Texas Fauna Project

Barton Springs Salamander

See Full Interview Transcript

Nico Hauwert, Ph.D., a hydrogeologist and cave explorer active in the central Texas area, describes the long practice of filling caves to create ponds and trash dumps, eliminate fall sites for livestock, maintain flows to stream mills, and improve marketability for development. However, these clogged caves reduced aquifer recharge, stream flow, and habitat for salamanders and cave creatures.