See more from this Division: Topical Sessions
See more from this Session: Hypogenic Karst: Shedding Light on Once Poorly Understood Hydrologic and Morphologic Features
Abstract:
The Edwards Aquifer enlarged westward by stream incision along the Balcones Fault Zone, exposing down-faulted permeable units to allow groundwater discharge from lower elevation locations. Stream incision rates indicate that the hypogenic conditions necessary to form Robber Baron Cave occurred at least 1.05 Ma, and thus set a minimum age for accretion of the Bexar County portion of the aquifer. The presence of this and other hypogenic caves and artesian springs in the Austin Chalk, above the upper confining unit of the Edwards Aquifer, demonstrate areas of significant localized upward flow into the Austin and the paleo land surface. Identification of these areas is important in establishing areas of more stringent land use regulations to prevent aquifer degradation through these high permeability features situated outside of the recognized aquifer recharge zone.
See more from this Division: Topical Sessions
See more from this Session: Hypogenic Karst: Shedding Light on Once Poorly Understood Hydrologic and Morphologic Features