Coming Back to Life?
Jacob’s Well Natural Area
Wimberley, Texas
January 27, 2024
Betsy Cross
Jacob’s Well stopped flowing in June 2023 for the sixth time in 24 years. In August, the creek on either side of the spring dried up completely, and the once plentiful Guadalupe bass, sunfish, cricket frogs, and turtles either died, became easy prey, or relocated. The colorful dragonflies that had been the subject of my photography missions disappeared. The Green Heron that once hunted along the banks of the creek was nowhere to be found.
The condition of Jacob’s Well and its impact on this unique ecosystem has been dire for over a year now. But just this week, after 5 inches of rainfall, the spring began to flow again. Tiny minnows exited the top of the well and can now be seen schooling in the shallow stream. The one lone bass who managed to survive in the well’s depths escaped and hopefully has found a healthier home downstream.
While this is a good sign, and one that brings hope to all of us, Parks Education Coordinator Katherine Sturdivant and the staff at Jacob’s Well are only cautiously optimistic. “We understand that a 5-inch rain can make a big difference while the temperatures and evaporation rates are low,” Katherine commented on Saturday. “But warmer weather is just a couple of months away, and water consumption will naturally increase. The threat of a summer heatwave will bring rapid evaporation rates, and the return of drought is yet another factor.”
The water level is still almost 2 feet below its optimum point, and the flow has already slowed.
Extreme weather events over the last 3 years have had an enormous impact on the riparian ecosystem and the wildlife all across the Jacob’s Well property. During the hottest summer on record in 2023, park staff filled watering troughs daily for wildlife—the deer, the resident foxes, the armadillos and other mammals, the crested caracara and the red-shouldered hawk, the vultures, the song birds, and the butterflies, bees, and other insects benefitted from this effort. Pollinator plants were protected as much as possible.
HCMNs have monitored and managed 11 bluebird nest boxes at Jacob’s Well Natural Area since 2017. In the spring of 2020, bluebirds ignored our nest boxes and instead raised their brood in the old woodpecker hole in a dead tree along the walking path to the well. Then in 2021 winter storm Uri took a toll on the Eastern Bluebirds in Central Texas. After the storm, a Freeman Ranch manager reported finding 12 dead bluebirds huddled together in a single nest box. No bluebirds were seen on the Jacob’s Well property in 2021, 2022, or 2023.
But then on December 13, 2023, Katherine texted me, “I just saw what looked like a male and female pair of bluebirds in the mid-40 near the labyrinth. It’s been a while. Fingers crossed that they decide to stick around and nest this spring.”
And on January 26, Katherine texted again,“Okay, terrible photo but it’s proof! I’m almost certain there’s a nesting pair of bluebirds in the box by the nature center.”
January 26, 2024 Photo: Katherine Sturdivant
This message was enough to get me up very early on Saturday morning, January 27, to drive over and walk the boxes at one of my favorite parks in Hays County. I couldn’t wait to get there. Katherine met me in the parking lot by the nature center.
And sure enough, they’re back.
After a 3-year absence, Eastern Bluebirds have returned to Jacob’s Well Natural Area.
A male Eastern Bluebird explores a natural cavity in this live oak for a potential nesting spot—January 27, 2024.
At least 3 female Eastern Bluebirds flocked together and explored potential nesting sites with the males.
With January winding down and February taking over, signs of new life are emerging around the well and across the area. Master Naturalists will take the small wins when they show up—choosing action over despair and believing that ecosystems will come back to life if we stay diligent and determined—and we will never give up.
Read more about Jacob’s Well during the summer of 2023 in this article by Tom Jones published last September Do We Have Enough Water?.
The following sidebar, which appeared in that article, describes what each of us can do as individuals and as communities to conserve water and to protect our treasured resources.
Water Conservation...It's Your Business!
Residential water conservation means saving for the future! Growing populations, rising demands, warm temperatures, and low rainfall can challenge the availability of water, especially during the summer. A few small changes in your water use habits can make a huge difference in water savings. Practicing these tips could save up to 25,000 gallons per year for a family of four!
Start Water Conservation Indoors
Installing a low-flow shower head is the single most effective conservation step that can be taken inside the home.
Take a shower instead of a bath.
Never use the toilet to dispose of trash.
Don't allow the water to run while brushing your teeth or shaving.
Only run the dishwasher with a full load.
Keep a container of drinking water in the refrigerator. Running water from the tap until it is cool is wasteful.
Install an aerator on your kitchen faucet to use less water, without feeling an impact.
Also Conserve Outdoors
In the summer, outdoor water use can account for 50% or more of total water use:
One-half inch of water per week in the summer will keep most Texas grasses healthy. Although there may be some loss of green color, the root system is often alive and healthy. To determine how long you should run your sprinklers,* place straight-edged cans at different distances away from the sprinkler and time how long it takes to fill an average of one-half to one inch of water in each can. Then, only water for the amount of time it takes to reach the desired level.
Water during the early morning or evening hours, since evaporation losses will be up to 60% higher during the day. Do not water on windy days.
Set sprinklers so the lawn is watered, not sidewalks and driveways.
Harvest the rain. Buy a rain barrel or cistern and collect the water from your gutters to water your plants.
*When Wimberley moved to Stage 3 Restrictions in 2022, hose end sprinklers were prohibited in favor of bucket, handheld, or drip irrigation only. August 1, 2023, Wimberley moved to Stage 4 Restrictions, prohibiting all outdoor water use.
Commercial Water Conservation Counts!
Washing driveways, sidewalks, parking areas, or other impervious areas on a commercial property is prohibited, unless it is required to eliminate a public health hazard.
Commercial dining facilities must utilize shut-offs for handheld dish rinsing wands.
Commercial dining facilities must utilize water flow restrictors for all garbage disposals.
Commercial dining facilities shall not operate a misting system in unoccupied areas.
Ice machines shall not be single pass water-cooled.
Commercial car wash facilities shall recycle rinse water.
Homebuilders and developers shall offer xeriscape and rainwater harvesting options to prospective home buyers.
Golf courses shall not water greens, tees, and roughs with potable water. *
*For several years Wimberley area golf courses have used grey water only; no potable water is used.
Wimberley Water Supply Corporation