MONDAY
FEBRUARY 29, 2016 VOLUME 105 ISSUE 45
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ENVIRONMENT
ALYSSA DUGAN-RODRIQUEZ STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Spring Lake Dam.
NO SIMPLE TASK Civil War era Spring Lake Dam to be restored
By Rae Glassford NEWS REPORTER @rae_maybe
Spring Lake Dam, located near the former Aquarena Springs Park complex, appears deceptively sound, but the three historical floods the dam has endured over the past two years have raised serious questions about its structural integrity. “The dam was originally built during the Civil War era, primarily out of earth and timber, and recent flooding hasn’t improved anything,” said Eric Algoe, vice president for Finance & Support Services. “This
is a public safety issue as well as an environmental issue.” Repairing the dam is no simple task, and at this point, multiple organizations are involved including Edwards Aquifer Authority, Texas Parks & Wildlife, Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The first phase of restoration is expected to begin next semester. “A project like this requires close coordination with other entities,” Algoe said. “Many parties are at the table currently, holding an open discussion about how best to go about the
restoration. As the property owner, the university is overseeing this dialogue.” The city is involved, but to a lesser extent, Algoe said. A city representative attends all regular stakeholder meetings. Although the city technically has no direct responsibility regarding the project, there is a clear and obvious interest in public safety and maintaining river quality. “The first step of the process is identifying ways to ensure that the dam stands for the next hundred years, just as it has past hundred years,” Algoe said. “The university considers the project no less seriously
than it does its other responsibilities to repair and maintain campus facilities.” One of the chief concerns surrounding the project, other than the dam’s questionable structural stability, is construction will disrupt the delicate ecosystem of the San Marcos River. “Spring Lake Dam, especially the eastern spillway, is an incredibly environmentally sensitive area,” said Thomas Hardy, Chief Science Officer for the Meadows Center for Water & the Environment and biology professor. “The dam has always been leaky to begin with; it was constructed with lots of crevices, and
UNIVERSITY
many of those crevices are occupied by endangered species, such as Texas wild rice and salamanders.” The structural repairs required include lining the dam’s backside with riprap (large boulders, roughly the size of a Volkswagen Beetle or smaller) to keep the dam from washing out on its downstream side. These boulders will hold the dam in place while more complicated and extensive work can be done to the dam’s front, Hardy said. “Any work done on the dam could potentially have some short-term impact on endangered species,” Hardy said. “But the repairs will
protect the dam long-term, and protecting the dam means protecting Spring Lake and its sources.” The long-term repairs will likely entail a multimillion-dollar project and additional studies and design work on the part of the university, Hardy said. It could be years away. “Measures to hold the dam in place have to be taken in a way that minimizes the impacts to our endangered species,” Hardy said. “What I proposed in my dialogue with the university was that our team go in with scuba diving gear
See SPRING LAKE, Page 2
ENVIRONMENT
Professor hopes to bring a more liberal voice Community prepares for annual San Marcos River to Texas education Cleanup By Bri Watkins NEWS REPORTER @briwatkins17
By Richard Dray NEWS REPORTER
Rebecca Bell-Metereau, English professor, is running for the Texas Board of Education as the only Democratic candidate to represent District 5 this election cycle. Bell-Metereau earned her Ph.D. at Indiana University and has taught at Texas State her entire career. She currently serves on Faculty Senate as cochair for the Environment and Sustainability Committee at Texas State. Originally running in 2010 and again in 2012, Bell-Metereau said she hopes to bring a balance to the board. District 5 incumbent Ken Mercer is Bell-Metereau’s main op-
SAM KING STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Rebecca Bell-Metereau, English Professor, in her office Feb. 19.
position and she sees him
as someone who wants to
See REBECCA, Page 2
Community residents will join together in an effort to maintain the beauty of the San Marcos River at the annual river cleanup. Members of various groups and organizations will come together March 5 for an extensive cleanup, stretching approximately 90 miles. The San Marcos River Foundation, which aims to protect public access and preserve the river, organizes the cleanup. The foundation was established in 1985 when citizens realized the need for someone to represent the river. The San Marcos River, a rare ecosystem with many
threatened and endangered species, emerges out of the Edwards Aquifer, forming Spring Lake. The river is a gem San Martians adore and volunteer time to ensure it is properly maintained. Many clubs, organizations and people around the community will gather with one purpose in mind— to establish a healthy environment for a valuable part of San Marcos. Kristen Van Riper, geography resource and environmental studies junior (classification) and environmental conservancy organization member, said she has helped with the cleanup before and believes it’s important for the community.
See CLEANUP, Page 2