where surface water enters the aquifer, follows the Balcones Fault line, from Brackettville (roughly along U.S. Highway 90 ), through San Antonio , and north to Austin along but

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7006-471: The aquifer for daily water use. The Edwards Aquifer underlies 38 counties in South and Western Texas. West Texas is regionally defined by jobs in the oil and gas industries, but is also home to mining support, agriculture, and transportation support, among other sectors. South Texas is regionally defined by recent economic growth in shipping industries, irrigation based farming, and manufacturing. According to

7119-405: The aquifer is high, potentially affected by adjacent, natural salt deposits as well as brine seepage from nearby oil fields. Additionally, irrigated agriculture is a significant user of the Edwards Aquifer groundwater, with a variety of crops cultivated, including: " vegetables, hay sesame, soybeans, peanuts, cotton, corn, sorghum, wheat, and oats". Also, the city of San Antonio is located along

7232-476: The aquifer. The Contributing Zone, which occurs on 5,400 square miles (14,000 km ) of the Edwards Plateau (Texas Hill Country), collects precipitation and streamflow that drain to the Recharge Zone. Major streams draining the Contributing Zone include Cibolo Creek , Helotes Creek , Barton Creek , and Onion Creek . Water is unable to percolate into the aquifer in the Contributing Zone because much of

7345-537: The aquifer. Although between 25 and 55 million acre-feet (30 and 70 teraliters) of water may be present in the Edwards aquifer, only a small portion of this water is practically or legally available for use. Storage is the difference between recharge (inputs) and discharge (outputs) from the Edwards Aquifer. Annual storage can be negative during dry years with high water use and positive during wet years with relatively low water use. A long-term negative imbalance between recharge and discharge in an aquifer may lead to

7458-402: The aquifer. From the 1930s to the 1980s, withdrawals have quadrupled with over half of the current withdrawals serving municipal water purposes while the remaining goes to agricultural needs. More than 50,000 people in the city of Austin (6% of Austin's population) rely on the Barton Springs segment of the Edwards Aquifer. Five groups of stakeholders have played significant roles in shaping

7571-412: The area as an indicator of conservation value. There has been an increase in emphasis on conserving few large areas of habitat as opposed to many small areas. This idea is often referred to as the "single large or several small", SLOSS debate , and is a highly controversial area among conservation biologists and ecologists . The reasons behind the argument that "larger is better" include the reduction in

7684-462: The area. Reserve design is also important and requires a high level of planning and management in order to achieve the goals of the HCP. Successful reserve design often takes the form of a hierarchical system with the most valued habitats requiring high protection being surrounded by buffer habitats that have a lower protection status. Like HCPs, hierarchical reserve design is a method most often used to protect

7797-508: The benefit in taking a scientific approach towards habitat conservation. For the last decade the organization has been using a collaborative, scientific method known as "Conservation by Design." By collecting and analyzing scientific data The Conservancy is able to holistically approach the protection of various ecosystems. This process determines the habitats that need protection, specific elements that should be conserved as well as monitoring progress so more efficient practices can be developed for

7910-479: The cause of many widespread and large scale losses in habitat. For example, some of the mass extinction events generally referred to as the "Big Five" have coincided with large scale such as the Earth entering an ice age, or alternate warming events. Other events in the big five also have their roots in natural causes, such as volcanic explosions and meteor collisions. The Chicxulub impact is one such example, which has previously caused widespread losses in habitat as

8023-590: The city of San Antonio passed the Edwards Aquifer Protection Plan in 2000 (renewed in 2005, 2010 and 2015). The plan allows the city to purchase conservation easements for land in Bexar, Medina and Uvalde counties. The landowners retain and upon agreement the landowners cannot divide or develop the land and are paid 40-45% of market value for the easement. The plan has over 130,000 acres (525 km ) enrolled. More than 1.7 million people rely on water from

8136-409: The depletion of the available water in the aquifer. Annual storage between 1955 and 2012 estimated from data provided by a continuing program between the U.S. Geologic Survey and the Edwards Aquifer Authority ranged from −633,000 to 1,653,000 acre-feet per year (−780 to 2,000 gigaliters per year). The average storage during this period was 37,000 acre-feet per year (46 GL/a). Water mainly enters

8249-490: The distance of the race. The Texas Water Safari is billed as the "World's Toughest Boat Race" and runs annually on the second Saturday of June. Another event is the San Marcos River annual San Marcos River Clean-Up, which is an organized spring clean-up of the whole river. Volunteers can either clean debris around the river with the use of canoes, or cook food for the San Marcos River Clean-Up thank-you dinner that

8362-426: The eastern edge of the aquifer and was listed as the 7th largest city in the United States by population in 2014. Historically, the Edwards Aquifer has served as the sole source of water for the city of San Antonio. This eight-county metropolitan area is the second fastest-growing area in the state of Texas and depends on the aquifer for both recreational use and clean drinking water. San Antonio Water System (SAWS)

8475-477: The entire aquifer at concentrations that exceeded the national background levels, but that are well below the MCL (10 mg/L). These nitrates may be the result of agricultural runoff that enters the aquifer through its recharge zone. Due to the karst hydrogeology of the Edwards Aquifer, chemicals that enter the system have the potential to rapidly travel through the aquifer and contaminate down-gradient water sources in

8588-629: The environment, the extinction rate has climbed to the point where the Earth is now within a sixth mass extinction event, as commonly agreed by biologists. This has been particularly evident, for example, in the rapid decline in the number of amphibian species worldwide. Adaptive management addresses the challenge of scientific uncertainty in habitat conservation plans by systematically gathering and applying reliable information to enhance conservation strategies over time. This approach allows for adjustments in management practices based on new insights, making conservation efforts more effective. Determining

8701-476: The equivalent of 5.3 million Olympic sized swimming pools. The average annual recharge rate between 1934 and 2013 is estimated to be 699,000 acre-feet (862 GL). The median annual recharge is 556,950 acre-feet (687 GL), or only 6% of the total inputs to the system. Water from the Edwards Aquifer is discharged in two ways: it is either pumped from wells (well discharge) or it leaves as stream outflow (spring discharge). The Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) and

8814-415: The exception of drilling a lateral well extending under a neighbor's property, wasting water, or pumping with the intention of causing harm to a neighbor's well. In order to construct a well to withdraw water from the Edwards Aquifer, however, a user requires a permit that is granted by the Edwards Aquifer Authority. Permits for existing users are determined by maximum historical use, taking into consideration

8927-415: The fastest growing in the nation, all with growth rates between 25 and 50 percent. An estimated 4.6 percent of the recharge zone is now covered with impervious surfaces which decrease aquifer recharge and can negatively affect water quality. Almost all of agricultural lands and a large portion of San Antonio overlie the confined portion of the aquifer (Barker 1996). In an effort to preserve undeveloped land

9040-410: The future. The Nature Conservancy currently has a large number of diverse projects in operation. They work with countries around the world to protect forests, river systems, oceans, deserts and grasslands. In all cases the aim is to provide a sustainable environment for both the plant and animal life forms that depend on them as well as all future generations to come. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF)

9153-553: The greatest known diversities of organisms of any aquatic ecosystem in the Southwestern United States. This is due in part to the constant nature of the temperature and flow of the aquifer waters that have created unique ecosystems supporting a high degree of endemism . The Edwards Aquifer is the sole environment for the rare Barton Springs salamander ( Eurycea sosorum ), which is a federally listed endangered species. At Comal and San Marcos Springs, their openings and in

9266-617: The groundwater divide in Kinney County, East of Brackettville, and extend Eastward through the San Antonio area and then Northeast where the aquifer boundary ends at the Leon River in Bell County. The aquifer is hydrologically separated into the Austin and San Antonio regions by a groundwater divide near the town of Kyle in Hays County. The total area of the aquifer forms roughly the shape of

9379-432: The groundwater management plan, the Edwards Aquifer Authority board of directors maintains a three-year rolling strategic plan that is updated annually. The 2015-2017 strategic plan adopted on October 14, 2014 identifies six major goals: With the growth of regional cities such as San Antonio, municipal demand for water increased. The second half of the twentieth century saw a high volume of legal activity regarding rights to

9492-408: The groundwater management plans were that they address the efficient use of groundwater, methods of controlling and preventing waste of groundwater, conjunctive surface water issues, natural resource issues that affect the use and availability, of groundwater, and methods of controlling and preventing subsidence. The requirements of groundwater management plans have since undergone expansion to require

9605-461: The habitat and resources ranging from one species to several species The Society for Ecological Restoration's International Science and Policy Working Group define restoration as "the process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged, or destroyed." The scale of habitat restoration efforts can range from small to large areas of land depending on the goal of the project. Elements of habitat restoration include developing

9718-426: The inclusion of planning requirements for addressing drought conditions and conservation (2001, the 77th Texas Legislature Senate Bill 2), estimates of the managed available groundwater, the amount of groundwater used within each district, the amount of recharge from precipitation, projected surface water supply, total water demand within the district, and consideration of water management strategies that were included in

9831-477: The institutionalization of forest conservation activities in British India through the establishment of Forest Departments . The Madras Board of Revenue started local conservation efforts in 1842, headed by Alexander Gibson , a professional botanist who systematically adopted a forest conservation program based on scientific principles. This was the first case of state conservation management of forests in

9944-542: The intention of conserving its natural resources. In 1955 The Nature Conservancy purchased its first 60-acre plot near the New York/Connecticut border in the United States of America. Today the Conservancy has expanded to protect over 119 million acres of land, 5,000 river miles as well as participating in over 1,000 marine protection programs across the globe . Since its beginnings The Nature Conservancy has understood

10057-591: The latitude and longitude. Water levels have been recorded in the J-17 well since the 1910s, and is used to generalize the entire aquifer system. Changes in aquifer storage are used to estimate recharge rates. In the Edwards aquifer, groundwater flow models have been developed for the San Antonio and Barton Springs aquifer segments in the San Antonio region of Texas. Two model simulations were conducted: steady state and transient. A steady-state groundwater flow model requires magnitude and direction of flow remain constant, whereas

10170-473: The need for geologic assessments prior to development, design standards for underground storage tanks and pipes, and fees for development. In 1992, the TWQB declared the Edwards aquifer an underground river due to the presence of endangered species, but this was overturned later the same year. In 1993, Texas Senate Bill 1477 established the Edwards Aquifer Authority to manage the aquifer and to limit pumping to protect

10283-435: The negative impacts of patch edge effects, the general idea that species richness increases with habitat area and the ability of larger habitats to support greater populations with lower extinction probabilities. Noss & Cooperrider support the "larger is better" claim and developed a model that implies areas of habitat less than 1000ha are "tiny" and of low conservation value. However, Shwartz suggests that although "larger

10396-458: The overall availability of water in the aquifer. Wells that produce less than 25,000 gallons per day, wells that are solely for the purpose of watering livestock, and a few other exceptions are considered exempt wells that do not require a permit. Permits for withdrawal can be transferred to another user, provided that the new use is beneficial and occurs within the boundaries of the Authority, with

10509-490: The river a more ideal habitat, while at the same time improving recreation. Edwards Aquifer The Edwards Aquifer is one of the most prolific artesian aquifers in the world. Located on the eastern edge of the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas , it is the source of drinking water for two million people, and is the primary water supply for agriculture and industry in the aquifer's region. Additionally,

10622-686: The rivers and lakes originating from the springs, one threatened and seven endangered species have been listed by USFWS under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. The San Marcos salamander ( Eurycea nana ) is listed as threatened. The San Marcos gambusia ( Gambusia georgei ), Texas wild rice ( Zizania texana ), fountain darter ( Etheostoma fonticola ), Texas blind salamander ( Typhlomolge rathbuni ), Comal Springs riffle beetle ( Heterelmis comalensis ), Comal Springs dryopid beetle ( Stygoparnus comalensis ), and Peck's cave amphipod ( Stygobromus pecki ) are listed as endangered. Another species,

10735-425: The size, type and location of habitat to conserve is a complex area of conservation biology. Although difficult to measure and predict, the conservation value of a habitat is often a reflection of the quality (e.g. species abundance and diversity), endangerment of encompassing ecosystems, and spatial distribution of that habitat. Habitat restoration is a subset of habitat conservation and its goals include improving

10848-480: The species' habitat and decreasing their dispersal range. This increases species isolation which then causes their population to decline. Even before the modern industrial era, humans were having widespread, and major effects on the environment. A good example of this is found in Aboriginal Australians and Australian megafauna . Aboriginal hunting practices, which included burning large sections of forest at

10961-640: The spring flow levels. In 1997, Chapter 36 of the Texas Water Code was amended by Senate Bill 1 of the 75th Texas Legislature to require all underground water conservation districts in Texas to develop a groundwater management plan and submit it for approval by the Texas Water Development Board every five years on the anniversary of initial approval (September 17, 1998 for the Edwards Aquifer Authority). The initial requirements of

11074-410: The terrain is dominated by oak – juniper parks. The dominant woody plant on the Edwards Plateau is Ashe juniper ( Juniperus ashei ). Edwards Aquifer is home to a large number of invertebrate species, 40 of which have been described. The most diverse groups are the prosobranch gastropods and amphipod crustaceans. The Edwards Aquifer has the highest recorded diversity of stygobites in the world. In

11187-407: The underlying geology is impermeable. Average precipitation in the region is around 30 inches (760 mm) per year. Only precipitation that falls on the contributing area is available for infiltration. With a contributing and recharge area of over 26,650 square miles (17,000 km ), the mean annual volume of precipitation that is available for recharge is 10,660,000 acre-feet (13.1 TL), or

11300-411: The use and conservation of the aquifer, including the Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA), New Braunfels, San Marcos, San Antonio, and Texas State University. Additionally, federal entities including US Geological Survey, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and US Environmental Protection Agency have been involved in water steward activities and recovery management plans of the Edwards aquifer system. The EAA

11413-436: The value of nature itself and the need to protect it. By the mid-20th century, countries such as the United States, Canada, and Britain instigated laws and legislation in order to ensure that the most fragile and beautiful environments would be protected for posterity. Today, with the help of NGO's and governments worldwide, a strong movement is mobilizing with the goal of protecting habitats and preserving biodiversity on

11526-519: The water is held under pressure by low permeability layers, and can flow to the surface without the assistance of pumps through openings like springs and artesian wells . The Edwards aquifer underlies a portion of the Edwards Plateau thus the climate of the Edwards Plateau can be used to describe the climate in the aquifer's region. The eastern portion of the Aquifer falls in a Humid subtropical climate ( Köppen climate classification Cfa or Cwa ), while

11639-443: The west end, and tapers to end at a point in the east. The artesian zone , where water springs from wells naturally due to the higher elevation of the recharge zone, extends 10 to 20 miles (15 to 30 km) south on the west end to only a few miles south on the east end. Across the eastern half of the aquifer, the recharge and artesian zones occupy common area. Approximately 70 million years ago, activity of tectonic plates caused

11752-559: The western has a semi-arid steppe climate ( BSk and BSh) The average annual temperature on the Edwards Plateau is 66 °F (19 °C) and the average annual precipitation amounts to 25.24 inches (641 mm). The temperatures vary by season with the lowest average temperature occurring in January, 50 °F (10 °C), and the highest temperature occurring in July or August, nearing 85 °F (29 °C) for both months. Conversely, January

11865-444: The world's largest protected wetlands. The WWF also initiated a debt-for-nature concept which allows the country to put funds normally allocated to paying off national debt, into conservation programs that protect its natural landscapes. Countries currently participating include Madagascar , the first country to participate which since 1989 has generated over $ US50 million towards preservation, Bolivia , Costa Rica , Ecuador , Gabon ,

11978-457: The world. Governor-General Lord Dalhousie introduced the first permanent and large-scale forest conservation program in 1855, a model that soon spread to other colonies , as well to the United States , where Yellowstone National Park was opened in 1872 as the world's first national park. Rather than focusing on the economic or material benefits from nature, humans began to appreciate

12091-401: The worth of conserving different habitat areas is often criticized as being too utilitarian from a philosophical point of view. Habitat conservation is important in maintaining biodiversity , which refers to the variability in populations, organisms, and gene pools, as well as habitats and ecosystems. Biodiversity is also an essential part of global food security. There is evidence to support

12204-435: Was approximately 392,991 acre-feet (485 GL). During dry years, more water is discharged from wells while during wet years, more water is discharged from springs. Annual total groundwater discharge from pumping and springs ranged from 388,800 to 1,130,000 acre-feet (480 to 1,394 GL), and the average total groundwater discharge for 1955 to 2012 period was approximately 764,431 acre-feet (943 GL). Scientists with

12317-592: Was created as a result of Edwards Aquifer Authority Act enacted by Texas State Legislature in 1993. The main purpose of EAA is to oversee the permitting system for water withdrawals from the aquifer system. A subdivision of state government, EAA is more of a liaison between federal agencies (e.g. USFWS, USEPA, USGS), state agencies (e.g. Texas Water Development Board, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, etc.) and non-governmental organizations (e.g. Texas Water Conservation Association, Texas Association of Groundwater Districts). Spanish missionaries who arrived in Texas in

12430-562: Was first formed in after a group of passionate conservationists signed what is now referred to as the Morges Manifesto. WWF is currently operating in over 100 countries across 5 continents with a current listing of over 5 million supporters. One of the first projects of WWF was assisting in the creation of the Charles Darwin Research Foundation which aided in the protection of diverse range of unique species existing on

12543-460: Was strongly influenced by loss in marine habitats, particularly shelf habitats. Methane-driven oceanic eruptions have also been shown to have caused smaller mass extinction events. Humans have been the cause of many species’ extinction. Due to humans’ changing and modifying their environment, the habitat of other species often become altered or destroyed as a result of human actions. The altering of habitats will cause habitat fragmentation, reducing

12656-473: Was that plants only existed to feed animals and animals only existed to feed humans. The value of land was limited only to the resources it provided such as fertile soil , timber , and minerals . Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, social views started to change and conservation principles were first practically applied to the forests of British India . The conservation ethic that began to evolve included three core principles: 1) human activities damage

12769-564: Was undeveloped rangeland, but since that time it has undergone a significant increase in development. From 1996 to 1998 residential land use increased 9 percent in the Edwards aquifer recharge zone; even so, 72 percent remains undeveloped. The region atop the Edwards aquifer continues to increase in population today. In 2012, the US Census Bureau noted four counties located within the Edwards Region; Kendal, Comal, Hays and Travis were among

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