Learn About Texas Karst Country

Photo credit: Elenore Goode

WHERE IS TEXAS KARST COUNTRY?

The heart of Texas is characterized by limestone bedrock that easily dissolves to form features such as caves, sinkholes, springs, rock outcroppings, and aquifers. Regions like this are called karst country. A geologically and ecologically complex region, we’ve learned this region requires land management solutions that are more site-specific and nature-based, not generic and brush-centric.


SPECIAL FEATURES

Blue Hole on the Frio River, Photo: H.E. Butt Foundation, used with permission


Photo credits (left to right): Elizabeth McGreevy, Elenore Goode, Geary Schindel, and Lauren Clark Realtor

Devil’s Sinkhole, Photo: Geary Schindel

A HISTORY OF DEGRADATION

For the last 150 years we’ve been pushing the shallow soils of this region towards rocky desertification because we didn’t understand the impact of our actions.



KARST COUNTRY AROUND THE WORLD


Veni and Duchene, 2001. Living with Karst


BETTER WAYS TO DEVELOP THIS REGION