(upbeat music begins)
[Rebecca Storms] Several aquifers across the state
are experiencing historic levels of decline;
we need to keep track of this
so we can ensure that there's enough water
for future Texans.
This year, we began a new initiative to monitor a network
of springs across the state on an annual basis.
In this program, staff will collect water quality samples
and flow rate measurements from every spring
to determine the amount of water flowing
from the aquifer and to verify the source of the water.
We were scheduled to monitor a specific list of aquifers
before COVID became an issue this year.
With COVID-19, we decided to reassess our priorities
and our schedule and focus on day-trip locations nearby
to ensure the safety and comfort level of our staff.
[Cody Bjornson] The new spring monitoring program aims
to implement routine data collection, inventory,
and analysis on the springs of Texas.
Our main goal is to collect water quality samples,
measure flow rates, and observe the local ecosystem.
So the first thing we do when we get to a spring site is
we'll calibrate our water quality probes,
and this ensures that we can get accurate pH, temperature,
and conductivity readings on the spring water.
And next, we'll take those readings
at the headwaters of the spring,
and we'll also take our samples from that point as well.
And we'll take those samples using a peristaltic pump,
which essentially allows us to use a long tube
to pull water from the spring and transport it
into our sample bottles.
Once we've collected our samples,
we'll put them on ice in a cooler
for transport to the lab.
Measuring flow rates can help us understand
how much groundwater is contributing
to our surface water supply.
So the first step in measuring flow rate is
to find an adequate cross-section to do the measurement.
We then stretch a measuring tape
across the stream to determine its width,
as well as the number of flow cross sections
or readings we'll be taking.
Using a flow meter,
we'll take velocity readings across the measuring tape.
0.27.
[Rebecca Storms] We can determine if there's been a change
in the condition of the aquifer.
We do this by comparing the data that we collect now
to historical data trends to determine
what changes may have occurred
in water levels or water quality samples.
[Cody Bjornson] We can single-handedly influence
and preserve the springs in our state,
which offer us many things
from supporting the fish and wildlife that we love,
to tourism, recreation, historical significance,
and most important of all, our water supply.
(upbeat music ends)