Krause Springs Occurrence of Flowing Water, Burnet County, Texas
Date
2021-01
Authors
Wierman, Douglas A.
Walker, Jenna
Arismendez, Sandra
Schlandt, Allyson
Navarro, Aspen
Vasquez, Daniel
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
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Abstract
The Hill Country is a unique region of Texas where rivers and springs rise out of a complex system of multiple and overlapping aquifer systems. Over the past several years, the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment has been working to answer the question – How much water is in the Hill Country? Although this seems like a straightforward question that merits a straightforward answer, the reality is that the largely hidden and unknown complexities of Hill Country hydrogeology make it challenging to answer.
The Meadows Center teamed up with the Central Texas Groundwater Conservation District (CTGCD) to direct this question towards Little Cypress Creek, Krause Springs, and the surrounding aquifers, a small but significant tributary of the Colorado River that flows into Lake Travis. Multiple aquifers contribute to base flow in Little Cypress Creek, but there is a lack of research and awareness about the contributing and recharge zones within the
system.
The Little Cypress Creek watershed is currently made up of mostly undeveloped land use with steady spring flows and good water quality. The goal of this study is to collect data to characterize these types of natural systems and the interconnectedness between surface and groundwater. Such data are important for water planning, policy, and the health of Hill Country springs, streams, and rivers.
The focus of this study performed by the Meadows Center and CTGCD was on the stream gains and losses and a synoptic groundwater (water level) map focused around Krause Springs. The data allows for a better understanding of Little Cypress Creek’s flow moving downstream and where there are gaining and losing reaches where surface water recharges the underlying aquifers. The results of this research contribute valuable insight towards strategic conservation prioritization and sustainable water resource management.
Description
Keywords
Krause Springs, Burnet County, water chemistry, water quality
Citation
Wierman, D. A., Walker, J., Arismendez, S., Schlandt, A., Navarro, A., & Vasquez, D. (2021). Krause Springs occurrence of flowing water, Burnet County, Texas (Report No. 2021-02). Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas.