Cypress Creek Project



HOME ABOUT Vision Background Partners Glossary MAPS & DATA Maps Reports Photos Data NEWS Join Newsletter Calendar EDUCATIONCONTACT US Watershed CommitteeSITE MAP		About the Cypress Creek Project Please watch this 9:30 minute video describing the Cypress Creek Project: Cypress Creek Project from Matthew Lochman on Vimeo. written and produced by Mary Waters filmed and directed by Matt Lochman Vision To preserve the natural beauty and excellent water quality of Cypress Creek for current and future generations. See this project's: Partners Glossary Background Purpose The main goal of the Cypress Creek Project is to ensure that the long-term integrity and sustainability of the Cypress Creek watershed is preserved and that water quality standards are maintained for present and future generations. The multi-phase project seeks to define the current state of the watershed, gather input from community stakeholders, and develop a science-based tool for local decision makers. Knowledge gained from this three year project will ultimately be used to develop a watershed protection plan. View our Communications Document for more information. (PDF - 506 KB) Significance of Cypress Creek The Cypress Creek watershed is a part of the Edwards Plateau region of the Texas Hill Country and is located in northern Hays County in and around Wimberley, Texas. Much of the terrain in the area is characterized by thin topsoil layers, steep slopes, predominant karstic limestone features, and relatively sparse vegetation. Jacob's Well is a natural flowing artesian spring located in the bed of Cypress Creek. During low flow conditions, Jacob's Well forms the headwaters for Cypress Creek. Water from Jacob's Well flows into Cypress Creek, which runs through downtown Wimberley, and provides inflows to the Blanco River several miles downstream. The Blanco River provides recharge to both the Trinity and Edwards Aquifers. During the dry conditions of July 2000, Jacob's Well ceased to flow for the first time in recorded history, degrading fish, wildlife, and water quality. Challenges Facing Cypress Creek Urban Growth: The Cypress Creek watershed is under increasing demands from a variety of sources. Hays County is listed as the 31st fastest growing county in the United States. Projections show that the county's population could grow from 97,589 in 2000 to 509,876 in 2040. Such rapid growth over the Trinity Aquifer is already straining groundwater resources. Non-Point Source Pollution: The Cypress Creek watershed and adjacent aquifer recharge and contributing zones of the lower Trinity Aquifer are particularly susceptible to numerous nonpoint source pollutants from development, septic systems, spray and subsurface effluent irrigation systems, fertilizer applications, and more direct public health threats from leaking petroleum storage tanks. Future development will increase opportunities for water quality impairments for pathogens, nutrients, sedimentation/siltation, organic enrichment and depressed oxygen levels, habitat alterations, and biological impairments. Cypress Creek Project Components The Cypress Creek Project will potentially lead to the development of a watershed protection plan for the Cypress Creek Watershed. Because many pollutants and water quality management issues cross multi agency jurisdictions, they are best controlled through cooperative efforts that are coordinated through comprehensive watershed management strategies. Initial three years will focus on: Characterizing Cypress Creek water resources and assess watershed pollution susceptibility Delineating the contributing and recharge zones in the Trinity Aquifer for the source waters of Cypress Creek Establishing a stakeholder input process to involve the community in project decisions Developing a watershed education campaign Developing a decision support system (DSS) by incorporating information from modeling efforts, stakeholder input and priorities, best management practices, and watershed characteristics to allow the stakeholder group to assess best management practice (BMP) options and maximize their impacts on reducing NPS pollution Establishing partnership efforts that will help guide a stakeholder-driven process to begin the implementation of pollution prevention efforts Training stakeholders to use and modify the DSS
River Systems Institute at Texas State University Contact Us • Site Map © 2008

About the Cypress Creek Project

Please watch this 9:30 minute video describing the Cypress Creek Project:

Cypress Creek Project from Matthew Lochman on Vimeo.

written and produced by Mary Waters
filmed and directed by Matt Lochman

Vision
To preserve the natural beauty and excellent water quality of Cypress Creek for current and future generations.

See this project's:
Partners
Glossary

Background

Purpose

The main goal of the Cypress Creek Project is to ensure that the long-term integrity and sustainability of the Cypress Creek watershed is preserved and that water quality standards are maintained for present and future generations. The multi-phase project seeks to define the current state of the watershed, gather input from community stakeholders, and develop a science-based tool for local decision makers. Knowledge gained from this three year project will ultimately be used to develop a watershed protection plan.

View our Communications Document for more information. (PDF - 506 KB)

Significance of Cypress Creek

The Cypress Creek watershed is a part of the Edwards Plateau region of the Texas Hill Country and is located in northern Hays County in and around Wimberley, Texas. Much of the terrain in the area is characterized by thin topsoil layers, steep slopes, predominant karstic limestone features, and relatively sparse vegetation.

Jacob's Well is a natural flowing artesian spring located in the bed of Cypress Creek. During low flow conditions, Jacob's Well forms the headwaters for Cypress Creek. Water from Jacob's Well flows into Cypress Creek, which runs through downtown Wimberley, and provides inflows to the Blanco River several miles downstream. The Blanco River provides recharge to both the Trinity and Edwards Aquifers. During the dry conditions of July 2000, Jacob's Well ceased to flow for the first time in recorded history, degrading fish, wildlife, and water quality.

Challenges Facing Cypress Creek

Urban Growth: The Cypress Creek watershed is under increasing demands from a variety of sources. Hays County is listed as the 31st fastest growing county in the United States. Projections show that the county's population could grow from 97,589 in 2000 to 509,876 in 2040. Such rapid growth over the Trinity Aquifer is already straining groundwater resources.

Non-Point Source Pollution: The Cypress Creek watershed and adjacent aquifer recharge and contributing zones of the lower Trinity Aquifer are particularly susceptible to numerous nonpoint source pollutants from development, septic systems, spray and subsurface effluent irrigation systems, fertilizer applications, and more direct public health threats from leaking petroleum storage tanks. Future development will increase opportunities for water quality impairments for pathogens, nutrients, sedimentation/siltation, organic enrichment and depressed oxygen levels, habitat alterations, and biological impairments.

Cypress Creek Project Components

The Cypress Creek Project will potentially lead to the development of a watershed protection plan for the Cypress Creek Watershed. Because many pollutants and water quality management issues cross multi agency jurisdictions, they are best controlled through cooperative efforts that are coordinated through comprehensive watershed management strategies.

Initial three years will focus on:

Characterizing Cypress Creek water resources and assess watershed pollution susceptibility
Delineating the contributing and recharge zones in the Trinity Aquifer for the source waters of Cypress Creek
Establishing a stakeholder input process to involve the community in project decisions
Developing a watershed education campaign
Developing a decision support system (DSS) by incorporating information from modeling efforts, stakeholder input and priorities, best management practices, and watershed characteristics to allow the stakeholder group to assess best management practice (BMP) options and maximize their impacts on reducing NPS pollution
Establishing partnership efforts that will help guide a stakeholder-driven process to begin the implementation of pollution prevention efforts
Training stakeholders to use and modify the DSS