KARST WATERS AS PRELUDE TO COMMUNITY FORMATION IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

In 1709, Spanish Friar Felix Isidro Espinosa gave the rare classification of future “ciudad” to the area of the living karst waters of the San Antonio River and its prolific springs. The Spanish were the world’s experts in the distribution of water resources and prudent public water policy at that time. As one early 20^th century historian wrote, “Respect for water was bred in the bone of the Spaniard.” The formation of permanent human community requires fresh water and the karst waters of San Antonio were perfect. Water is the prelude to community as people learn how live together as they distribute, allocate, and share its life giving sustenance.

The karst waters of San Antonio emerge not from one spring source, but literally from hundreds to form the San Antonio River and its parallel subsidiary, San Pedro Creek. What may be considered the most prolific spring, Worth’s Spring or Blue Hole, was for much of the 18^th century and likely centuries before a continuous geyser bubbling up as high as nine feet in the air. The land between San Pedro Creek and the San Antonio River may have been the largest set of springs in the world in 1709.

As the Catholic missionaries settled the area which eventually became the home of America’s seventh largest city, they dug 50 miles of irrigation canals or acequias which formed the aortas of life for the community. Immediately upon arrival in 1718 in order to permanently establish the first mission, Valero (better known today as the Alamo), the missionaries began construction of diversion dams, headgates, sluices, and the distribution canals, all dug by hand, all sloped perfectly without the benefit of a transit, all to deliver “armies of pure karst water” to the arid land. In fact, the acequia system was the first municipal water system in the land which became the United States.

The karst waters continue to be highly significant to San Antonio; it is fully dependent upon the Edwards Aquifer for its water supply. For almost 75 years, the San Antonio Riverwalk alone has delivered billions of dollars of revenue used to pay for public services, annually delivering more than 7 billion dollars into the community. Above all else, the wonderful karst waters remain the spiritual heart of the community.