Available Resources

Texas State University - San Marcos (Texas State) is in close proximity to a great diversity of aquatic ecosystems, providing exceptional opportunities for study and research in aquatic biology and aquatic resources. Texas State acquired San Marcos Springs in 1994, converting it from a water amusement theme park to a research and education center, and giving Texas State stewardship of a unique aquatic ecosystem. The source of the springs is the Edwards Aquifer, one of the most prolific karst aquifers in the world. Available resources at San Marcos Springs include the Texas State River Systems Institute, a state-funded research and education facility dedicated to aquatic issues, and the Biology Department’s Wetlands Restoration Project. The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department’s Heart-of-the-Hills Research Station is developing a half-mile artificial stream in conjunction with the Texas Rivers Center.

Spring Lake

Texas State University purchased Aquarena Springs in 1994, changing the focus of the former theme park from entertainment to preservation and education. The 90-acre acquisition has enabled Texas State to preserve the beautiful, ecologically fragile site for the people of Texas, while opening up classroom, lab, and research possibilities for the University. Visitors can view and interact with a variety of educational exhibits and attend various conferences and meeting functions at what is now known as Aquarena Center.

The unusually clear springs at Aquarena flow at 150 million gallons per day from the Edwards Aquifer into Spring Lake, the headwaters of the San Marcos River. The river flows through the Texas State campus and San Marcos to join the Blanco River four miles downstream and the Guadalupe River near Gonzales.

Sometimes called the "perfect river," the San Marcos River is home to unique and rare species of plants, fish, aquatic insects, and amphibians, some of which exist nowhere else in the world. For example, the San Marcos Salamander, classified as "threatened" by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is found only around the deepest springs and in shallow areas near the Inn at Aquarena. The Fountain Darter, a small fish classified as "endangered," exists only in Spring Lake and the San Marcos River and Comal River in New Braunfels. Texas Wild Rice exists only along a short stretch of the San Marcos River, although scientists from Texas State are attempting to reintroduce the endangered plant into Spring Lake.

Archaeological sites and artifacts near Aquarena date back over 12,000 years. Evidence has been discovered of Clovis culture, making Aquarena one of the oldest continually inhabited sites on the North American continent.

An inn built on the shores of Spring Lake in 1929 was first known as Rogers’ Spring Lake Park Hotel, and operated as a health resort and spa. Paul Rogers initiated the further development of Aquarena Springs Resort by launching the first glass-bottom boat and, in 1951, the first submarine theater. Aquarena Springs then operated as a theme park until its 1994 purchase by Texas State University.

Operations at Aquarena are currently controlled by various University units. Aquarena Center (the park and conference facilities) is operated by Continuing Education. The golf course at Aquarena is operated and maintained by Recreational Sports. The Inn is operated and maintained by Auxiliary Services. A restaurant formerly known as Peppers has been leased to Landry’s and renamed Joe’s Crab Shack. That lease agreement is monitored by Auxiliary Services. A second restaurant is no longer in service. The Landing is leased to Texas Parks and Wildlife, with whom Texas State is also developing a joint venture known as the Texas Rivers Center at Aquarena.

San Marcos River

The San Marcos River originates from San Marcos Springs and flows through a park in the middle of the Texas State campus. The first few miles of the river comprise a large spring run, with clear water and an annual water temperature at a nearly constant 22° C, making the river a unique biological laboratory with many unusual species, and providing a controlled temperature laboratory in nature. The San Marcos River has been declared a “Critical Habitat” by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and is a refuge for six federally threatened or endangered aquatic species, including the San Marcos Gambusia, fountain darter, San Marcos salamander, Texas blind salamander, and Texas wild rice. Nearby aquatic ecosystems include San Marcos, Blanco and Guadalupe rivers, and Canyon and Dunlap reservoirs, all located within 25 miles of the Texas State campus.

Texas State River Systems Institute

The primary mission of the Texas State River Systems Institute is to develop and promote programs and techniques for insuring sustainable water resources. The work of the Institute focuses on furthering scientific understanding of the structure and function of aquatic ecosystems, as well as developing holistic approaches for integrating scientific and technical knowledge with the social, economic, institutional, legal and political realities, in pursuit of the goal of practical water policy.

Edwards Aquifer Research and Data Center (EARDC)

The Edwards Aquifer Research and Data Center (EARDC) is located in the Freeman Building. EARDC conducts basic research and data collection on the biology, hydrogeology, and water quality of the Edwards Aquifer and other water resources. The aquifer is the major source of drinking water in central Texas. Recent studies have revealed the aquifer to be one of the most biologically-unique karst systems in the world.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Fish Hatchery

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Fish Hatchery and Technology Center, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s A.E. Wood State Fish Hatchery, both state-of-the-art fish production and research facilities, cooperate with Aquatic Resources faculty and students in fisheries training and research projects. Many other state and federal agencies dealing with water issues also are located in close proximity to Texas State, including the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas Water Development Board, Texas Department of Health, and Texas General Land Office. Nearby river authorities include the Lower Colorado River Authority and the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority. Federal agencies with nearby offices include the Water Resources Division, U.S. Geological Survey (Department of Interior), National Resources Conservation Service (Department of Agriculture) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.