Travis J. Garcia | USGS Science

USGS2013

Geodatabase and characteristics of springs within and surrounding the Trinity aquifer outcrops in northern Bexar County, Texas, 2010--11

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Trinity Glen Rose Groundwater Conservation District, the Edwards Aquifer Authority, and the San Antonio River Authority, developed a geodatabase of springs within and surrounding the Trinity aquifer outcrops in a 331-square-mile study area in northern Bexar County, Texas. The data used to develop the geodatabase were compiled from existing reports and databases, along with spring data collected between October 2010 and September 2011. Characteristics including the location, discharge, and water-quality properties were collected for known springs and documented in the geodatabase. A total of 141 springs were located within the study area, and 46 springs were field verified. The discharge at springs with flow ranged from 0.003 to 1.46 cubic feet per second. The specific conductance of the water discharging from the springs ranged from 167 to 1,130 microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius with a majority of values in the range of 500 microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius.

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USGS2012

Science to support the understanding of south Texas surface-water and groundwater resources in a changing landscape

Against a backdrop of constant cycles of extreme hydrologic conditions ranging from oppressive droughts to life-threatening floods, the water-resource landscape of south Texas is undergoing constant change. Demands on water resources are increasing because of changes related to population growth, energy demands, agricultural practices, and other human-related activities. In south Texas, the Nueces, San Antonio, and Guadalupe River Basins cover approximately 50,000 square miles and include all or part of 45 counties. These stream systems transect the faulted and fractured carbonate rocks of the Edwards aquifer recharge zone and provide the largest sources of recharge to the aquifer. As the streams make their way to the Gulf of Mexico, they provide water for communities and ecosystems in south Texas and deliver water, sediment, and nutrients to the south Texas bays and estuaries. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) works in cooperation with other local, State, and Federal agencies to provide timely access to water data, publications, and information to foster a better understanding of the water resources of south Texas. The USGS and our cooperators are involved in a wide variety of programs for collecting hydrologic data and scientific information in the changing landscape of south Texas to help our cooperators effectively address water-resource issues in this part of the State. This fact sheet provides an overview of our collaborative scientific endeavors in the basins of the Nueces, San Antonio, and Guadalupe Rivers and lower Rio Grande. An overview of USGS capabilities pertaining to water resource issues in Texas, including recently completed and ongoing studies in south Texas, is available at http://tx.usgs.gov/Capabilities/index.html.

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