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Originally posted by mandyree:
I heard last summer that jacobs Well had stopped flowing. We camp each year at the Blue Hole. Does anyone have any information regarding if this is true? My family and friends love coming to visit Wimberley and camping and swimming.

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Yes,This is true, Jacob's Well did stop flowing for the first time in recorded history in June of 2000. The landmark spring averages a flow of around 20 Cubic feet per second normaly. The flow can range to as high as 60 CFS and as low as 5 CFS.

The over pumping of our aquifer for new homes in WoodCreek North, Golf Course watering and around 400 new wells drilled annually are more to blame than the short dry spell we experienced in 2000.

The rainfall average for this area has been nearly 40 inches over the past several years which is 7 inches more than our average of 33 per year.

Even during the drought of the 1950's when the average rainfall was 13 inches per year Jacob's Well never stoped flowing.

We are all slowing killing this beautiful spring with each new home and lawn that goes in. Sad but true, Jacob's Well is the source of Cypress Creek,without the well there is no Creek. The same fate will eventually take Blue Hole unless the public wakes up and becomes involved in conservation of land and water resources. This is the best investment for our childrens future. Water is Life.... David

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Originally posted by Diverdan:
Glad to be here. Hope to learn more about the underwater cave from the topside instead of underwater.

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PS. Please tell us about SMART and your work at Jacob's Well. Please leave the link to your web site. DB

SMART is the San Marcos Area Recovery Team and we have been exploring and documenting Jacob's Well since first getting permission from David in 1995. We think it is a beautiful place that needs to be preserved, studied,and protected. Here is a link to our site:

www.corridor.net/smartdivers

There is a link there to the Jacob's Well project which is on-going in cooperation with the WVWA. Our underwater archeologist, Layne Hedrick is currently doing a study and making a proposal to remove all the gravel that has dropped down into the cave from year and years of flooding and abuse. We would like to see the cave back in its original form, clean, debris free, and safe.

Gravel has caused many problems over the years inside the cave. Clogging up the cave, destroying habitat for different species, and preventing exploration. We have haulted our exporation of the cave until Layne has submitted his proposal and the cave can be properly documented and excavated. More to follow.

Dan Misiaszek

Dan

Dan

Wow, Dan! What is this about? It sounds important...could you explain what the decision is?

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Originally posted by M Griffin:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Diverdan:
[B]Dave, can you explain the significance of the recent Hays County Commissioners Court decision regarding park land around Jacob's Well? What type of response is the WVWA preparing?

Dan

Wow, Dan! What is this about? It sounds important...could you explain what the decision is?

Many thanks,
Marilyn

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Wimberley wants reconsideration for Jacob's Well
9/30/2002 8:52 PM
By: News 8 Austin Staff

Some Wimberley residents feel they've been left out of a plan that would have protected Jacob's Well. Hays County Commissioners removed Jacob's Well from being considered for the County Parks and Open Space Master Plan last week.

Now the Wimberley Valley Watershed Association is asking commissioners to change their minds.

"We are not just disappointed, we were shocked to learn this. Jacob's Well is the most environmentally sensitive site that needs to be protected in this county," said Patrick Cox of the Wimberley Valley Watershed Association.

Precinct 3 County Commissioner Bill Burnett said he also plans to ask his fellow commissioners to reconsider.

If you are in support of protecting Jacob's Well and Cypress Creek and would like to see the land around the well and in the recharge zone purchased to be preserved for education, scientific research and managed public access, please get involved NOW!

Certainly the owners all along Cypress Creek would benefit in a special way
from the preservation of the Well, but to believe there is a special
interest here overlooks the fact that the entire village depends on this
special geological feature for its very existence.

The approximately $1 Mill raised for the Nature Preserve on the Creek, to
which the County has already contributed, would be largely wasted if the
Well is not preserved.

Wimberley was the heaviest voter for the bonds. Bill will seek to have the
matter reconsidered. Please vote to restore the Jacobs Well to the plan.

Sincerely,

Glenn Fryer
Conservative for Natural Conservation.

Your support of the Wimberley Valley Watershed Association and Jacob's Well has taken our project to preserve the water quality in Hays County to new heights. The Hays County Parks and Open Space Master Plan recognized Jacob's Well as an irreplaceable resource as one of " the 'environmental treasures' within the county to be preserved for future generations.'

But, when the Hays County Commissioners recently adopted that Master Plan, they cut the recommendation to "Acquire land for a natural resource park in the vicinity of Jacob's Well."

In response, we called a press conference to demonstrate to Commissioner Bill Burnet that our community is behind Jacob's Well. The event was well attended by community leaders and by the Austin and Hays County press. Commissioner Burnet attened and vowed to place the recommendation back on the court's agenda.

Now your assistance is needed to press home to the entire Commissioner's Court how important this project is to Wimberley Valley, to our water quality and to our community.

Please attend the October 15 regular public meeting of the Hays County Commissioner's Court at 9 a.m. on the third floor of the Hays County Court House in San Marcos. Please arrive by 8:45 if you wish to address the court, a speaker's sign in sheet is enclosed here so you can fill it out in advance.

Your support, your attendance, your concern for our water resource is now needed more than ever. The heart and soul of Wimberley.

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Originally posted by Diverdan:
David, what is a latest status of the park land situation?

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Dan,

Hays County Commissioners Court unanimously voted to include Jacob’s Well in the Hays County Parks and Open Space Master Plan. Dozens of citizens and elected officials attended Commissioners Court on October 15th to voice their concern about Jacob’s Well as a natural resource and a recreational area.

The long term health of Cypress Creek will depend on the efforts of our community to promote a comprehensive conservation plan not only for Jacob’s Well and its contributing watersheds but all of the Texas Hill Country Region. There are many issues as you well know about access to Jacob’s Well that are beginning to be addressed by the local landowners and the local governments who have responsibility to manage natural resources.

The efforts of the WVWA and SMART divers to explore and monitor the water quality and quantity of Jacob’s Well has been an important step in guiding resource managers to propose more sustainable policies for preserving this important geologic treasure. Thank you for your help in this important project. Many thanks to all of you who support a flowing, clean Cypress Creek and Blanco River.

Happy New Year,
David Baker