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

Groundwater Flow Systems in Multiple Karst Aquifers of Central Texas

Report: View
Topic: Edwards-Trinity Aquifer Connection & Characterization
Source: Sinkhole Conference
Format: Paper
Year: 2018

Increased demand for groundwater in central Hays County is prompting studies to evaluate the availability of groundwater in the Trinity Aquifers of central Texas. These aquifers, consisting mostly of limestone, dolomite, and marl, exhibit varying degrees of karstification. Near the surface, karst features such as caves and sinkholes are evident, but are widely scattered. Even at depths greater than 400 m (1,300 ft), units that are mostly limestone show some degree of karstification where dissolution along fractures has caused development of conduits. Studies are being conducted to better understand the horizontal and vertical flow components of the Trinity Aquifers. These studies involve aquifer testing, groundwater geochemistry, geologic and structural mapping, flow-loss/gain measurements in streams, hydraulic head measurements, dye tracing, and installation of multiport monitor wells. The Middle Trinity Aquifer meets the definition of a karst aquifer due to its conduit permeability within soluble rocks. However, the same aquifer has contrasting properties that are separated by the complex Tom Creek Fault Zone. The westerly Hill Country Middle Trinity Aquifer is a shallow karst aquifer system characterized by rapid conduit flow and active surface and groundwater interactions. In this area, Middle Trinity units are situated at or near the surface. To the east, the Balcones Fault Zone Middle Trinity Aquifer is a deeply confined karst aquifer system with more limited conduit development, slower groundwater flow, and no direct surface-groundwater interactions. In this area, Middle Trinity units are encountered at depths of 150 m (500 ft) or greater. The results of this study will influence future hydrogeologic and resource evaluations and modeling of the Middle Trinity Aquifer.