San Antonio Springs

29°28′08″N 98°28′03″W / 29.468889°N 98.467500°W / 29.468889; -98.467500Spring sourceEdwards AquiferElevation680 feet (210 m) above sea levelTypeKarst springsProvides water forSan Antonio RiverMagnitude2Discharge20 cubic feet (570 L)/s

San Antonio Springs (also known as the Blue Hole) is a cluster of springs in Bexar County, Texas. These springs provide a large portion of the water for the San Antonio River, which flows from San Antonio to the Gulf of Mexico. The San Pedro Springs also feed into the San Antonio River.

Geography

The San Antonio Springs are located about three miles (5 km) north of Downtown San Antonio; most are now on the property of the University of the Incarnate Word in the Midtown Brackenridge district of San Antonio. The springs are fed by water from the Edwards Aquifer; this water reaches the surface through faults along the Balcones Escarpment. There have been more than 100 individual springs identified, but many of these are no longer active due to pumping demands on the Edwards Aquifer and sedimentation from the upstream Olmos Creek, although sedimentation has been partially mitigated by the Olmos Dam since 1926.^[1] During periods of drought, the springs sometimes stop flowing entirely, only to resume when water levels rise in the aquifer. The mean flow from the springs is 20 ft³/s (0.6 m³/s).

History

Artifacts from Paleo-Indian cultures have been found at the site of the San Antonio Springs; some of these artifacts are more than 11,000 years old.^[2]

The earliest Europeans found up to 200 sub-bands of Coahuiltecan Indians in the vicinity of the springs; however, they were soon displaced by the Lipan Apaches. Spanish missionaries built a system of aqueducts and canals to carry water from the springs to the local missions, including The Alamo.^[2]^[3]

By the Civil War, the springs had become contaminated.^[3] In 1891, artesian wells were drilled to provide clean water for the city.^[3]

Gallery

Entrance to the springs area
The largest spring, The Blue Hole
High water levels due to recent rains
Spring water pouring out of the mouth of The Blue Hole
Water flows downstream
Additional, smaller springs
More springs
Olmos Creek (left) joins with San Antonio Springs (right) to form the San Antonio River

References

^ Brune, G.M. (2002). Springs of Texas. Manufacturing engineering modular series. Texas A&M University Press. p. 70. ISBN 978-1-58544-196-9. Retrieved 2021-11-08.
^ ^a ^b "San Antonio Springs". Texas State Historical Association, Handbook of Texas. 1995-04-01. Retrieved 2021-11-08.
^ ^a ^b ^c "San Antonio Springs and Brackenridge Park". The Edwards Aquifer Website. Retrieved 2021-11-08.