Geology topics

Research about Galveston, Houston, Texas

Source-linked reports with geographic coverage including Galveston, Houston, Texas.

22 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

USGS1994

Approximate changes in water levels in wells completed in the Chicot and Evangeline aquifers, 1977-94 and 1993-94, and measured compaction, 1973-93, in the Houston-Galveston region, Texas

This report is one in a series of reports that depict water-level changes since 1977 and compaction of subsurface material since 1973. The report was prepared in cooperation with the City of Houston and the Harris-Galveston Coastal Subsidence District, and presents maps showing the approximate changes in water levels in wells completed in the Chicot and Evangeline aquifers, 1977-94 and 1993-94 (figs. 1-4), extensometer site locations (fig. 5), and measured compaction, 1973-93 (fig. 6), in the Houston-Galveston region. Water-level change maps were prepared previously by Kasmarek and others (1993). The Houston-galveston region includes Harris and Galveston Counties and adjacent parts of Brazoria, Fort Bend, Waller, Montgomery, Liberty, and Chambers Counties.

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USGS1992

Approximate changes in water levels in wells completed in the Chicot and Evangeline aquifers, 1977-92 and 1991-92, and measured compaction, 1973-91, in the Houston-Galveston region, Texas

This report is one in a series of reports that depict water-level changes since 1977 and compaction of subsurface material since 1973. The report was prepared in cooperation with the Harris-Galveston Coastal Subsidence District and the City of Houston, and presents maps showing the approximate changes in water-levels in wells completed in the Chicot and Evangeline aquifers, 1977-92 and 1991-92 (figs. 1-4), and measured compations, 1973-91 (figs. 5 and 6), in the Houston-Galveston region. The Houston-Galveston region includes Harris and Galveston Counties and adjacent parts of Brazoria, Fort Bend, Waller, Montgomery, Liberty, and Chambers Counties.

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USGS1987

Approximate water-level changes in wells completed in the Chicot and Evangeline aquifers, 1977-87 and 1986-87, and measured compaction, 1973-87, in the Houston-Galveston region, Texas

This report consists of: (1) four maps that present data on water level changes during 1977-87 and 1986-87 in the Chicot and Evangeline aquifers, and in the Houston-Galveston region, Texas, and (2) one set of graphs and one map that present data on land subsidence caused by compaction of sub-surface materials for 1973-87. (USGS)

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USGS1974

Land-surface subsidence in the Houston-Galveston region, Texas

The pumping of large amounts of ground water in the Houston-Galveston region, Texas, has resulted in water-level declines of as much as 200 feet (61 metres) in wells completed in the Chicot aquifer and as much as 325 feet (99 metres) in wells completed in the Evangeline aquifer during 1943-73. The maximum annual rates of decline for 1943-73 were 6.7 feet (2.0 metres) in the Chicot aquifer and 10.8 feet (3.3 metres) in the Evangeline aquifer. During 1964-73, the maximum rates were 10 feet (3.0 metres) in the Chicot and 17.8 feet (5.4 metres) in the Evangeline. The declines in artesian pressures have resulted in pronounced regional subsidence of the land surface. The center of subsidence is at Pasadena, where as much as 7.5 feet (2.3 metres) of subsidence occurred between 1943 and 1973. More than 1.0 foot (0.3 metre) of subsidence occurred at Pasadena between 1906 and 1943. The maximum amount of subsidence during 1964-73 was about 3.5 feet (1.1 metres). In the southern part of Harris County, about 55 percent of the subsidence is a result of compaction in the Chicot aquifer. The area in which subsidence is 1 foot (0.3 metre) or more has increased from about 350 square miles (906 square kilometres) in 1954 to about 2,500 square miles (6,475 square kilometres) in 1973. Estimates of subsidence are based on the amount of water-level decline, the thickness of the clay, and the compressibility of the clay. At Seabrook, it is estimated that for each 1 foot (0.3 metre) of average water-level decline, 1 foot (0.3 metre) of clay would compact 0.000031 foot (0.00094 centimetre). At Seabrook, for 1 foot (0.3 metre) of water-level decline, 0.0248 foot (0.756 centimetre) of subsidence would occur. Planned use of surface water instead of ground water will probably result in some recovery of artesian pressures. If pressure recovery occurs the rate of subsidence should decrease substantially in the more critical areas.

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