A beloved swimming hole in Central Texas finds itself battling an unseen enemy.
Extreme drought conditions and excessive groundwater pumping have taken a toll on Jacob’s Well in Wimberley, with its once cool crystal-clear waters showing clear signs of drying up.
As explained by Hays County Park Manager Jay Taylor, the prospects of the swimming hole rebounding to its previous flow rate of 4 million gallons a day are not good, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
“Right now we’re at zero [gallons],” Taylor said.
A photo of Jacob’s Well posted recently by the Watershed Association, a nonprofit based in the Texas Hill Country, shows a small pool of water surrounded by parched rock and earth.
Noting that this was the sixth time since 2000 that the swimming hole had zero flow, the post explained that the group was “working with local leaders and the community to raise awareness” and urged residents of the Texas Hill Country to stop outdoor watering.
The Watershed Association attributed the well’s current state to both extreme drought and “excessive groundwater pumping [to] accommodate rapid population growth.”
Jacob’s Well is roughly 35 miles southwest of Austin, which is now the 10th most populated city in the country.
“Our community and the many visitors from around the world all share the desire to see crystal-clear flowing water from this ancient and cherished spring once again,” the Watershed Association wrote.
Jacob’s Well was given a Bible-themed name by a Texas settler who was struck by its beauty after coming across the gushing spring in the early 1850s.
Over time, Jacob’s Well became a popular spot for swimmers eager to cool off in its 68-degree waters and escape the harsh Texas summer.
Yet the refreshing pool has been closed to swimming since June 2022.
“Maybe our tears will fill the well,” one person commented on the Watershed Association’s post.
Another comment read, “[Laughing emoji] use less water! Right…”
As previously reported in The Dallas Express, relief from drought may come to Texas in the fall and winter as the jet stream — currently near the U.S.-Canada border — meanders south as a result of El Niño. The climatic phenomenon typically brings cooler temperatures and higher rain chances to the state.
