Glenn Longley was a founding member of the River Foundation has been a steady supporter and member ever since and a constant presence in every effort to protect the Edwards Aquifer and the San Marcos Springs. Glen was in the documentary film River of Innocence way back in the early 1980’s, pointing out that the aquifer has to be managed or the springs and river would go dry for long periods. He predicted decades ago that springs would go dry because the aquifer was being over pumped by the ever growing population of central Texas. And it has come close, but fortunately enough people listened that limits on pumping happened.
He has also done decades of research related to the aquifer, its species and also hydrologic system studies. Back in ’85 he was part of the team assembled by US Fish and Wildlife Service to draft a species recovery plan, and later the ’96 San Marcos and Comal Springs Recovery Plan. Recently when the region came together in the Edwards RIP process, he was there again, in their Science Subcommittee, and this led to an approved Habitat Conservation Plan, to keep the springs flowing even in drought. He still serves on that committee that now monitors the implementation of the HCP.
He and his fellow Lions Club members started up their tube rental and shuttle service on a shoestring, introducing so many to the river over several decades and providing funding from this, for so many civic needs including a scholarship in the biology program at Texas State. The Lion’s Club was instrumental in funding the beginning of SMRF, along with the Heritage Association, and continues their support of our projects.
Glenn always used solid science to address aquifer policy issues, standing up firmly for a spring and river ecosystem as a resource of great value, that is worth saving despite all the difficulties in Texas water laws. He has also steered countless students, young ones and also university students, into science fields with his summer science camps and his classes, while running the Edwards Aquifer Research and Data Center for decades.
