Panther Junction
had 13.61 inches of
rain, but in 2011 it was less than three inches,
and many parts of the park had no rain.
Some of the contributing aquifers to the West
Texas area are the Edwards Trinity Plateau
Aquifer, which is rechargeable, as is the Igneous
Aquifer System, and the West Texas Bolsons
Aquifer. However, they won’t recharge without
sufficient rain. Drought stresses the water table
further as the moisture leaves soil and plant life
at a faster rate due to hotter temperatures and
lower rainfall. Furthermore, as water is lost
through accelerated evaporation and overuse,
the surface water that remains becomes over-
loaded with sediment, raising salinity concentra-
tions.
The positive thing in this area of West Texas,
Mr. Bennett says, is that large, intact ranches
hinder development that would stress the
already arid region and deplete the springs fur-
ther. However, as drought continues and water
sources continue to be reduced, no region is
immune. Towns, counties, subdivisions, and
companies all across Texas are looking far and
wide like the Eye of Sauron for the next water
source. As drought intensifies and population
grows, groundwater – if it’s not already happen-
ing - will be withdrawn at a faster rate than the
recharge rate.
It’s the job of the ground water districts to
regulate groundwater, and one way they do this
is to tie pumping limits to the rate of recharge.
However, in some areas, this will eventually
leave the springs in the dust because springs also
act as a water “loss” from the aquifer. If this pol-
icy stands, some springs will diminish, and
they’re a vital portion of the Big Bend ecology,
both for humans and non-humans. The springs
nurse the Rio Grande to a healthier state in the
Lower Canyons. Springs supply a vital stopover
habitat for the migratory birds. BBNP has
counted over 450 species from this major migra-
tory bird highway. The birds support the bird-
continued from page 9
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Ruth & Roy Engeldorf,
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HARPER ’ S
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Church of Christ
432.371.2292
Highway 118 – P.O. Box 142, Terlingua
Worship: Sundays 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. and Wednesdays 5:30 p.m.
10
Cenizo
Second Quarter 2015
ers, an important part of the tourism economy
in the Big Bend. The springs nourish the live-
stock on surrounding ranches, not to mention
the many benefits the springs’ replenishment
bring to Amistad Reservoir – fish and wildlife
survival, drinking water, recreation and more.
Big Bend National Park operates on a Water
Conservation Plan to keep track of the inputs
and outputs of the water throughout the Park.
When well levels fall below a certain point, the
park goes into drought restriction. Mr. Bennett
says the park has been on drought restriction
since last summer, when water levels in wells
dropped considerably, as did the flow of springs.
Some restrictions included: no outside water-
ing, the lodge/restaurant uses paper plates,
wash racks for park personnel and maintenance
vehicles are closed and employees are asked to
shower using water only to rinse off -- perhaps
using the rinse water for outside plants. Visitors
are asked to limit themselves to five gallons of
drinking water per day. The park already has
low flow fixtures, waterless urinals, and has
recently installed three 2200 gallon water catch-
ment tanks to feed the plant pen which is used
for restoration projects like the grassland
restoration effort.
As we paused the discussion to scale a bluff, I
wondered, how does the story of the Big Bend
National Park continue? Does the Horned
Lizard already know the outcome? What can
we learn from the desert ecology and water con-
serving ways of the Park? How well does all of
Texas understand and handle the grim outlook
of water? Will humans use their intellect to
think beyond the way they’ve been shown, the
way of convenient consumption? Can the infra-
structure be restructured? Or will short-sighted-
ness and profit motive drive humankind into the
dust because they see water more as a commod-
ity instead of what it is – an intrinsic value to
ALL life?
Perhaps the next chapter of the tale isn’t
written yet…..