When you read this column you will have had experienced level 2 water restrictions and very likely the so-called “cedar fever” over the last several months. Would you believe that the solution to both of these problems could be one and the same? Yes, there is one solution that could have corrected both of these problems in our life. But it will not happen.
That “cedar fever” that you may still be fighting is an allergy to the pollen of a tree we call cedar, but is really a juniper tree. It is an immigrant to our area. Back when Davy Crocket came to defend the Alamo he would not have seen any cedar trees here.
This so-called cedar tree is one of the rare winter pollinating plants. It is also one of the most heavily pollinating plants. I heard it puts out some 20 times more pollen than is needed. I know that during the pollinating season the male tree — the ones with just a little less green appearance, due to the tiny brownish pine cone-like ends of its greenery — shoots out a cloud of pollen in an instance. One minute you see the cedar tree and the next moment it disappears in a cloud of pollen to be blown away in the wind. The female tree, is the goal of this pollen.
The cedar tree is a real water hog, thus the water connection with your double problem. Studies are showing that the elimination of cedar trees is leadings to an increase in the water table in this area. Where cedar trees have been eliminated old springs and creeks have begun to flow once again, some of which hadn’t flowed in many years. Thus there is less need to pump water for animal and plant needs. Less or no cedar trees can correct the water needs of an area. It would at least go a long way to improve the situation.
You are beginning to see how one solution could be the answer to two of your problems that have really bugged you over the last year. Yet the solution is not that easy. You are not allowed to eliminate cedar trees from much of your area. There is an endangered bird, the yellow cheeked warbler, which requires these cedar trees to nest in. Since these birds need these trees to continue their kind, they must have immigrated here after or with the cedar trees.
You hear very often how a little fish, a snail darter, in the Comal Springs, and its partner, a salamander, are the cause of water restrictions we experience on the Edwards Aquifer. This is tied in with the Endangered Species Act and not expected to change any time soon. In fact, it is on track to get worse. That endangered whooping crane is soon going to enter into this whole picture.
As pumping from the Edwards Aquifer was restricted, water began to be used from the Guadalupe and other rivers. During last year’s drought these rivers had a lot less flow, which is believed to have led to less flow into the San Antonio Bay. The estuary in the bay needs this flow of fresh water to stay healthy. When unhealthy we have experienced a loss in the numbers of the endangered whooping crane. A new federal lawsuit is expected very soon. It is being prepared.
It would seem that those two problems you have experienced over the past year will continue. There are several endangered species involved. Now you have read in my column many times that we need to be good stewards of God’s earth, but it looks like man will need to be endangered to get relief in these problems.
Father Samuel Heitkamp is a retired archdiocesan priest and was director of the former rural life organization in the archdiocese.