Field Trip
The San Antonio segment of the Balcones Fault Zone Edwards
Aquifer in south central Texas is one of the most permeable
and productive aquifers in the United States. It serves more
than 1.7 million people in the region and provides habitat
for 16 endangered species, nine in caves above the water, one
in caves below the water table, and six in the aquifer's spring
flow. The management of this resource is critical to meet the
current and future needs of agriculture, industry, municipalities,
and the environment.
The field trip will visit and discuss various hydrologic sites in the contributing, recharge, and artesian zones of the aquifer. These include the U.S. Army's Camp Bullis and a discussion of disposing chemical warfare agents on the aquifer's contributing zone; Headquarters Cave, the location of an extensive research project on infiltration and evapotranspiration; the Shavano Park/Sonterra Research Site, including water level measurements and tracer testing; the Highway 337 Road Cut in New Braunfels, showing the stratigraphy, structure, and secondary permeability of the Edwards Limestone along the fault zone; Comal Springs, the largest spring group in the southern U.S. with an average flow of over 280 cfs; and a well near New Braunfels that straddles the downgradient fresh water/saline water contact zone.
The field trip is organized by Geary M. Schindel, P.G., Edwards Aquifer Authority and George Veni, Ph.D., P.G., Veni & Associates, with contributions from John R. Hoyt, P.G.; Susan D. Hovorka, Ph.D., P.G., Steven Johnson, P.G.; Charles Kreitler, Ph.D., P.G.; Clyde L. Munster, Ph.D., P.E., Beverly Shade, P.G.; and Bradford P. Wilcox, Ph.D.
