Assignment Paper

Understanding Natural Resources in the Hill Country – Here in San Antonio we are sleeping, playing,
working, and polluting directly above the Edwards Aquifer. In this lab we will explore some of the springs
that are found throughout the Artesian zone. We will also learn about USGS discharge gauges. Please
follow all instructions carefully. If you have any problems, please ask a colleague or your professor. Answer
every question in complete sentences for full credit.
1. Go to http://www.edwardsaquifer.net/
2. Red the web page as a review on hydrology
Give brief descriptions of each hydrologic Zone within Bexar Co (4+ sentences EACH). Example: Where
are the zones and what happens in each Zone? Hint: We have all 4 and they are shown on the webpage
graphic. You may want to refer to the book, or Google each Zone type to research additional information
and attributes: (5 pts x 4 zones = 20 pts)3. Scroll down to the Videos section (bottom right) of the web page.
4. Pick one of the 7 Springs videos or look at them all!!
5. Watch the video about your chosen Spring and read the web page.
List 5 interesting facts (to you) about the Spring and talk about why you found them to be interesting (3+
sentences EACH): (4pts x 5 facts = 20 pts)
6. Let’s focus on one of them! Go to the Comal Springs Discharge Page:
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/tx/nwis/uv/?site_no=08169000&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060
Scroll down the web page to the “Discharge, cubic feet per second” chart. Look at the discharge value. It is
usually around 200 to 400 ft3/s depending on the season. Now, imagine a gallon of water from the grocery
store, which is only 0.13 ft3. How would it feel to have 2,000 of those thrown at you, every second?
Wouldn’t stand a chance, would you? You don’t have to write an answer to this!
Paste the Discharge Chart using the methods learned in the previous Lab 1. [Paste Here] (10 pts)
Describe the blue discharge line overall, and per day. Is it flat, wavy, does it have a pronounced spike or
peak? (3+ sentences) (10 pts)
Describe the hydrologic cycle that relates to this discharge station. Refer to your book and lecture slides to
refresh your knowledge of the cycle. Be sure to include hydrologic cycle terms like the ones in the graphics
describing the hydrologic cycle! Tie in the aquifer to the appropriate place within the hydrologic cycle.
Example: Talk about where the water is coming from before it gets into the aquifer like where is the water
probably evaporating from? where did it precipitate? and how did it get to this discharge monitor station?
Where is it going beyond the monitor station? In addition, how might the water be used once it comes out
of the Spring? You may want to look at a map of Texas! (3 paragraphs, 5+ sentences each)? (40 pts)
End of Lab.