SACRED SPRINGS OF THE BALCONES FAULT ZONE, CENTRAL TEXAS

The springs in the Balcones Fault Zone (BFZ) have shaped human settlement for millennia. Designating these springs as Geoheritage sites and educating the public about their hydrogeology through initiatives like the Texas GeoSign Project will raise awareness and support conservation efforts.

Displacement within the BFZ along with dissolution has created directional porosity and permeability avenues within the Edwards Limestone aquifer. Concurrently, erosion by surface streams sculpted the Balcones Escarpment, and these streams cut deeply into water-bearing limestone strata roughly normal to local structural grain. Since the time of Balcones faulting (ca. 15 to 20 Ma), stream erosion exhumed topographically low sites, allowing groundwater discharge from artesian springs. These springs mainly occur where major streams cross the escarpment.

People have used these springs for more than 11,000 years, as indicated by Paleo-Indian artifacts found across the area. The "White Shaman mural" near Del Rio, Texas, dating back 3,000 years, depicts Mesoamerican myths and possibly a map of four spring locations along the escarpment. These springs were vital in indigenous peoples' ceremonial pilgrimages and are still considered sacred by many groups today. Spanish settlers in the 1700s relied on these springs for their water needs. Today, the springs provide water for the huge influx of people along this geologic trend. They include recreational resources, such as San Marcos Springs, once famous for its underwater performances by “mermaids” and a diving pig.

With urban growth and climate change, conserving these resources is crucial. Highlighting these springs as Geoheritage sites underscores their cultural and ecological significance, as well as their vulnerability to modern challenges. Increasing awareness is essential for safeguarding these vital water sources and preserving them as cultural landmarks.