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Groundwater and Springs

As the Texas and Oklahoma populations grow, demands on groundwater resources for drinking water, agriculture, and energy development are increasing.

The Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center collects and analyzes a wide range of groundwater data.  This research provides water managers with scientific information they need to effectively manage groundwater resources.

Filter Total Items: 27

Red River Focus Area Study

The USGS is undertaking a 3-year study of water use, availability, and change in the Red River basin in one of several national “Focus Area Studies” in the Department of Interior’s WaterSMART initiative . The Red River basin covers more than 93,000 square miles in New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana with a population of about 4.3 million people. Water resources in the basin are...
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Red River Focus Area Study

The USGS is undertaking a 3-year study of water use, availability, and change in the Red River basin in one of several national “Focus Area Studies” in the Department of Interior’s WaterSMART initiative . The Red River basin covers more than 93,000 square miles in New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana with a population of about 4.3 million people. Water resources in the basin are...
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Hydrologic Monitoring of Medina and Diversion Lakes, San Antonio Area

In 2016, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the San Antonio Water System, began a study to refine previously derived estimates of groundwater outflows from Medina and Diversion Lakes in south-central Texas near San Antonio.
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Hydrologic Monitoring of Medina and Diversion Lakes, San Antonio Area

In 2016, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the San Antonio Water System, began a study to refine previously derived estimates of groundwater outflows from Medina and Diversion Lakes in south-central Texas near San Antonio.
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Hydrogeology of the Edwards and Trinity Aquifers within Hays County

The Texas Water Development Board classifies the karstic Edwards and Trinity aquifers as major sources of water in south-central Texas. To effectively manage the water resources in the area, detailed maps and descriptions of the geologic framework and hydrostratigraphic units of the aquifers in Hays County, Texas are needed. In 2016 and 2018, the Texas Water Science Center (TXWSC), in cooperation...
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Hydrogeology of the Edwards and Trinity Aquifers within Hays County

The Texas Water Development Board classifies the karstic Edwards and Trinity aquifers as major sources of water in south-central Texas. To effectively manage the water resources in the area, detailed maps and descriptions of the geologic framework and hydrostratigraphic units of the aquifers in Hays County, Texas are needed. In 2016 and 2018, the Texas Water Science Center (TXWSC), in cooperation...
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Hydrogeologic Framework and Geochemistry of Gaines, Terry, and Yoakum Counties

In 2014, USGS, in cooperation with Llano Estacado Underground Water Conservation District , Sandy Land Underground Water District , and South Plains Underground Water Conservation District , began a multiphase project to develop a regional conceptual model of the hydrogeologic framework and geochemistry of the Ogallala, Edwards-Trinity, and Dockum aquifers. The Ogallala aquifer is the shallowest...
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Hydrogeologic Framework and Geochemistry of Gaines, Terry, and Yoakum Counties

In 2014, USGS, in cooperation with Llano Estacado Underground Water Conservation District , Sandy Land Underground Water District , and South Plains Underground Water Conservation District , began a multiphase project to develop a regional conceptual model of the hydrogeologic framework and geochemistry of the Ogallala, Edwards-Trinity, and Dockum aquifers. The Ogallala aquifer is the shallowest...
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Houston Area Groundwater Level and Subsidence Monitoring

In cooperation with Harris-Galveston Subsidence District, the City of Houston, Fort Bend County Subsidence District, Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District, and Brazoria County Groundwater Conservation District, the USGS Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center Gulf Coast Program collects, processes, and interprets groundwater-level and aquifer-sediment-compaction data to understand the effects of...
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Houston Area Groundwater Level and Subsidence Monitoring

In cooperation with Harris-Galveston Subsidence District, the City of Houston, Fort Bend County Subsidence District, Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District, and Brazoria County Groundwater Conservation District, the USGS Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center Gulf Coast Program collects, processes, and interprets groundwater-level and aquifer-sediment-compaction data to understand the effects of...
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Geoelectric and Seismic Characterization of the Precambrian Granite Gravel Aquifer, Llano Uplift, Central Texas

The USGS Texas Water Science Center (TXWSC) is testing the suitability of seismic refraction tomography (SRT) and time-domain electromagnetic sounding (TDEM) geophysical methods for mapping the contact boundary between the Granite Gravel aquifer and the underlying crystalline Town Mountain Granite bedrock in southwestern Burnet County. The Granite Gravel aquifer is anticipated to show a contrast...
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Geoelectric and Seismic Characterization of the Precambrian Granite Gravel Aquifer, Llano Uplift, Central Texas

The USGS Texas Water Science Center (TXWSC) is testing the suitability of seismic refraction tomography (SRT) and time-domain electromagnetic sounding (TDEM) geophysical methods for mapping the contact boundary between the Granite Gravel aquifer and the underlying crystalline Town Mountain Granite bedrock in southwestern Burnet County. The Granite Gravel aquifer is anticipated to show a contrast...
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Hydrogeologic Atlas for Fort Bliss

Successful long term stewardship of Fort Bliss lands includes managing traditional hydrologic resources such as surface water and groundwater resources and increasingly, geologic resources such as geothermal reservoirs and deep well injection locations. The USGS Texas Water Science Center is developing a garrison-wide hydrogeologic atlas that describes the hydrology and hydrogeology of Fort Bliss...
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Hydrogeologic Atlas for Fort Bliss

Successful long term stewardship of Fort Bliss lands includes managing traditional hydrologic resources such as surface water and groundwater resources and increasingly, geologic resources such as geothermal reservoirs and deep well injection locations. The USGS Texas Water Science Center is developing a garrison-wide hydrogeologic atlas that describes the hydrology and hydrogeology of Fort Bliss...
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Urban Waters Federal Partnership - Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone Monitoring Network

The USGS Texas Water Science Center is implementing a more complete and integrated monitoring network for the Edwards aquifer to improve the understanding of aquifer water quality and establish a baseline for measuring future water-quality changes.
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Urban Waters Federal Partnership - Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone Monitoring Network

The USGS Texas Water Science Center is implementing a more complete and integrated monitoring network for the Edwards aquifer to improve the understanding of aquifer water quality and establish a baseline for measuring future water-quality changes.
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Edwards Aquifer Groundwater Model Uncertainty Analysis

USGS Texas Water Science Center (TXWSC) is undertaking a 1.5-year study to assess parameter and predictive uncertainty in the Edwards Aquifer Authority MODFLOW Model using both linear and non-linear techniques. The Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) uses two models simulating the periods from 2001 to 2015 (verification model) and the drought of record of 1947-1958 (drought of record model).
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Edwards Aquifer Groundwater Model Uncertainty Analysis

USGS Texas Water Science Center (TXWSC) is undertaking a 1.5-year study to assess parameter and predictive uncertainty in the Edwards Aquifer Authority MODFLOW Model using both linear and non-linear techniques. The Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) uses two models simulating the periods from 2001 to 2015 (verification model) and the drought of record of 1947-1958 (drought of record model).
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Coastal Lowlands Regional Groundwater Availability Study

USGS is undertaking a 5-year study to assess groundwater availability for the aquifers proximal to the Gulf of Mexico from the Texas-Mexico border through the panhandle of Florida, known as the Coastal Lowlands Aquifer System (CLAS). This study is one of several within the Regional Groundwater Availability Studies of the USGS Water Availability and Use Science Program .
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Coastal Lowlands Regional Groundwater Availability Study

USGS is undertaking a 5-year study to assess groundwater availability for the aquifers proximal to the Gulf of Mexico from the Texas-Mexico border through the panhandle of Florida, known as the Coastal Lowlands Aquifer System (CLAS). This study is one of several within the Regional Groundwater Availability Studies of the USGS Water Availability and Use Science Program .
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Surface-Water and Groundwater Interaction Science in Oklahoma and Texas - Overview

Surface-water/groundwater interactions include the exchange of water, and the chemicals that may be present in the water, which can lead to issues with water supply and water quality. Groundwater can be a major contributor to streams, lakes, and wetlands while surface water can contribute recharge to groundwater. The USGS Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center (OTWSC) uses geophysics and other...
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Surface-Water and Groundwater Interaction Science in Oklahoma and Texas - Overview

Surface-water/groundwater interactions include the exchange of water, and the chemicals that may be present in the water, which can lead to issues with water supply and water quality. Groundwater can be a major contributor to streams, lakes, and wetlands while surface water can contribute recharge to groundwater. The USGS Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center (OTWSC) uses geophysics and other...
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Subsidence Science in Oklahoma and Texas - Overview

The USGS Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center (OTWSC) has researched land-surface subsidence for more than 40 years. OTWSC collects and interprets groundwater level and aquifer sediment compaction data to understand the effects of groundwater withdrawal on land surface subsidence.
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Subsidence Science in Oklahoma and Texas - Overview

The USGS Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center (OTWSC) has researched land-surface subsidence for more than 40 years. OTWSC collects and interprets groundwater level and aquifer sediment compaction data to understand the effects of groundwater withdrawal on land surface subsidence.
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