The San Marcos: A River's Story (River Books, sponsored by The River Systems Institute at Texas State University) [Turtleback]

Jim Kimmel PhD (Author), Ms. Jerry Touchstone Kimmel (Photographer), Andrew Sansom (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2006 | Series: River Books, sponsored by The River Systems Institute at Texas State University

The San Marcos springs have flowed for around ten million years. In this ode to the river they form, Jim Kimmel brings us a picture of a watercourse brimming with life, past and present. Native, non-native, prehistoric, and modern-day plants, animals, and people have inhabited the river and its banks. Kimmel touches on them all with the affectionate and knowledgeable voice of one whose own life has been closely linked to the San Marcos.

As readers journey with Kimmel from the river’s headwater springs to its junction with the Guadalupe River, The San Marcos: A River’s Story will capture the imagination and provide valuable information about the river and its crucial role in the ecological health of Texas. Original photographs by Jerry Touchstone Kimmel add a sense of the beauty and complexity of the river.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“The San Marcos River is important to our community, and has been for generations. Our crystal clear river has been home for civilizations even before our time. It is such a delight to have the river stories that so many locals have stored away in their memories written down in a book, so that they are not lost or forgotten. No matter where they are from, readers will love this most enjoyable book. Some of the science involved in aquifers and rivers is also explained in between the stories, which helps with understanding the stories. I hope it also helps educate people about the need to take care of this river, so it will be here for future generations.”--Dianne Wassenich

(Dianne Wassenich )

About the Author

Jim Kimmel is professor of geography and Jesse H. and Mary Gibbs Jones Professor of Southwestern Studies at Texas State University. He directs the university’s Center for Nature and Heritage Tourism, which he conceived and founded. He lives in San Marcos.

Product Details

• Turtleback: 170 pages
• Publisher: TAMU Press (October 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1585445428
• ISBN-13: 978-1585445424
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #705,219 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You'll learn a lot from this book, January 29, 2007

By 

Dennis Mccown (Austin, Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The San Marcos: A River's Story (River Books, sponsored by The River Systems Institute at Texas State University) (Turtleback)

I attended a book signing in the Gonzales County Courthouse and heard the author speak about this book. I was very interested by what I heard and became more so after glancing through the illustrations. Later, after having read it, I have to admit it answered so many nagging questions I'd had over the years. A veteran of the Great Flood of '98, for example, I was most interested in learning about the Soil Conservation Service reservoirs, designed to lessen flood damage in the watershed, but inadvertently contributing to future silting problems. And I'd heard of logging operations in Luling, but never met anyone who knew anything about it. These and other questions found answers in this book, which is beautifully written and illustrated. Well worth reading.

5.0 out of 5 stars the san marcos: a river's story, April 8, 2011

By 

G. Johnson "muggle" (Texas, USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The San Marcos: A River's Story (River Books, sponsored by The River Systems Institute at Texas State University) (Turtleback)

Very well written and the photography compliments the script. Great husband and wife team work on this. You won't want to put it down once you start reading.
Well worth the money.

5.0 out of 5 stars A love letter to a Central Texas treasure, July 27, 2010

By 

Michael Jandrok (Lockhart, Texas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The San Marcos: A River's Story (River Books, sponsored by The River Systems Institute at Texas State University) (Turtleback)

Ok, in the spirit of full disclosure I'll state right off that I live in fairly close proximity to the San Marcos River. I reside in Lockhart, Texas, a short 15-minute drive to the banks in either Fentress or the city of San Marcos itself. I'll also disclose that I've lived here for 14+ years and only recently made deeper inroads into discovering more information about this beautiful and somewhat fragile river snaking through my geographic backyard. That will certainly change, as this gorgeous and informative book has opened my eyes to the deep history and lore of the areas nourished by this vibrant and living thread of water.

This book might just be the best piece of regional Texana that I've read in the last couple of years. Written and photographed by bona fide river rats Jim Kimmell and Jerry Touchstone Kimmell, the folksy text is amply supported by a wealth of photos, maps, and historical prints that trace the path and life ways along the river.

Author and photographer clearly love their river, and each chapter of this book is a revelation of discovery and shared knowledge. The reader is taken on a historical and physical journey from the spring-fed headwaters all the way to the eventual convergence with the Guadalupe River, some 76 miles downstream as the fish swims. Along the way you will encounter the river's flora and fauna, the dams and mills and the towns that grew around them, and of course the people who call the San Marcos River home.

Like most rivers in Texas and indeed the nation itself, the San Marcos is endangered. Increasing development along the San Antonio-San Marcos-Austin corridor threatens the water quality and water levels in the Edwards Aquifer, a direct danger to the San Marcos River since the Edwards Aquifer is the source of the river's headwaters. If the flow is severely curtailed or stops, then the San Marcos becomes just another wet-weather runoff creek, effectively killing it as a natural wonder and home to several endangered species. This book is a powerful call for conservancy and stewardship of the San Marcos River, and all of the life and history that it supports.

I can't recommend this book enough, especially if you live anywhere near the San Marcos River. Like the river itself, it's beautiful and understated, and well worth having in your library.