Isn’t it fascinating how a city’s lifeblood can begin in such a humble spot? Right here we have Little Blue Hole. It is also known as the San Antonio Spring. This modest spring is considered the source of the San Antonio River. Little Blue Hole is an important place. It highlights how water has shaped San Antonio and its culture for ages.
This special spring is also called Ojo de Agua. Some even call it Yanaguana. It is located in the Headwaters at the Incarnate Word preserve. This is on the campus of the University of the Incarnate Word.
When the water level in the Edwards Aquifer rises high enough, clear water surges up. It flows from cracks in the limestone. Then it spills into a riverbed. That riverbed becomes the San Antonio River Walk. That’s the one we know and love.
The history of human settlement around Little Blue Hole goes back about 12,000 years. From 1869 to 1897, the area around Little Blue Hole was owned by George W. Brackenridge. He sold the land to the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word. They still own it today.
Little Blue Hole was once a fountain spring. It rose up to twenty feet in the air. It joins Comal Springs, San Marcos Springs, and Barton Springs. These are four fountain springs of Texas.
These four springs issue from the Edwards Aquifer. This vast water source flows underground. It runs along the Balcones Escarpment. The springs give rise to rivers. These rivers have sustained human communities for thousands of years.
However, increased pumping has caused the aquifer to draw down. This leaves local springs dry much of the time. When the aquifer is low, Little Blue Hole is dusty. The riverbed is dry. During those times, recycled water keeps the San Antonio River flowing downstream.
Artifacts from Paleo-Indian cultures have been found here. Some are more than 11,000 years old. The earliest Europeans found up to 200 sub-bands of Coahuiltecan Indians near the springs. Later, the Lipan Apaches displaced them. Spanish missionaries then built aqueducts. They carried water from the springs to missions like The Alamo.
Even though Little Blue Hole is small, it has a sacred feeling. A nearby bench has an inscription. It says, “Be still and know.”
Visiting Little Blue Hole can spark curiosity. It can make you think about where San Antonio gets its water. It can make you consider how we can conserve it. The Edwards Aquifer is a remarkable thing. However, its water supply is limited. San Antonio needs to plan for the future. It must secure other water supplies.
Remember this humble spring. It is a reminder of our connection to water. It highlights the importance of conservation. As you explore San Antonio, keep Little Blue Hole in mind. Think about the river’s origin. Also, consider the generations who have relied on this precious resource.