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. “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 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.