The amount of water on planet Earth has ALWAYS been the same. Author Barbara Kingsolver reminds us that our bodies are two-thirds water - "the briny broth of our origins," and that the rain falling today is the same water the dinosaurs drank millions of years ago. Yet is it enough to sustain the excessive demands of humans and all living creatures today? And is it safe for consumption? No and often not. Simply put, water is life; and, without it - THERE. IS. NO. LIFE.
That's why we promote effective management of our water resources, the lands that bind the Trinity River and its major and minor tributaries. Not only is water essential for the health of our ecosystems but for the economic vitality of municipalities, industries, habitat, farming and ranching operations in the Trinity River Basin.
STREAMS, RIVERS AND GROUNDWATER
Streams, rivers, creeks, and bayous drain the landscape and play a key role in the ecosystem in which they are situated. The Trinity River provides habitat for fish and other aquatic species. Riparian areas - the plant and soil communities along stream banks - provide habitat for an abundance of wildlife, reduce flooding and filter out pollutants. Humans have historically settled and developed communities near a water source such as the Trinity River or the Gulf of Mexico. This human activity has resulted in harmful impacts to the river and coastal water ecosystems by degrading water quality and wildlife habitat. A basic understanding of and appreciation for river systems by all citizens is key to the recovery and protection of the Trinity River.
Astonishingly, most people have no knowledge of their water supply’s origination, and believe that until the tap is dry that there are endless water supplies underground. Awareness of the interactions between groundwater and surface water, and the major impacts on flooding or water availability during drought is key to the recovery and protection of the Trinity River. Since groundwater use comprises 60% of total water use in the state of Texas, conserving our groundwater is vital to prosperity in the Trinity River basin.