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Source-linked reports with geographic coverage including Texas.

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USGS1984

Hydrologic data for urban studies in the Austin, Texas, metropolitan area, 1982

Hydrologic investigations of urban watersheds in Texas were begun by the U.S. Geological Survey in 1954. Studies are now in progress in Austin, and Houston. Studies have been completed in the Dallas, Fort Worth, and San Antonio areas. The Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Texas Department of Water Reources, began hydrologic studies in the Austin urban area in 1954. In cooperation with the city of Austin, the program was expanded in 1975 to include additional streamflow and rainfall gaging stations, and the collection of surface water-quality data. In 1978, the program was expanded to include a ground-water resources study of the South Austin metropolitan area in the Ealcones Fault Zone. The objectives of the Austin urban hydrology study are as follows: To determine, on the basis of historical data and hydrologic analyses, the magnitude and frequency of flood peaks and flood volume. To determine the effect of urban development on flood peaks and volume. To determine the variations in water quality during different seasons and flow conditions in representative watersheds under various types of urban development. To quantitatively appraise the grouna-water resources along the Balcones Fault Zone, the effect of urbanization on the quality and quantity of recharge and discharge, and the extent of contamination in the Edwards aquifer that is in hydrologic circulation with Barton Springs. This report presents the basic hydrologic data collected in the Austin urban area for the 1982 water year (Oct. 1, 1981 to Sept. 30, 1982). Additional explanations of terms related to streamflow, water quality, and other hydrologic data used in this report are defined in the U.S. Geological Survey annual report Water Resources Data for Texas, TX-82-3, 1982.

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USGS1984

Ground-water resources of Limestone County, Texas

Limestone County, located in east-central Texas, has small to plentiful ground-water supplies available, depending upon the location within the county. The Wilcox Group in the eastern part of the county has adequate supplies to meet the expected water demands in the foreseeable future. The thicker zones of the Wilcox Group can supply yields in excess of 500 gallons per minute. The Midway Group can supply yields in excess of 100 gallons per minute from the Tehuacana Member of the Kincaid Formation. This represents the largest well yields from the Midway Group in Texas. The Midway Group elsewhere in the State is mostly a poor water producer and is not considered an aquifer. The Taylor Marl and Navarro Group furnish only small quantities of ground water to wells in the western part of the county where these units crop out. The Hosston and Travis Peak Formations are present at depths in excess of 2,000 feet. These formations, which contain slightly saline water in the western part of the county, could be expected to produce water with a temperature of about 150°F that might be used for heating purposes. About 0.9 million gallons per day of ground water was used for all purposes in 1980. This use has declined since 1955 but is expected to increase as additional public-supply and industrial wells are being developed. The Wilcox Group is capable of annually yielding at least 14,000 acre-feet or 11.6 million gallons per day of water to wells on a long-term basis. Generally, the ground water is of acceptable quality for most uses. Relatively high dissolved-solids and iron concentrations are the major water-quality problems. Water-quality problems that may be the result of man's activities are limited to a small oilfield area near Mexia. Lignite mining from the Wilcox Group is expected to take place in the foreseeable future. The collection of additional hydrologic data on the Wilcox would be desirable before, during, and after mining.

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USGS1984

Identification and tabulation of geological contacts in the Edwards aquifer, San Antonio area, Texas

Geological contacts were picked on logs of about 480 wells in the San Antonio area of the Edwards aquifer. The base of the Del Rio Clay is the most frequently picked contact because it is the top of the Edwards aquifer and also because it is easily identified on either gamma-ray or electric logs. Other important formation contacts identified were the Austin Group, the Eagle Ford Group, the Buda Limestone, and the Glen Rose Formation. These contacts were usually easy to identify on either gamma-ray or electric logs.

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USGS1984

Index of surface-water stations in Texas, January 1985

The U.S. Geological Survey's investigations of the water resources of Texas are conducted in cooperation with the Texas Department of Water Resources, river authorities, cities, counties, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, International Boundary and Water Commission, and others. As of January 1, 1984, 404 streamflow, 89 reservoir-contents, 32 stage, 10 crest-stage partial-record, 2 periodic discharge through range, 31 flood-hydrograph partial-record, 15 flood-profile partial-record, 41 low-flow partial-record, 11 tide-level, 49 daily chemical-quality, 26 continuous-recording water-quality, 100 periodic biological, 19 lake surveys, 170 periodic organic and (or) nutrient, 3 periodic insecticide, 57 periodic pesticide, 25 automatic sampler, 152 periodic minor elements, 147 periodic chemical-quality y 102 periodic physical-organic, 7 continuous-recording four-parameter water-quality, 3 sediment, 40 periodic sediment, 28 continuous-recording temperature, and 38 national stream-quality accounting network stations were in operation. Plate 1 shows the location of surface-water streamflow or reservoir content and chemical-quality or sediment stations in Texas. Plate 2 shows the location of partial-record surface-water stations. This index shows the station number -and name, latitude and longitude, type of data collected, and the office principally responsible for the data collection (table 1). An 8-digit permanent numerical designation for gaging stations has been adopted on a nationwide basis; stations are numbered and listed in downstream order. In the downstream direction along the main stem, all stations on a tributary entering above a main-stem station are listed before that station. A tributary entering between two main-stem stations is listed between them. A similar order is followed in listing stations on first rank, second rank, and other ranks of tributaries. To indicate the rank of any tributary on which a gaging station is situated and the stream to which it is an immediate tributary, each indention in the listing of gaging stations represent one rank. This downstream order and system of indention show which gaging stations are on tributaries between any two stations on a main stem and the rank of the tributary on which each gaging station is situated. On plates 1 and 2, the 8-digit station number is abbreviated because of space limitation.

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USGS1984

Maps showing ground-water units and withdrawal, Basin and Range Province, Texas

This report on ground-water units and withdrawal in the Basin and Range province of Texas (see index map) was prepared as part of a program of the U.S. Geological Survey to identify prospective regions for further study relative to isolation of high-level nuclear waste (Bedinger, Sargent, and Reed, 1984), utilizing program guidelines defined in Sargent and Bedinger (1984). Also included in this report are selected references on pertinent geologic and hydrologic studies of the region. Other map reports in this series contain detailed data on ground-water quality, surface distribution of selected rock types, tectonic conditions, areal geophysics, Pleistocene lakes and marshes, and mineral and energy resources.

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USGS1984

Maps showing ground-water levels, springs, and depth to ground water, Basin and Range Province, Texas

This report on ground-water levels, springs, and depth to ground water in the Basin and Range province of Texas (see index map) was prepared as part of a program of the U.S. Geological Survey to identify prospective regions for further study relative to isolation of high-level nuclear waste (Bedinger, Sargent, and Reed, 1984), utilizing program guidelines defined in Sargent and Bedinger (1984). Also included in this report are selected references on pertinent geologic and hydrologic studies of the region. Other map reports in this series contain detailed data on ground-water quality, surface distribution of selected rock types, tectonic conditions, areal geophysics, Pleistocene lakes and marshes, and mineral and energy resources.

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USGS1984

Maps showing distribution of dissolved solids and dominant chemical type in ground water, Basin and Range Province, Texas

This map report is one of a series of geologic and hydrologic maps of States in the Basin and Range Province. These map reports contain information on ground-water hydrology, ground-water quality, surface distribution of selected rock types, data on tectonic conditions, areal geophysical data, Pleistocene lakes and marshes and natural resources. This information is the basis for a summary report that characterizes the Basin and Range Province. The geologic and hydrologic characterization will be used to evaluate the Province for prospective regions for further study relative to isolation of high-level radioactive waste. (Bedinger, Sargent and Reed, 1984).

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USGS1984

Compilation of hydrologic data for the Edwards Aquifer, San Antonio area, Texas, 1981, with 1934-81 summary

The average annual ground-water recharge to the Edwards aquifer in the San Antonio area, Texas, from 1934 through 1981, was 612,400 acre-feet. The recharge in 1981 was 1,448,400 acre-feet, which is the third highest annual recharge since 1934. A maximum annual recharge of 1,711,200 acre-feet occurred in 1958, and a minimum annual recharge of 43,700 acre-feet occurred in 1956. The calculated annual discharge by wells and springs in 1981 was 794,400 acre-feet. Annual discharge by wells and springs ranged from a maximum of 960,900 acre-feet in 1977 to a minimum of 388,800 acre-feet in 1955. The annual discharge by wells was 387,100 acre-feet in 1981. Although water levels in many of the wells in the Edwards aquifer fluctuated near the midpoint between record high and low levels during the first 5 months of 1981, the volume of ground water in storage in the aquifer was above average for most of the year. Analyses of water samples from 56 wells and 3 springs show that the water is of a significantly better quality than the level established for public water systems.

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USGS1983

Temporal accumulation of organochlorine pesticides in shorebirds wintering on the south Texas coast, 1979-80

Organochlorine pesticide residues were determined in 168 shorebirds of three species collected at approximate bimonthly intervals during the fall and winter months of 1979–80 near Port Mansfield on the south Texas coast. The study was conducted to determine if shorebirds wintering on mudflats at the outlets of agricultural drains in Texas accumulated pesticides during this period. The predominant Organochlorine residues detected in shorebirds were DDE, dieldrin, and toxaphene. Ninety-five % of the skinned carcasses analyzed contained detectable levels of DDE, 13% contained dieldrin, and 22% contained toxaphene. DDE significantly increased in all species of shorebirds from October to December, with potentially dangerous levels accumulating in some long-billed dowitchers ( Limnodromus scolopaceus ) and American avocets ( Recurvirostra americana ), but DDE residues seldom exceeded 0.5 ppm in carcasses of western sandpipers ( Calidris mauri ). After about two months on the study area, no further residue increases were documented. The high levels of DDE detected in a large proportion of the dowitchers, and to a lesser extent in the avocets, are near or within the range known to inhibit reproduction in some avian species. This study demonstrates that certain aquatic areas near agricultural lands on the south Texas coast may be potential threats to waterbirds eight years after the use of DDT was banned in the United States.

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USGS1983

Parathion alters incubation behavior of laughing gulls

One member of each pair of incubating laughing gulls at 9 nests was trapped, orally dosed with either 6 mg/kg parathion in corn oil or corn oil alone, and marked about the neck with red dye. Each nest was marked with a numbered stake and the treatment was recorded. A pilot study with captive laughing gulls had determined the proper dosage of parathion that would significantly inhibit their brain AChE activity (about 50% of normal) without overt signs of poisoning. After dosing, birds were released and the nests were observed for 21/2 days from a blind on the nesting island. The activities of the birds at each marked nest were recorded at 10-minute intervals. Results indicated that on the day of treatment there was no difference (P>0.05, Chi-square test) in the proportion of time spent on the nest between treated and control birds. However, birds dosed with 6 mg/kg parathion spent significantly less time incubating on days 2 and 3 than did birds receiving only corn oil. By noon on the third day, sharing of nest duties between pair members in the treated group had approached normal, indicating recovery from parathion intoxication. These findings suggest that sublethal exposure of nesting birds to an organophosphate (OP) insecticide, such as parathion, may result in decreased nest attentiveness, thereby making the clutch more susceptible to predation or egg failure. Behavioral changes caused by sublethal OP exposure could be especially detrimental in avian species where only one pair member incubates or where both members are exposed in species sharing nest duties.

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