AUSTIN (KXAN) — Heavy rains across Central Texas and the Hill Country left rivers and creeks flooded, which has now filled up the Highland Lakes.
All that rain has also filled up cave systems around Central Texas and the Hill Country which feed into our aquifers.
“Seeing them [the caves] with water flowing into them is wild,” said Drew Fish who stopped by Natural Bridge Caverns near San Antonio. “With all the rain in the Hill Country, it is coming through the ground. It is filling up the caverns, the caverns are filling up the aquifer, it is a pretty wild sight seeing the aquifers recharge.”
Inside the cave many lower areas were filled with water.
A look inside the Natural Bridge Caverns after recent rainfalls (KXAN Photo/ Nabil Remadna)
A look inside the Natural Bridge Caverns after recent rainfalls (KXAN Photo/ Nabil Remadna)
A look inside the Natural Bridge Caverns after recent rainfalls (KXAN Photo/ Nabil Remadna)
Recent rains have caused the aquifer to rise and now it can be seen inside Natural Bridge Caverns, a process known as “recharge”.
“That area there in the Trinity Aquifer is recharged by Cibolo Creek and we did have some floods come down Cibolo Creek,” said Robert Mace, executive director of The Meadow’s Center. “I looked at a well nearby and the water in that area has come up 40 feet.”
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The rain has caused the Trinity Aquifer to rise filling some of the lower chambers of the cave.
The Trinity Aquifer is not the only aquifer that is benefiting from the rain.
On the ground water side we are seeing with the Edward’s Aquifer that feeds Barton Springs, San Marcos Springs and Comal Springs, we are seeing some improvements.
While improvements are good, Mace says more water is still needed, with the Edward’s Aquifer down 30 to 40% from where it should be.
“Despite those big rains we need more to top of our aquifers,” said Mace.
Mace says the increase in population and hotter conditions impact our water sources, but rain water harvesting systems can help us store water.
Central Texas relies on both aquifers and lakes for water supply.
Austin primarily depends on the Colorado River and Highland Lakes, while many surrounding communities get much of their water from the Edward’s and Trinity Aquifers.
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