Springflow rates unavailable during ‘partial’ shutdown

All it takes is crossing the Blanco River to see that it’s up. 

After plentiful autumn rains and a few more recent downpours, the Blanco is healthy, topping the dam at Five Mile Dam Park, inching out of its banks under Interstate 35 and State Hwy. 80 and making a mighty presence when it merges with the San Marcos River just south of town.

The water wealth as well can be seen in the daily measurements of what water is in the Edwards Aquifer taken in places including the J-17 Index Well at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio.

But one tool planners use to forecast water supplies is not available now due to the partial shutdown of the federal government. Until full operations are restored, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) will no longer monitor springflow at the San Marcos Springs and their neighbor to the south, the Comal Springs.

Ann-Margaret Gonzales of the Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) relayed the following statement, which was issued on Dec. 27: “Due to a lapse in appropriations, the majority of USGS websites may not be up to date and may not reflect current conditions. Websites displaying real-time data, such as Earthquake and Water and information needed for public health and safety will be updated with limited support. Additionally, USGS will not be able to respond to inquiries until appropriations are enacted.”

The “Historical Data” section of the EAA’s webpage displays Dec. 26 as the last date available for both the San Marcos and Comal springs systems and gives readings of 384 cfs (cubic feet per second) for Comal Springs and 249 for San Marcos. In San Marcos’ case, that figure represented a 76 cfs “variance” from the historical monthly average for December of 173 cfs. At the beginning of 2018, the springs were flowing at a rate of 164 cfs and six months ago, on July 7, the rate was 144 cfs. Prior to the arrival of the springtime rains, the figure dipped below 100 cfs.