262 Advances in Ecohydrogeology (Posters)

Ecohydrogeology is the unifying, synthetic field of study integrating the approaches from the ecological and hydrogeological sciences in the study of groundwater-related ecosystems, habitats, and organisms. We encourage submissions of research that advances the science, stewardship, and policy at the intersection of ecology and hydrogeology.

Wednesday, 22 October 2025
8:00 AM - 5:30 PM
HBGCC, Hall 1

Combining Hydrologic, Biologic, and Climatic Information to Assess Human Impacts on Water Quality in Canyon Lake, TX

Paper number: 262-3
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 8:00 AM – 8:00 AM

Authors

Abstract

As anthropogenic burdens on the climate and the environment continue to accelerate and multiply, the synergistic impacts of these changes on specific ecosystems are difficult to predict. The geology and climatology of Central Texas, coupled with a long-term growth in the population and new infrastructure, puts extreme stress on the water resources in the area. Potential impacts on freshwater reservoirs include decreases in the availability of drinking water, more frequent and intense events such as flooding and droughts, increased water temperatures, altered food web and ecosystem dynamics, and intensification of saltwater contamination. The extent and direction of these changes on specific reservoirs requires localized observations of the climatic, hydrologic, chemical, and biological parameters. In this study, we compare the water chemistry, physical characteristics, and the assemblages of microbiota from two locations in Canyon Lake with disparate levels of direct human influence. We determined which variables correlated with one another and with human influence using principal components analysis. These results allowed us to identify the critical parameters for investigating anthropogenic impacts on Canyon Lake, which will transform hazard and water quality monitoring in the area. 

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 57, No. 6

doi: 10.1130/abs/2025AM-414214

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