Less Frequented Springs of the Austin Area, Texas

AGS GB 37. Less Frequented Springs of the Austin Area, Texas. J. L. Berry, P. W. Dickerson, and D. A. Johns, eds. A. J. Cherepon, S. R. Pope, and S. E. Hiers, Field Trip Leaders. Austin Geological Society Guidebook 37, 82 p., 2017. Print.

To purchase this publication as a  downloadable PDF, please order AGS GB 37D.

CONTENTS

Dedication: Charles M. “Chock” Woodruff
     Dennis R. Trombatore

Introduction

Texas Springs

Helen C. Besse

Spring Occurrences in the Austin Area

Stratigraphy

Spring Geochemistry

Spring Classification

Previous Work Regarding Austin Area Springs

Road Log

Stop 1: Hearth/Great Hills Spring

Stop 2: Bull Creek District Park Spring

Stop 3: Little Stillhouse Hollow & Stillhouse Hollow Springs

Stop 4: Big Boulder Spring, Shoal Creek

Stop 5: US Hwy 183/Little Walnut Creek Spring

Stop 6: Costley Spring, near Terry Lane, Del Valle

Detailed Stop Descriptions

Commentary on Field Stratigraphic Identifications

Summary and Conclusions

Research Bibliography on Springs in Travis County, Texas
     Dennis R. Trombatore

Authors

Tables

Table 1. Number of springs/seeps in Austin area strata

Table 2. Composite stratigraphic section for the Austin area

Table 3. Major ion concentrations of Austin area aquifers and four springs

Table 4. Stop description summary

Text figures

Figure 1. Spring locations and geologic map of the Austin area

Figure 2. Distribution (%) of springs/seeps in geologic units of Austin area

Figure 3. Cross-section of the Georgetown, Edwards and Walnut Formations across Travis County, showing stratigraphic changes and relationships

Figure 4. Location map of cross-section X-X’ through Travis County shown in Figure 3

Figure 5. Ternary diagram (Piper plot) of the hydrochemical facies of minor aquifers and select spring samples in the Austin area

Figure 6. Spring types observed at field trip stops

Figure 7. Route map and stops

Figure 8. Hearth/Great Hills Spring location

Figure 9. Bull Creek District Park Springs location

Figure 10. Little Stillhouse Hollow Spring location

Figure 11. Big Boulder Spring on Shoal Creek near 29th Street

Figure 12. US Hwy. 183/Little Walnut Creek Spring location

Figure 13. Costley Spring location near Terry Lane, Del Valle

Figure 14. Segments of the Edwards Aquifer

Stop description figures

Figure 1-1. Geologic map in the vicinity of Hearth/Great Hills Spring

Figure 1-2. General stratigraphic section at Hearth/Great Hills Spring on Laurel Oaks Creek

Figures 1-3 through 1-6. Hearth/Great Hills Spring

Figures 1-7 and 1-8. Features of Walnut Fm. near Hearth/Great Hills Spring

Figure 2-1. Measured section at Bull Creek Park Dam Spring, Bull Creek District Park

Figures 2-2 and 2-3. Bull Creek Park Dam Spring orifice, near the dam, Stop 2A and Bull Creek Park Cliff Spring, Stop 2B

Figure 2-4. Old brochure (1960’s?) for Lakewood Park

Figure 2-5. Wagon wheel tracks in Bull Creek District Park, near Bull Creek Park Cliff Spring

Figure 3-1. Measured section at Little Stillhouse Hollow Spring Rock Shelter, Stillhouse Hollow Nature Preserve

Figure 3-2. Stillhouse Hollow Spring in Edwards Fm

Figure 3-3. Little Stillhouse Hollow Spring in Edwards Fm

Figures 3-4 and 3-5. Photos in the vicinity of Little Stillhouse Hollow Spring

Figures 3-6 through 3-9. Fossils in the Edwards Fm

Figure 4-1. Big Boulder Spring orifice, Buda Fm., on Shoal Creek downstream of 29th Street

Figure 4-2. Measured section at Big Boulder Spring on Shoal Creek downstream

Figures 4-3 and 4-4. Tufa and Buda strata near Big Boulder Spring

Figures 4-5 through 4-7. Fossils in the Buda Fm

Figures 4-8 and 4-9. Buda Fm

Figure 4-10. Fossils in the Del Rio Fm

Figure 5-1. Geologic map in the area of US Hwy 183/Little Walnut Creek Spring

Figure 5-2. US Hwy 183/Little Walnut Creek Spring and seeps

Figure 5-3. Measured section at US Hwy 183 and Walnut Creek Bridge

Figure 5-4. Measured section on Little Walnut Creek east of Avesta Agave Apartments on US Hwy 183

Figure 5-5. Dessau Chalk, Austin Group, beneath US Hwy 183 bridge on Little Walnut Creek

Figure 5-6. Burditt Marl, Austin Group, on Little Walnut Creek

Figures 5-7 and 5-8. Faulted Dessau Chalk, Austin Group, on Little Walnut Creek

Figures 5-9 through 5-14. Fossils in Dessau Chalk and Burditt Marl, Austin Group, on Little Walnut Creek

Figures 5-15 and 5-16. Faulted Dessau Chalk, Austin Group, at Centre Creek bridge

Figure 6-1. Quaternary terrace deposits overlying the Taylor Group, with associated springs

Figure 6-2. Measured section at Costley Spring

Figure 6-3. Costley Spring tufa terraces on eastern bank of Terry Creek

Figures 6-4a and 6-4b. Upper Costley Spring and terrace deposits

Figure 6-5. Main or Lower Costley Spring showing main orifice

Figures 6-6 through 11. Fossils in Taylor Clay on Terry Creek

Figure 6-12. McKinney Mill foundation near Costley Spring

Figure 6-13. Main or upper mill dam on Terry Creek

Figure 6-14. Tri-City Star newspaper article (1976), photo of mill dam

Keywords: guidebooks, fieldtrip guidebooks, springs, Austin, Texas


Citation
Berry, J. L., Dickerson, P. W., and Johns, D. A., eds., 2017, Less Frequented Springs of the Austin Area, Texas: Austin Geological Society, Guidebook 37, 82 p.