Springs have social, wildlife, habitat, and economic values. It has long been thought that natural springs have declined in the Texas Hill Country, but a new study by Texas AgriLife Research scientists finds we have it all wrong! And that is good news because water is quickly becoming an increasingly important commodity. Contrary to widespread perceptions, springs in the Edwards Plateau, which provide much of the stream flows, have not been declining as a result of increased encroachment of woody plants. In fact, spring flows are twice as high as they were prior to 1950.
The research found that the landscape and associated habitat is actually recovering from intensive livestock grazing in Texas that dates back to the late 1800s. Large numbers of cattle, sheep and goats continuously grazing rangelands led to widespread soil degradation, partly hindering the amount of water recharging springs and groundwater, said Dr. Bradford Wilcox, a professor in the Department of Ecosystems Science and Management at Texas A&M University. Continue reading Habitat Management: Springs in Texas are Healthy