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Research about Texas

Source-linked reports with geographic coverage including Texas.

At least 1,261 records · Page 70Linked to original sources
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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USGS1974

Projected effects of the proposed Tennessee Colony Reservoir on ground-water conditions in the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer and Trinity River alluvium; Trinidad-Oakwood area, Texas

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requested the assistance of the U.S. Geological Survey to project the effects of the proposed Tennessee Colony Reservoir on the following ground-water systems: (1) Carrizo-Wilcox bedrock aquifer; (2) the Trinity River alluvium downstream from the proposed Tennessee Colony Dam; and (3) the Trinity River alluvium upstream from the proposed reservoir. The proposed dam site is on the Trinity River south of Trinidad and north of Oakwood. The source of water in the bedrock and alluvial aquifers within the study area is infiltration of rainfall on their respective outcrops. Discharge from these aquifers is by evapotranspiration, seepage to the Trinity River, and pumping from wells.

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USGS1974

Pesticides data-collection activities of the U.S. Geological Survey in Texas

The water-resources investigations program of the Geological Survey has the objective of seeing that the Nation's water resources are appraised and that the necessary water data to develop and manage them efficiently are available when needed. In carrying out this objective, the Survey is the primary source of hydrologic data that are basic not only to the quantification of the water resource but also to its development and conservation. In recent years, the need has developed for the Survey to provide data and technology to predict the impact of man's activities upon the water resource and the water environment. To accomplish its mission, the Geological Survey determines the source, quantity, quality, distribution, movement, and availability of both surface and ground water. This work includes the assessment of the chemical, physical, and biological quality of water resources and its relation to various parts of the hydrologic cycle; research to improve the scientific basis of investigations and techniques; design and operation of a national water-data network; and publication of its investigations.

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USGS1974

Land-surface subsidence in the area of Burnett, Scott, and Crystal Bays near Baytown, Texas

Removal of water, oil, and gas from the subsurface in Harris County has caused declines in fluid pressures, which in turn have resulted in subsidence of the land surface. Subsidence in the area of Burnett, Scott, and Crystal Bays near Baytown is becoming critical because much of the area is now subject to inundation by high tides. Production of oil and gas from the Goose Creek Field on the southeast edge of Baytown had caused as much as 3.25 feet (1 meter) of subsidence by 1925. The subsidence due to oil and gas production is restricted to the area of production and has not extended to the area of Burnett, Scott, and Crystal Bays. Withdrawals of water from large-capacity industrial wells, which resulted in declines in artesian pressure, began about 1918. As much as 280 feet (85.3 meters) of artesian-head decline has occurred in the Evangeline aquifer, and as much as 320 feet (97.5 meters) of artesianhead decline has occurred in the Alta Lorna Sand of Rose (1943). Significant subsidence of the land surface probably began about 1920 or later and as much as 8.2 feet (2.5 meters) of subsidence had occurred in the area by 1973. The study of subsidence in the area of the three bays included the collection of undisturbed clay samples for laboratory analyses, collection of water-level records, and installation and monitoring of pressure transducers in clays and of observation wells in sands. Probable future subsidence was calculated for two loading situations. Case I provided that the artesian head in both the Alta Lorna Sand and Evangeline aquifer would continue to decline at a rate of 6 feet (1.8 meters) per year until 1980 and then cease. Case II provided that artesian head in the Alta Lorna Sand would continue to decline at a rate of about 6 feet (1.8 meters) per year until about 1995, when the potentiometric surface would reach the top of the Alta Lorna Sand. The artesian head in the Evangeline aquifer would also decline about 6 feet (1.8 meters) per year until 1995. The ultimate subsidence expected for the assumed conditions of case I and case II is 11.4 feet (3.47 meters) and 15.1 feet (4.60 meters), respectively. However, only 1.4 feet (0.43 meter) of subsidence below present land surface would occur if artesian heads were maintained at their present levels. To halt subsidence in the near future, artesian head must be increased, either by decreasing pumpage or by repressurization by artificial recharge.

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USGS1974

The quality of surface waters in Texas

The discharge-weighted average concentrations of dissolved solids, chloride, and ,sulfate for many of the principal streams in Texas are less than 500 mg/l (millijgraljls per liter), 250 mg/l, and 250 mg/l, respectively. At 65 of 131 sites on streams that were sampled at least 10 times, the biochemical oxygen demand of at least half the samples exceeded 3.0 mg/l. At 20 of the sites, the dissolved-oxygen content of at least half the samples was less than 5.0 mg/l. The higher concentrations of minor elements usually were detected in waters from urban areas, indicating a relation to man's activities. Small amounts of some pesticides are widely distributed in low concentrations. The higher concentrations usually were detected in waters from urban areas.

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USGS1973

Annual compilation and analysis of hydrologic data for Pin Oak Creek, Trinity River basin, Texas, 1971

The U.S. Soil Conservation Service is actively engaged in the installation of flood- and soil-erosion reducing measures in Texas under the authority of "The Flood Control Act of 1936 and 1944" and "Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act" (Public Law 566), as amended. The Soil Conservation Service has found a total of approximately 3,500 floodwater-retarding structures to be physically and economically feasible in Texas. As of September 30, 1971, 1,496 of these structures had been built.

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USGS1973

Analog-model studies of the effects of recharge wells along the Houston Ship Channel on potentiometric surfaces of the Chicot and Evangeline aquifers, Houston, Texas

Because of increasing concern about the continuing decline of water levels in the Houston area, an electric analog model was used to determine the effects on the potentiometric surfaces resulting from recharging water through wells along the Houston Ship Channel into the two major aquifers, the Chicot and Evangeline. The model conditions simulated for this study are too complex to be described in detail. The upper model layer simulated the hydrologic conditions in the lower unit of the Chicot aquifer undifferentiated. The simulation included clay compaction and vertical leakage as well as transmissivity and storage. The lower model layer simulated the hydrologic conditions in the Evangeline aquifer which underlies the Chicot aquifer.

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USGS1973

Water-budget studies of lower Mesilla Valley and El Paso Valley, El Paso County, Texas

The total inflow of water to the lower Mesilla Valley in 1970 was 390,510 acre-feet. Of this amount, 43,300 acre-feet was consumptively used by crops and phreatophytes and 4,700 acre-feet was lost by evaporation. Ground-water storage increased by 320 acre-feet, and 360,860 acrefeet left the valley as surface- and ground-water outflow. Ground-water recharge was approximately 26,170 acre-feet.The total inflow to .the lower Mesilla Valley in 197l was 282,880 acre-feet, of which 41,800 acre-feet was consumptively used by crops and phreatophytes and 4,500 acre-feet was lost by evaporation. Ground-water storage decreased by 3,970 acre-feet and 244,320 acre-feet left the valley as surface- and ground-water outflow. Ground-water recharge was approximately 33,500 acre-feet. The average yearly inflow to the El Paso Valley in 1968-71 was 301,770 acre-feet. The average consumptive use by irrigated crops and phreatophytes was 138,870 acre-feet; the average evaporation loss was 27,000 acre-feet; the average change in ground-water storage was a decrease-of 3,225 acre-feet; and the average outflow from the valley was 96,640 acre-feet. Ground-water recharge averaged about 80,710 acre-feet.

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USGS1973

Preliminary report on land-surface subsidence in the area of Burnett, Scott, and Crystal Bays near Baytown, Texas

Removal of water, oil, and gas from the subsurface in Harris County has caused declines in fluid pressures which in turn have resulted in subsidence of the land surface. One critical area of subsidence is in the area of Burnett, Scott, and Crystal Bays near Baytown. Much of this area is now subject to inundation by high tides. Production of oil and gas from the Goose Creek Field at the southern edge of Baytown had caused as much as 3.25 feet of subsidence by 1925. The subsidence bowl is restricted to the area of production and has not extended to the area of Burnett, Scott, and Crystal Bays. Withdrawals of water from large-capacity industrial wells, which resulted in declines in artesian pressure, began about 1918; as much as 250 feet of water-pressure decline has occurred in the Evangeline aquifer, Significant subsidence of the land surface probably began about 1920 or later. Possibly as much as 7.5 feet of subsidence had occurred in the area by 1971. The study of subsidence in the area of the three bays included the collection of undisturbed clay samples for laboratory analyses, collection of water-level records, and installation and monitoring of pressure transducers in clays and of observation wells in sands. Probable future subsidence was calculated for two loading situations. Case I provided that the artesian pressure in both the Alta Loma Sand of Rose (1943) and Evangeline aquifer would continue to decline at a rate of 6 feet per year until 1980 and then cease. Case II provided that artesian pressure in the Alta Loma Sand would continue to decline at a rate of about 6 feet per year until about 1995, when the potentiometric head would reach the top of the Alta Loma Sand. The artesian pressure in the Evangeline aquifer would also decline about 6 feet per year until 1995. The ultimate subsidence expected for the assumed conditions of case I and case II is 11.2 feet and 14.5 feet, respectively. However, only 1.8 feet of subsidence below present land surface would occur if artesian pressures were maintained at their present levels. To halt subsidence in the near future, artesian pressure must be increased. The most logical method of increasing artesian pressure is by decreasing pumpage rather than repressurization by artificial recharge.

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