EDWARDS AQUIFER,2: Strategies for protecting a resource 
and its users ... on Passport to Texas.

Passport to Texas with support from the WSFR Program 

Two million people - from Central to Southwest Texas - 
depend on the Edwards Aquifer for their drinking water. 

06 -- it also supplies important water sources for industry, 
agriculture, recreation ... a number of things.
 
Cindy Loeffler, water resources branch chief at TPW, says 
eight federally listed threatened and endangered species 
call the aquifer home; they exist in this location only. The 
Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation Plan intends to 
protect them, and allow Texans' continued use of the 
shared resource by implementing a mixture of strategies.

36 -- Water conservation is a key part of it...but also [part of it is] 
looking at different ways to manage water. For example, we do 
currently have different levels of conservation that kick in to 
action as drought increases, and also many measures to help 
make the ecosystems more resilient. Things like removing non-
native species, [and] helping to restore habitat that's been 
compromised. One notable thing, especially for folks who 
recreate on the San Marcos River that's been done, is to create a 
state scientific area that makes it unlawful to uproot Texas Wild 
Rice, a federally protected plant.

It is easy to be dismissive of a plan to protect species 
which exist in very small numbers or that we do not often 
see. Tomorrow we talk about the value of these species.

The WSFR program ... supports our series and funds diverse 
conservation projects throughout Texas ... 

For Texas Parks and Wildlife ... I'm Cecilia Nasti. 








Total sound bite time:		 0:42.0
Maximum Script time:		 0:43.0 Suggested show time: 85.0 = 
1:25