Barton Creek and Ecotherapy
The Barton Springs Pool contains some of the freshest spring water straight from the Edwards Aquifer. Brigid Shea, the Travis County Commissioner, made a guest appearance to speak to GEO371T students regarding the fight against Freeport-McMoRan, a mining company that sought the rights to unrestricted development in the Barton Creek watershed area. Hundreds of Austinites testified against the company in court, and even more Austinites rallied outside city hall, demanding the protection of the Barton Creek watershed. Efforts by Austinites and environmental justice organizations, such as the Save Our Springs alliance, resulted in the unanimous decision against Freeport and the passage of the Save Our Springs Ordinance on August 8th, 1992 which would protect the watershed from future similar developments. The experience demonstrated to students how the famous saying “you can’t fight city hall” could not be any more false, as avid protests from citizens helped prevent a previous resource from exploitation.
GEO371T students discussed the vulnerability of The Edwards Aquifer to environmental changes. The Edwards Aquifer is a highly porous and permeable karst aquifer, making it an extremely effective aquifer. However, it is sensitive to drought and contamination. The class learned about how this feature of the aquifer causes it to follow the climate’s natural drought periods. Additionally, the importance of protecting this aquifer was emphasized, as Austin relies on it for a great deal of their municipal water supply. This is why environmental protection laws, such as the Save Our Springs Ordinance, are especially important towards their conservation.
![Img 0840.jpg The Cool Unique Waters Of Barton Springs](https://www.esi.utexas.edu/files/IMG_0840.JPG_The-cool-unique-waters-of-Barton-Springs-800x600.jpg)
![Img 0841.jpg Dr. Marylynn Musgrove And Dr. Jay Banner In Front Of Barton Springs Explaining Its Geologic Properties. 1](https://www.esi.utexas.edu/files/IMG_0841.JPG_Dr.-Marylynn-Musgrove-and-Dr.-Jay-Banner-in-front-of-Barton-Springs-explaining-its-geologic-properties.-1-800x600.jpg)
![Img 0843.jpg Dr. Jay Banner Pointing To A Fault At Barton Springs.](https://www.esi.utexas.edu/files/IMG_0843.JPG_Dr.-Jay-Banner-pointing-to-a-fault-at-Barton-Springs.-800x600.jpg)
![Img 0845.jpg Barton Springs And A Fault In Which All Of The Supplies Water Comes From](https://www.esi.utexas.edu/files/IMG_0845.JPG_Barton-Springs-and-a-fault-in-which-all-of-the-supplies-water-comes-from-800x600.jpg)
![Img 0849.jpg Guest Speaker Brigid Shea Tells Her Story Of Sos And How They Fought To Save Barton Springs](https://www.esi.utexas.edu/files/IMG_0849.JPG_Guest-speaker-Brigid-Shea-tells-her-story-of-SOS-and-how-they-fought-to-save-Barton-Springs-800x600.jpg)
![Img 0852.jpg A Very Vesicular Layer Of Rock In An Outcrop Lining A Trail At Barton Springs.](https://www.esi.utexas.edu/files/IMG_0852.JPG_A-very-vesicular-layer-of-rock-in-an-outcrop-lining-a-trail-at-Barton-Springs.-800x600.jpg)
![Img 0858.jpg Outcrop Near Barton Springs That Includes A Fault](https://www.esi.utexas.edu/files/IMG_0858.JPG_Outcrop-near-Barton-Springs-that-includes-a-fault-edited-scaled.jpg)
![Img 0861.jpg An Older Fault Near Barton Springs Evident By The Similar But Offset Layers Of Rock.](https://www.esi.utexas.edu/files/IMG_0861.JPG_An-older-fault-near-Barton-Springs-evident-by-the-similar-but-offset-layers-of-rock.-edited-scaled.jpg)
![Img 0863.jpg Guest Speaker Starla Simmons Explains How She Utilizes Ecotherapy](https://www.esi.utexas.edu/files/IMG_0863.JPG_guest-speaker-Starla-Simmons-explains-how-she-utilizes-ecotherapy-800x600.jpg)
![Img 0868.jpg Students Walking As They Participate In Ecotherapy](https://www.esi.utexas.edu/files/IMG_0868.JPG_students-walking-as-they-participate-in-ecotherapy-800x600.jpg)
![Img 0869.jpg Students Participating In A 5 Senses Ecotherapy Exercise.](https://www.esi.utexas.edu/files/IMG_0869.JPG_Students-participating-in-a-5-Senses-ecotherapy-exercise.-800x600.jpg)
![Img 0873.jpg The Class Ta Taking In Nature By Touching A Rock While Practicing Ecotherapy.](https://www.esi.utexas.edu/files/IMG_0873.JPG_The-class-TA-taking-in-nature-by-touching-a-rock-while-practicing-ecotherapy.-edited-scaled.jpg)