About
- About
  
  The Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District is committed to conserving, protecting, recharging, and preventing waste of groundwater and preserving all aquifers in the District. The Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District was created in 1987 with a directive to conserve, protect, and enhance the groundwater resources in its jurisdictional area.
Aquifer Science
- Aquifer Science
  
  BSEACD Aquifer Science team provides sound science to support policy and tactical decisions made by the District that affect water supply users and endangered species habitat. Collecting basic hydrogeologic data and planning and executing projects enhances the understanding of the water resources within the District’s boundaries.
Regulatory Program
- Regulatory Program
  
  The Regulatory Compliance Team is responsible for a wide range of the District’s responsibilities. Regulatory Compliance Team members have also actively attended and participated in community outreach and regional development and planning groups and served as District liaisons to local municipalities, political subdivisions, permittees, and licensed drillers and pump installers in the area.
Education
- Education
  
  The Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer District actively participates and hosts events designed to engage and educate groundwater users and District residents. Events include stewardship awards, festivals, creek cleanups, presentations to schools and community groups, and teacher trainings.
Projects
- Projects
  
  The Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District has a number of special projects to help advance the scientific understanding and better manage groundwater resources within the District.
Publications
- Publications
  
  One of the most effective ways to conserve, protect, and manage our the groundwater resources is to keep you informed of the science, current conditions, and regulations affecting our District. Sign up on the Friends of the District email list and receive: Quarterly newsletters, Aquifer status updates, Drought declarations, Conservation information, and Important news.
Transparency
- Transparency
  
  The Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District strives to meet a high standard by providing clear, consistent pictures of spending, and by sharing information in user-friendly formats, to promote financial transparency and accountability, not only through financial reports but also through summaries, visualizations, downloadable data, and other relevant information.

Publications

Refining the Freshwater/Saline-Water Interface, Edwards Aquifer, Hays and Travis Counties, Texas

Report: View
Topic: Saline-Water Zone/ASR
Source: BSEACD
Format: Report of Investigations
Year: 2014

This study refines the freshwater/saline-water interface in the Edwards Aquifer of Travis and Hays Counties based upon 855 data points compiled from measured or estimated total dissolved solids (TDS)
in groundwater. Changes to the boundary include localized lateral shifts of up to 1.3 miles and an apparent net loss of 3.8 mi2 of areal extent of freshwater aquifer. The freshwater/saline-water interface as mapped is a two-dimensional estimate of a very complex three-dimensional boundary. As with any mapped boundary, there is inherent uncertainty of the exact location and geometry of the interface. Studies suggest the interface appears to be relatively stable over time in the Barton Springs segment of the Edwards Aquifer. Variation in TDS values measured in wells along the interface could be due to localized flow within boreholes rather than true encroachment of the saline zone. Although saline
encroachment does not appear to be a threat to freshwater supplies, changes in the springflow chemistry at Barton Springs suggests some leakage from the saline zone under drought conditions. This improved boundary map has relevance to future water availability (aquifer storage and recovery, desalination), karst speleogenesis (hypogene processes), groundwater flow, and groundwater management.