The Edwards Aquifer: The Past, Present, and Future of a Vital Water Resource
CONTAINS OPEN ACCESS

The Edwards aquifer system is one of the great karstic aquifer systems of the world. It supplies water for more than 2 million people and for agricultural, municipal, industrial, and recreational uses. The Edwards (Balcones Fault Zone) Aquifer in the San Antonio, Texas, area was the first to be designated a sole source aquifer by the Environmental Protection Agency in 1975. The Edwards Aquifer also hosts unique groundwater, cave, and spring ecosystems. This 27-chapter memoir reviews the current state of knowledge, current and emerging challenges to wise use of the aquifer system, and some of the technologies that must be adopted to address these challenges.
Historical note: The Edwards Aquifer Authority
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Published:September 10, 2019
ABSTRACT
The Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) was established in 1996 after lawsuits that were filed for the protection of endangered species in Comal and San Marcos Springs revealed the need for aquifer management. Several events set the stage for water management in Texas and the creation of the EAA. The EAA succeeded the Edwards Underground Water District, which was formed after the 1951–1956 drought of record. The EAA was eventually granted regulatory responsibilities, including issuing permits for wells, setting limits on groundwater pumpage, and development of a habitat conservation plan to protect endangered species.