The toothless blindcat and widemouth blindcat are tiny catfish species found in the artesian segment of the Edwards Aquifer.
, are tiny catfish species found in the artesian segment of the Edwards Aquifer, the vast underground reservoir that is the main water source for 2 million people in Central Texas, including San Antonio. Growing no larger than 6 inches, these fish are in danger of extinction due to groundwater pumping, said Michael Warriner, supervisory fish and wildlife biologist for the agency’s Austin Ecological Services Field Office.
Since they are so small, the fish easily get sucked up through well pumps, he said. In fact, that was how the two species were first discovered; in the early 1900s, the fish were ejected from some of the first groundwater wells installed in San Antonio and Bexar County. Their efforts slowly pushed the Austin Ecological Services Office into action, and in 2019 Warriner and his team began a species status assessment, which looks at how healthy a species is currently and considers how it might fare in the future., published in 2022, found both species — but especially the widemouth blindcat — could be in danger of extinction as a growing population taps aquifer water.
“Ninety-nine percent of the time the fish come out dead, and they don’t necessarily come out as a whole fish,” Warriner added. “They may come out as just tissues and bones.” Its permit holders must abide by EAA pumping restrictions, which exist to ensure minimum spring flows from the Edwards Aquifer-fed Comal and San Marcos springs to protect endangered species. Permit holders include the City of San Marcos; the City of New Braunfels; Texas State University; and the City of San Antonio acting by and through the San Antonio Water System.
“We look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with the Edwards Aquifer Authority and other local organizations to conserve and protect the Edwards Aquifer for the benefit of people and wildlife,” said Karen Myers, field supervisor at the Austin Ecological Services Field Office.
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