Jacob’s Well closes for the year

Lance Winter

Publisher

Swimming at Jacob’s Well, part of the Jacob’s Well Natural Area and one of Hays County’s most popular tourist attractions, has officially closed for the year.

The closure was announced by park officials on Aug. 25, over a month earlier than scheduled (Sept. 30). Swimming had been suspended at the popular swim spot since June 29. While the park remained open to other activities — including hiking, picnicking and geocaching — the swimming hole itself remained closed due to ongoing drought and increased levels of groundwater usage, according to the park's website.

Despite recent rains, not much had improved in the area, forcing Hays County to close the park for the remainder of the year.

“All existing reservations will be canceled and refunded automatically throughout the coming weeks,” Hays County posted on its website. “We still need significant rainfall to recharge the Trinity Aquifer, which supplies Jacob’s Well. In the meantime, the park remains open for hiking and viewing the spring. We welcome everyone out to explore, take a guided tour this fall, and to learn more about what’s going on at the nature preserve.”

When the county first closed the swimming hole in late June, it cited a critically low flow rate from the well. This had created a situation where water had become stagnant, allowing it to become murky and bacteria to grow.

“This is reminiscent of what we’ve heard it was like between 2008 through 2011 when this area experienced a significant drought,” Taylor said. “We don’t have records from then because the county wasn’t managing Jacob’s Well at the time. But nearby landowners said the flow rate hit zero and got really bad.”.

To put it in perspective, the San Marcos River’s current flow rate is 94 cubic feet per second; the Guadalupe River ranges between 100-300; and the Blanco River is currently 6.6. The optimum median flow rate for Jacob’s Well, according to the United States Geological Survey, is 4.4 CFPS.

“Over pumping the aquifer certainly doesn’t help and more growth just creates greater need for water,” Taylor added. “Conservation efforts are always important, but the lack of rain is the main issue.”