Blanco River Watershed
The Blanco River headwaters originate in Kendall County, Texas and flow through Blanco and Hays Counties to the river’s mouth at the confluence of the San Marcos River just southeast of the City of San Marcos. The joined river continues southeast, passing the City of Luling before it converges with the Guadalupe River and along its path is fed by numerous springs and seeps. Encompassed in the Guadalupe River basin, the Blanco River has a drainage area of over 1036 km2.
Source: Meadows CenterThe watershed ranks among the top five fastest growing populations in the United States. It is predicted that the population in the region will more than double in size by the year 2050. Population growth and urbanization have great impacts on the environment, transportation, and metropolitan infrastructure. Growth pressures from expanding population and development may also have significant impacts on the flow and quality of the river in the future.
Given this rapid economic development and urban expansion, two reports have been prepared to characterize the land cover change in the region as it has been historically experienced. Recording, modeling and predicting the land use and land cover changes within the watershed is a primary step to understanding relationships between the land use and land cover (LULC) changes and related impacts on the watershed ecosystem within short-term and long-term timeframes. An assessment conducted in both spatial and temporal domains provides an increased understanding of the relationships between LULC changes and consequent hydrological system impacts.
Source: Meadows Center
Ecological Characterization of the Blanco River Basin, Texas
Coming soon, a Blanco Watershed Atlas with additional information, reports, and maps.
Cypress Creek
Cypress Creek Study Area Map. Source: Meadows Center
The Cypress Creek watershed is a sub-watershed of the Blanco and is a part of the Edwards Plateau region of the Texas Hill Country, located in northern Hays County in and around Wimberley, Texas. Much of the limestone features relatively sparse vegetation.
Jacob's Well is a natural flowing artesian spring located in the bed of Cypress Creek. During low flow conditions, Jacob's Well forms the headwaters for Cypress Creek. Water from Jacob's Well flows into Cypress Creek, which runs through downtown Wimberley and provides inflows to the Blanco River several miles downstream. The Blanco River provides recharge to both the Trinity and Edwards Aquifers. During the dry conditions of July 2000, Jacob's Well ceased to flow for the first time in recorded history, degrading fish, wildlife, and water quality.