Study shows woody plant encroachment has increased stream flow in the Edwards Plateau

The study found that the landscape is actually recovering from intensive livestock grazing in Texas that dates back to the late 1800s. Large numbers of cattle, sheep and goats continuously grazing rangelands led to widespread soil degradation, partly hindering the amount of water recharging springs and groundwater, said Dr. Bradford Wilcox, a professor in the Department of Ecosystems Science and Management at Texas A&M University and one of the authors of the study, which is to be published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, a publication of the American Geophysical Union.

"The study took place in the Edwards Plateau region of Central Texas, the primary water source for the Edwards Aquifer, which provides water for San Antonio and numerous smaller municipalities," he said. "This area was basically converted from grassland to a shrubland after many years of heavy livestock grazing. What people have forgotten is that in the time period between healthy grasslands and the current shrublands, there was an extended period when the land was quite degraded. Subsequent to 1960, livestock numbers have declined and the landscape has recovered although there are now more cedar than in the past."

From 1880 to 1900, there were more animals on the land than it could support. In fact, for a short period of time, stocking rates at the turn of the last century were 10 times greater than current levels, Wilcox said.

However, as fewer cattle and other livestock were used on the land as part of agricultural production since the late 1900s, the region has gone through revitalization.

"As a result, these landscapes are recovering, but they've also converted to woody plants," he said. "We're also seeing large-scale increases in the amount of spring flows. This is opposite of what everybody is presuming - the trees are there and they are sucking up all of this water. The trees are actually allowing the water to infiltrate. There's is a broad perception that the trees are making these natural springs disappear. This is definitely not the case."

The results of the study suggest that the Edwards Aquifer recharge is "higher than it used to be."

"I think the results from this study are pretty strong evidence that this is the case," Wilcox said.

Wilcox said what hasn't been researched is if woodlands were restored back to well-managed savannas, if there might be further increases in spring flow.

The increasing spring flows should be seen as evidence that well-managed rangelands can result in an increase in groundwater recharge and spring flow, he said.

Provided by Texas A&M AgriLife Communications