Hydrogeology

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  Water Budget for Monitored Watersheds at the Edwards Aquifer Authority Field Research Park: Report for the Edwards Aquifer Authority

  Keagen Farrell, Tatiana Flores, Isabella Lopez, Kemerling Obregon Lucio, Gisele-Elizabeth Perez, Andrea Realyvasquez, Magali Rodriguez, Kelly Swyers, and Adan Vasquez

  The purpose of the study was to determine the change in storage of two water sheds after the impact of two rain events, considering factors such as rainfall, discharge and infiltration, and evapotranspiration. The two sub-watersheds, located on the Edward’s Aquifer Authority Field Research Park, each had a weir. The larger of the two watersheds was named Watershed 1, while the smaller one was named Watershed 2. Watershed 1 was where the weir named Arnold was located, while watershed 2 was where the weir named Danny was located. Inflow and outflow were calculated by analyzing precipitation data and water flow data provided by the EAA. Outflow in low flow conditions was calculated using measurements taken during the onsite visit.

  This report is a summary of the work of the Fall 2025 Physical Hydrogeology course at St. Mary’s University. There were two teams of students in the class who worked on the project as independent groups titled Team Rattler and Team StMU. For this reason, results are reported in the report for each group along with the values calculated by the instructor, Evelynn Mitchell, PhD, and an average value for each category. The Executive Summary reports the average values as the findings of the report.

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  Porosity and Permeability Analysis of Treated and Untreated Soils at the Edwards Aquifer Authority Field Research Park: Report for the Edwards Aquifer Authority

  Gina Alva, Jullia De La Cruz, Fernando Jaime Sepulveda, Jakob Merkelz, Fernanda Moreno, Adrian Rodriguez, and St. Mary's University

  A fundamental ecosystem service of soil is its capacity to initiate and regulate the storage of groundwater. Soil has the capability to store, transport and filter water through percolation and infiltration. The sustainability of water resources, considering both quantity and quality, is directly influenced by soil. Understanding the effects of soil on water transportation is important when trying to quantify how much water the soil retains, and how much water moves into. This is why assessments of soil porosity and permeability play a crucial role in identifying regions with favorable water retention capabilities around the Edwards aquifer region. This information is invaluable and can aid in enhancing permeability with the goal of improving infiltration rates.