Due to the vulnerability of the Edwards Aquifer to urban development, policy measures have been implemented to protect the important water resource in South–Central Texas. This paper analyzed land use change trends across different portions of the Edwards Aquifer to better understand the degree to which protective measures influenced aquifer urbanization rates. Specifically, the National Land Cover Database was used to quantify urban development within the contributing and recharge zones of the Edwards Aquifer across Bexar, Travis, Williamson, Comal, and Hays counties for three time periods: 2001–2006, 2006–2011, and 2011–2016. Bexar County exhibited the greatest reduction in the rate of urbanization within the recharge zone although the percentage of the zone developed remained the highest. Conversely, the pace of recharge zone development in Travis and Williamson County decreased less rapidly, but the percentage of the zone urbanized was lower. Limited urban development was observed across the aquifer in Comal and Hays County during the study period. Overall, the consistent declining rate of urbanization throughout the sensitive Edwards Aquifer recharge zone suggests that the policies protecting the aquifer were largely effective, particularly given the rapid pace of urban growth throughout the region.

由于爱德华兹含水层对城市发展的脆弱性，已实施政策措施来保护德克萨斯州中南部的重要水资源。本文分析了 Edwards 含水层不同部分的土地利用变化趋势，以更好地了解保护措施对含水层城市化率的影响程度。具体而言，国家土地覆盖数据库用于量化贝克萨、特拉维斯、威廉姆森、科马尔和海斯县爱德华兹含水层贡献区和补给区内的城市发展，三个时间段：2001-2006、2006-2011 和 2011 –2016 年。Bexar 县在补给区内的城市化率下降幅度最大，尽管开发区的百分比仍然最高。反过来，特拉维斯和威廉姆森县补给区发展速度下降较慢，但城市化率较低。在研究期间，在 Comal 和 Hays 县的含水层中观察到了有限的城市发展。总体而言，整个敏感的爱德华兹含水层补给区的城市化率持续下降表明保护含水层的政策在很大程度上是有效的，特别是考虑到整个地区的城市发展速度很快。