Understanding groundwater recharge rates has direct relevance for management of the Edwards Aquifer, which serves as the main source of fresh water for the city of San Antonio and surrounding communities. As population around San Antonio continues to grow, so does the demand for water and the stress placed on the aquifer. A method that is commonly believed to augment water yields is brush management. Over the last 150 years an increase in juniper density on the Edwards Plateau has coincided with decreasing streamflow. This has led many to believe that removing juniper would increase available water. Due to its karstic nature, the recharge zone of the Edwards Aquifer is assumed to be a prime location for augmenting water yields through vegetation manipulation. This study assesses the dynamics of recharge and the effects of manipulating surface vegetation. To accomplish this, a shallow cave located in the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone in San Antonio, Texas was instrumented to monitor drip recharge in response to simulated rainfall events. In 2004, simulations were conducted over the cave to measure recharge rates with a dense Ashe juniper canopy. The data and observations from the initial simulations were used to establish a baseline with the juniper in place. In February 2008 the juniper stand was cleared and the rainfall simulations were reproduced in June and July 2008, and again in early June 2009. Results from the study indicated that even though the amount of rainfall reaching the surface increased, a decrease in the amount of recharge occurred. The decrease can be possibly be explained by the elimination of stemflow, which is believed to direct higher concentrations of water to preferential flow paths near the base of the tree, and an increase in surface runoff. However, because such a large portion of the water reaching the surface is not accounted for by the budget, it is difficult to conclude that a change in recharge did not occur at a larger scale.

Several studies have been conducted to research the effectiveness of brush removal on hydrologic properties such as increased water yields and water quality. The Leon River Restoration Project (LRRP) is a large scale brush management program aimed at assessing the impacts of the mechanical removal of Ashe juniper (Juniperus ashei) on the quantity and quality of water, as well as wildlife habitat and livestock forage production. The objectives of this particular study are to assess the short and long term impacts of mechanical rangeland management techniques on runoff water yield and sediment loss from rainfall simulator plots. Two ecological sites were used to conduct rainfall simulation in 3 stages. Rainfall simulations were completed on Redland and Low Stony Hill sites in June 2003 prior to treatment, July 2003 after Ashe juniper was sheared from treated areas of both sites and 11 months after treatment in June 2004. Infiltration rates on both the Redland and Low Stony Hill sites increased after juniper was removed except for the treated brush plots on the Redland site, which experienced a 33% decrease. During the third simulation, infiltration rates decreased on all plots. Grass and litter biomass, as well as bare ground were influential on both sites. Percent bare ground affected infiltration rates the most on the Redland site where bare ground on the treated brush site was 23% in July 2003 and 42% in June 2004. The grass plots on the Low Stony Hill site had the greatest percentages of bare ground during the second simulation. Very few significant differences were apparent with sediment production on the Low Stony Hill site; however, the treated brush plots on the Redland site did experience a significant increase in soil loss following treatment. Sediment production increased from 24.6 kg/ha to 1,730 kg/ha in one month on the treated brush site. All other plots on the Redland site decreased in sediment discharge. Sediment production also had minor increases on the grass plots and treated brush of the Low Stony Hill. Once again, standing crop and bare ground seemed to have the greatest influence on sediment production.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2004. / Supervisor: Norma Fowler. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Not available / text

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Baylor University, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 145-157).

Anthropogenic activities are responsible for increases in atmospheric CO₂ and climate change. These increases are partly counterbalanced by natural processes, such as carbon uptake in land surfaces. These processes are themselves subject to climate change, creating a coupled carbon-climate system. I investigated the carbon sink that woody encroachment represents, using a Central Texas savanna as study site, and studied how climatic factors influence this carbon sink. Woody plant encroachment, a worldwide structural change in grassland and savanna ecosystems, alters many ecosystem properties, but the net effect on the carbon balance is uncertain. Woody encroachment represents one of the key uncertainties in the US carbon balance, and demands a more detailed understanding. To come to a process-based understanding of the encroachment effect on carbon dynamics, I analyzed patterns of carbon exchange using eddy-covariance technology. I expected the imbalance between carbon uptake and release processes associated with the encroaching trees specifically, to be responsible for the carbon sink. I also expected that the sink would vary in time, due to strong links between carbon fluxes and soil water in this semi-arid ecosystem. I further studied the ecophysiology of the dominant species, as well as soil respiration processes under different vegetation types, and scaled these findings in space and time. I found that the ecosystem was a significant carbon sink of 405 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹. The encroaching trees increased photosynthesis by 180% and decreased soil respiration by 14%, compared to the grassland, resulting in a strong carbon sink due to the encroachment process. The encroaching process also altered carbon dynamics in relation to climatic drivers. The evergreen species Ashe juniper effectively lengthened the growing season and widened the temperature range over which the ecosystem acts as a carbon sink. The drought resistance of the encroaching trees reduced the sensitivity of this savanna to drought. I conclude that encroachment in Central Texas savannas increased the carbon sink strength by increasing the carbon inputs into the ecosystem. Woody encroachment also reduced the sensitivity to climatic drivers. These two effects constitute a direct effect, as well as a negative feedback to the coupled carbon-climate system. / text

Over the past 100–150 years Texas rangelands have dramatically changed from native open savannahs to dense woodlands. On the Edwards plateau, a major management concern is the increasing encroachment of Ashe juniper (Juniperus ashei). Preceding an anticipated brush management program, I investigated the presence, co-occurrence, and habitat relationships of 7 breeding bird species in the Leon River Watershed in central Texas, USA: black-capped vireo (Vireo atricapillus), golden-cheeked warbler (Dendroica chrysoparia), northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus), white-eyed vireo (Vireo griseus), Bell’s vireo (Vireo bellii), painted bunting (Passerina ciris), and brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater). Vegetation characteristics were compared between sites occupied by each species and unoccupied sites using univariate analysis. Models for predicting species site occupancy were developed (using logistic regression) based on habitat characteristics correlated with the presence of each species. Two species of special concern, the endangered black-capped vireo and golden-cheeked warbler occupied 5.6% of sites and 13.8% of sites respectively, while the brood parasite brown-headed cowbird was the most widespread, occupying 86.8% of sites. Species co-occurrence patterns revealed significant associations between the golden-cheeked warbler and each of 5 other species. For most species, variables included in habitat models could be explained by knowledge of species known habitat associations. For example, the black-capped vireo was positively associated with increasing low-growing (<1.5 m) hardwood cover and with Low Stony Hill ecological sites. The golden-cheeked warbler was positively associated with increasing density of larger juniper trees, increasing variability in vertical vegetation structure, and decreasing midstory canopy of deciduous nonoaks (e.g., cedar elm [Ulmus crasifolia]). It also preferred Low Stony Hill and Steep Adobe ecological sites. Site occupancy seemed to be driven by variables that describe overall vegetation structure. In particular, cover of low-growing non-juniper vegetation and juniper tree density appeared to be important in determining site occupancy for several species. Although the models constructed were not very robust, resource managers can still benefit from such models because they provide a preliminary examination of important controlling variables. Managing rangelands to maintain or restore a mosaic of juniper patches and open shrublands are likely to help meet the habitat requirements of these bird communities.