Re: [Texascavers] Cave Water Quality

[George Veni]

Because several people have already asked me, if Honey Creek Cave extends under 
the proposed wastewater project site and related questions, below are the 
comments I have just submitted to TCEQ. I suggest that those of you submitting 
comments to not focus on groundwater as I did. I believe you will be most 
effective in focusing on the potential impacts to Honey Creek (the creek) and 
the habitat it provides.

By the way, the old-timers to Honey Creek Cave who read this may recognize the 
“dangerous” passage I refer to as the downstream end of the HS Passage (the 
upstream end of the HS has been the subject of epic tank hauls and dives).

George

---

I am the Executive Director of the National Cave and Karst Research Institute, 
which was created by Congress as the national authority on caves and the 
vulnerable karst terrains and aquifers in which they occur. I am also a karst 
hydrogeologist. My PhD dissertation was focused on the proposed wastewater 
area. Though I currently live out-of-state, I still maintain the database on 
Comal County caves and karst features for the nonprofit Texas Speleological 
Survey (TSS) and continue to visit and study the area regularly.

Some people are concerned about the project because it is near Honey Creek Cave 
(HCC). HCC is the longest cave known in Texas with over 32 km of mapped 
underground streams. The known portions of HCC do not extend under the proposed 
wastewater project site or the outfall of its effluent. Also, no caves are 
known to the TSS at the project site for two possible reasons. First, the TSS 
has not received any reports from cavers or consultants who may have searched 
the property for such features. Second, that uppermost part of the lower Glen 
Rose Limestone does not form many cave entrances (most form in the lower 
section of the limestone), although groundwater recharge into the Lower Glen 
Aquifer (LRG) occurs readily there.

While the mapped part of HCC does not extend under the property, there is one 
significant underground stream in the cave that heads toward it. It is 
unexplored due to dangerous conditions. Based on the fact that there is no 
known spring to account for the substantial flow in that passage, and that the 
geology would not allow a spring to pop-up unobserved in the bottom of the 
Guadalupe River or its tributaries in that area, I speculated long ago that the 
water flows southeast into the Cibolo Creek basin and then across faults into 
the Edwards Aquifer. Later, in my PhD dissertation on the LGR, I plotted the 
surface of the water table and geochemical parameters that showed groundwater 
in fact does move from that part of HCC, under what is now the proposed 
wastewater site, and to the Edwards Aquifer as I speculated. I also found the 
faults where that groundwater would likely cross from the Lower Glen Rose 
Aquifer into the Edwards Aquifer.

I’ve long said that while my evidence is very compelling, it is not 100% proof 
of a connection. More research is needed. However, since writing that 24 years 
ago, the State has accepted the existence of a general connection between the 
LGR and Edwards Aquifer as I proposed. It would therefore be prudent of the 
State to consider this wastewater site as potentially within the boundaries of 
the Edwards Aquifer and subject to review under those rules. It would also be 
proper for the State to review the area where the LGR and other adjacent 
aquifers may contribute to the Edwards Aquifer and include them where the 
evidence warrants, and focus research on areas where more study is needed.

Lastly, the one clear impact of the proposed project is on the surface stream 
called Honey Creek. It flows through a part of Guadalupe River State Park that 
was purchased by the State as a preserve and that preexisting purpose should be 
respected in the State’s decision on this proposal. I have yet to see effluent 
from a wastewater treatment site not result in nutrient overloading of the 
downstream riparian area to the detriment of its plant and animal communities.

I ask this proposed project be rejected on the grounds that it is contrary to 
the State's prior decision and 3-decade investment to protect and preserve the 
Honey Creek riparian area, and for its potential adverse impacts on groundwater 
quality in the LGR and Edwards aquifers.


George Veni, PhD
Executive Director
National Cave and Karst Research Institute (NCKRI)
and
President
International Union of Speleology (UIS)

Direct address at NCKRI
400-1 Cascades Avenue
Carlsbad, New Mexico 88220-6215 USA
Office: +1-575-887-5517
Mobile: +1-210-863-5919
Fax: +1-575-887-5523
gv...@nckri.org
www.nckri.org

UIS address:
Titov trg 2
6230 Postojna
Slovenia
www.uis-speleo.org

From: Texascavers [mailto:texascavers-boun...@texascavers.com] On Behalf Of 
Linda Palit
Sent: Monday, August 13, 2018 20:05
To: Cavers Texas 

[Texascavers] Cave Water Quality

[Linda Palit]

I will search for some additional information on this but it is time
critical.


As development continues to occur across the Hill Country some our state
most precious natural resources are facing increasing pressure from the
expanding population. The TCEQ is currently reviewing an application for a
Waster Water Treatment Plant to discharge up to 500,000 gallons of treated
sewage effluent into the upper dry portion of Honey Creek which will travel
downstream to the flowing part of the creek by the cave entrance and
eventually into the Guadalupe River. The TCEQ public comments period is
open and this is your opportunity submit your remarks about this proposal.



You can make comments at http://www14.tceq.texas.gov/epic/eComment/ and by
entering permit number  #WQ0015688001.



Thanks everyone and I appreciate your involvement.
___
Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com
Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: 
http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/
http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers

Re: [Texascavers] Texas Caver publication

[Charles Loving]

I pay my dues but never see anything. But I don't worry about it much.

On Mon, Aug 13, 2018 at 5:47 AM, Bill Steele 
wrote:

> Questions please:  When was the last Texas Caver published? Is the next
> one in the works? I like to submit articles for it. To whom do they go? Is
> there a deadline for the next one?
>
> Could someone please tell me if my TSA dues are current?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Bill Steele
> speleoste...@aol.com
> ___
> Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com
> Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/
> texascavers@texascavers.com/
> http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
>



-- 
Charlie Loving
___
Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com
Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: 
http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/
http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers

[Texascavers] Texas Caver publication

[Bill Steele]

Questions please:  When was the last Texas Caver published? Is the next one in 
the works? I like to submit articles for it. To whom do they go? Is there a 
deadline for the next one? 

Could someone please tell me if my TSA dues are current?

Thanks,

Bill Steele 
speleoste...@aol.com
___
Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com
Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: 
http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/
http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers