AUSTIN, Texas — Central Texas has long been familiar with drought, and terms like “water conservation” and “water shortage” often lose their urgency after years of dry conditions.
In an effort to address drought challenges, KVUE joined environmental scientists in Austin to explore the role of a unique species—the Barton Springs salamander—in understanding the region’s water issues.
Discovered in 1993, the Barton Springs salamander is an endangered species that relies on the clean, oxygen-rich waters of Barton Springs and the Edwards Aquifer. For decades, scientists have monitored the trends in their population as a means to gauge environmental health.
Leading this crucial work is Nathan Bendik, a biologist and the lead supervisor at Austin’s Watershed Protection Department. He is currently conducting a population survey at Eliza Springs, one of the salamanders’ most reliable habitats.
Bendik describes the salamander as something of a mascot, representing both the springs and the city, emphasizing the unique nature of their habitat.
“What has always struck me is that you look at this spring, Barton Springs Pool, the other springs, this spot and the aquifer that feeds it – it’s the only place in the world where these animals live. And that’s pretty unique,” Bendik explained.
Eliza Springs is situated right next to Barton Springs Pool and has been a focal point for salamander conservation efforts. In 2017, a significant habitat restoration project was undertaken, resulting in a positive surge in the salamander population since then.
During the population survey, Bendik and his team engage in a capture-recapture method, catching the salamanders, photographing them for identification, and then releasing them back into their habitat.
From this data, scientists can assess the abundance of salamanders at Eliza Springs and evaluate changes over the years by comparing current findings with past surveys.
To safeguard the Barton Springs and the salamander population, the city and water managers are required to follow a Habitat Conservation Plan set forth by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in alignment with the Endangered Species Act.
The health of the salamander population is directly influenced by the conditions of spring water, including levels, flow, and dissolved oxygen content. Insufficient water availability can threaten their survival.
The Edwards Aquifer serves as a crucial water supply, providing drinking water for approximately 93,000 residents in Central Texas. Monitoring the salamander population is essential for determining sustainable water extraction levels from the aquifer.
This intricate balance of groundwater management becomes even more challenging in times of drought. Shay Hlavaty, a representative from the Barton Springs-Edwards Aquifer Conservation District, plays a pivotal role in overseeing water flow from the aquifer and springs system.
Hlavaty noted that the flow has significantly decreased, reporting that, “We’re less than a third of what flow should be at Barton Springs.”
The historical average flow is around 68 cubic feet per second (cfs), while current readings have dropped to approximately 20 cfs. As of the salamander survey conducted on May 5, Barton Springs is classified as being in Stage 3: critical drought.
According to scientific calculations, rainfall loss at this site has amounted to nearly 35 inches, against an annual rainfall average of 33.5 inches in Austin. This discrepancy indicates that the drought has essentially depleted the groundwater supply equivalent to an entire year’s worth of rain.
Hlavaty emphasized the slow process of replenishing the aquifers, stating, “I think it’s really important when you think about groundwater. The aquifers are deep underneath us, and so they’re not getting all of the water that the plants up here are getting. It takes a lot longer and a lot more rain for it to soak in and really replenish our groundwater levels.”
As Central Texas continues to navigate the complexities of drought, the endangered Barton Springs salamander serves not only as a vital ecological indicator but also as a reminder of the balance required to sustain both natural habitats and human communities.
image source from：https://www.kvue.com/article/weather/texas-drought/austin-salamanders-barton-springs-eliza-springs-drought/269-c1265954-64a9-448c-a814-20cc9ee51bde
