Spring Lake Habitat Conservation Plan, HCP.

[driftwood]

Most of us know that to dive in Spring Lake, San Marcos you have to go through the Diving for Science : Aquarena Center : Texas State University class. The course was developed to comply with the Habitat Conservation Plan for the lake. One aspect of the HCP that is diving needs to be limited during low flow conditions caused by extreme droughts or over pumping from the Edwards Aquifer.

One of the impacts of our current drought is that the discharge from the aquifer is close a trigger in the HCP. USGS Real-Time Water Data for USGS 08170500 San Marcos Rv at San Marcos, TX

When the flow drops below 100CFS, the HCP directs the staff to reduce diving in the lake by 50%. I don't know how they decide who gets to dive. It is reasonable to assume that weekend divers and shops using the training area will be more heavily impacted. The second trigger is at 75cfs. At that point all diving in the lake is suspended.

The other big issue impacting divers in Spring Lake is the timing for the long planned demolition of most of the buildings/structures associated with the amusement park. They have started construction on the new visitor's center, across the lake from the hotel. The best guess is that the lake will be closed to all diving sometime in October. The Diving for Science program will be the last to shut down and the first to start up when work on the site is completed.

To cut to the chase, if you want to dive Spring Lake, we have about 3 months.

 

[driftwood]

On a side note. What is going to be very interesting is to see what Spring Lake looks like after 4-9 months without divers cleaning/messing things up.

Come hell or high water, I will be on those first dives.

 

[cruiser]

On a side note. What is going to be very interesting is to see what Spring Lake looks like after 4-9 months without divers cleaning/messing things up.Come hell or high water, I will be on those first dives.

I'm thinking it will look like an underwater jungle.

 

[Aquatrax]

I'll be there next Friday and Saturday, Jungle is probably very accurate, should be fun!

 

[driftwood]

I'm thinking it will look like an underwater jungle.

Most of the lake will be very overgrown. Arch Site will be a trick to find. I imagine the staff will start with the cutter boat and then do a complete survey of the lake's sites. The sites I am particularly interested in are Cream of Wheat, Riverbed, Catfish Hotel and Deep Hole.

One thing I need to ask about is what will happen to Diversion. I hope they will remove the pipe. It's been about 6 years since anyone has been able to look at the hole.

 

[Guba]

I could be wrong, but I think I looked down that hole (of Diversion) in October of 2007, just a week or two before they recapped it.

 

[driftwood]

I think that was in '05.