Ellenburger Aquifer Facts
The Ellenburger-San Saba Aquifer is a minor aquifer found in parts of 16 counties in the Llano Uplift area of Central Texas. Let’s explore more about this aquifer:
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Geological Composition:
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The Ellenburger-San Saba Aquifer consists of the Tanyard, Gorman, and Honeycut formations of the Ellenburger Group and the San Saba Limestone Member of the Wilberns Formation.
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It is a sequence of limestone and dolomite that crop out in a circular pattern around the Llano Uplift and dip radially into the subsurface away from the center of the uplift to depths of approximately 3,000 feet.
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Regional block faulting has significantly compartmentalized the aquifer.
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Hydrogeology:
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Water occurs in fractures, cavities, and solution channels within the aquifer.
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The aquifer is highly permeable in places, with wells yielding as much as 1,000 gallons per minute.
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Numerous springs issue from the aquifer, maintaining the baseflow of streams in the area.
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Water Quality:
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Groundwater in the Ellenburger-San Saba Aquifer is generally very good and usually has less than 1,000 milligrams per liter of total dissolved solids.
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Total dissolved solids increase down-dip and radially outward from the Llano Uplift, centered in Llano County.
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Elevated concentrations of radionuclides also occur in the aquifer, mostly in the northern part.
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Usage:
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Most of the groundwater is used for municipal purposes, and the remainder for irrigation and livestock.
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The recharge zone for the Ellenburger-San Saba Aquifer in Burnet County covers an area of 110,413 acres. This is where water infiltrates into the aquifer, replenishing its supply. If you’re interested in exploring more, you can refer to the Texas Water Development Board’s interactive map for this aquifer. Ellenburger-San Saba Aquifer | Texas Water Development Board