Evidence of Edwards Aquifer levels going up can be seen if you look down into the Blue Hole. Due to drought, what many consider the headwaters of the San Antonio River has been a dry and dusty hole for years. Our Alese Underwood shows us how months of heavy rain created a chain reaction underground.

Howard Homan, of Headwaters at Incarnate Word, won't hesitate to tell you the history of the Blue Hole.

"Where we are right now is the original source of the San Antonio River," said Homan, as he stood near the Blue Hole. "Brackenridge when he owned the land, built a collar around this spring which used to gush out of the ground 6-20 feet high."

It's been ages since the river has it's flowed that much, but Homan says any water is a good sign -- even if it's brown.

"Now we're just pleased if it simply flows at all," said Homan.

That's because any water welling up here, comes from the Edwards Aquifer. When there's water in the Blue Hole, no matter how dark or murky, it's a sign the aquifer is in good shape.

"It was really an answer to a lot of prayers," said TWC News Chief Meteorologist Burton Fitzsimmons.

Less than a week ago the Blue Hole was, well, Blue, and it was the first time in four years Homan saw water inside.

"One foot difference will stop it from flowing," said Homan.

"It's harder to visualize and really grasp the vast volume of this much water simply because we can't see it," said Fitzsimmons.

The Blue Hole helps paint the picture: Water inside means the aquifer is at least 670 feet above sea level.

"Compared to last July 4th, the aquifer level is actually 35 feet higher and currently that puts us 10 feet above what we would consider normal for this time of year so we're doing phenomenally well," said Fitzsimmons.

And even though the Blue Hole has seen brighter days, it doesn't stop people from looking.

"You live here, but do you actually visit these places? Do you go out and look for the small cultural areas? The Blue Hole is one of them," said San Antonio resident Peter Trudell.

The Blue Hole is a place of tranquility, life, and a spot of Texas history.

"This source of the river, the river itself, is what allowed settlement here in the first place. Those five missions would never have been here without water," said Homan.

Many consider the Blue Hole a secret gem of San Antonio.

It's always free and open to public and protected in the Headwaters Sanctuary nature preserve near the University of the Incarnate Word.

 

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