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Subsidence Science in Oklahoma and Texas - Overview

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By Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center April 30, 2018

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.

SUBSIDENCE SCIENCE CAPABILITIES

OTWSC has expertise in subsidence science applications, including, but not limited to:

  • Modeling of land subsidence
  • Routine measuring of water levels in a large well network (more than 700 wells)
  • Developing regional depictions of groundwater levels
  • Incorporating groundwater-level data into geographic information system (GIS) to construct regional water-level altitude and water-level change contour maps.
  • Mapping applications that allow users to view annual water-level altitudes, water-level changes over time, and historical time series of compaction data.

 

Find out more about OTWSC groundwater science expertise in this printable information sheet.

Line
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Screen shot of the Texas Gulf Coast Groundwater and Land Subsidence Program web application
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details

Texas Gulf Coast Groundwater and Land Subsidence Web Application

This USGS viewer shows how water levels have changed over time and how groundwater demands have affected land subsidence in the region. Scientists created this tool using the largest subsidence data set in the US with more than 40 years of groundwater and compaction observations. 

Line
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details

CURRENT SUBSIDENCE SCIENCE

Houston Area Groundwater Level and Subsidence Monitoring

Projects related to Subsidence Science are listed below.

link
Houston subsidence

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...
By
Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center
link

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...
Learn More

Publications related to Subsidence Science are listed below.

Status of groundwater-level altitudes and long-term groundwater-level changes in the Chicot, Evangeline, and Jasper aquifers, Houston-Galveston region, Texas, 2018

Since the early 1900s, most of the groundwater withdrawals in the Houston-Galveston region, Texas, have been from the three primary aquifers that compose the Gulf Coast aquifer system—the Chicot, Evangeline, and Jasper aquifers. Withdrawals from these aquifers are used for municipal supply, industrial, and irrigation purposes. This report, prepared by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with
Authors
Sachin D. Shah, Jason K. Ramage, Christopher L. Braun
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center

Groundwater withdrawals 1976, 1990, and 2000--10 and land-surface-elevation changes 2000--10 in Harris, Galveston, Fort Bend, Montgomery, and Brazoria Counties, Texas

The study area comprising Harris County and parts of Galveston, Fort Bend, Montgomery, and Brazoria Counties in southeastern Texas forms part of one of the largest areas of land-surface-elevation change in the United States. Land-surface-elevation change in the study area primarily is caused by the withdrawal of groundwater. Groundwater withdrawn from the Chicot and Evangeline aquifers has been th
Authors
Mark C. Kasmarek, Michaela R. Johnson
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center

Investigation of land subsidence in the Houston-Galveston region of Texas by using the Global Positioning System and interferometric synthetic aperture radar, 1993-2000

Since the early 1900s, groundwater has been the primary source of municipal, industrial, and agricultural water supplies for the Houston-Galveston region, Texas. The region's combination of hydrogeology and nearly century-long use of groundwater has resulted in one of the largest areas of subsidence in the United States; by 1979, as much as 3 meters (m) of subsidence had occurred, and approximatel
Authors
Gerald W. Bawden, Michaela R. Johnson, Mark C. Kasmarek, Justin T. Brandt, Clifton S. Middleton
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center

Evaluation of ground-water flow and land-surface subsidence caused by hypothetical withdrawals in the northern part of the Gulf Coast Aquifer system, Texas

During 2003–04 the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) and the Harris-Galveston Coastal Subsidence District (HGCSD), used the previously developed Northern Gulf Coast Ground-Water Availability Modeling (NGC GAM) model to evaluate the effects of hypothetical projected withdrawals on ground-water flow in the northern part of the Gulf Coast aquifer sys
Authors
Mark C. Kasmarek, Brian D. Reece, Natalie A. Houston
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center

Hydrogeology and simulation of ground-water flow and land-surface subsidence in the northern part of the Gulf Coast aquifer system, Texas

As a part of the Texas Water Development Board Ground- Water Availability Modeling program, the U.S. Geological Survey developed and tested a numerical finite-difference (MODFLOW) model to simulate ground-water flow and land-surface subsidence in the northern part of the Gulf Coast aquifer system in Texas from predevelopment (before 1891) through 2000. The model is intended to be a tool that water
Authors
Mark C. Kasmarek, James L. Robinson
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center

Land subsidence in the United States

This report explores the role of science in defining and understanding subsidence problems, and shows that the optimal use of our land and water resources may depend on improved scientific understanding to minimize subsidence. More than 80 percent of the identified land subsidence in the Nation is a consequence of human impact on subsurface water, and is an often overlooked environmental consequen
Authors
Devin L. Galloway, David R. Jones, S. E. Ingebritsen
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Water Science Center

Ground-water withdrawals and land-surface subsidence in the Houston-Galveston region, Texas, 1906-80

The withdrawal of larqe amounts of ground water in the Houston-Galveston region, Texas, has resulted in water-level declines of as much as 250 feet (76 meters) in wells completed in the Chicot aquifer and as much as 300 feet (91 meters) in wells completed in the Evangeline aquifer during 1943-77. Since late 1976, changes in pumping distribution resulting from efforts to control subsidence and the
Authors
R.K. Gabrysch
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center

Approximate water-level changes in wells in the Chicot and Evangeline aquifers, 1977-81 and 1980-81, and measured compaction, 1973-81, in the Houston-Galveston region, Texas

This report consists of: (1) Four maps that present data on water-level changes during 1977-81 and 1980-81 in the Chicot and Evangeline aquifers and (2) one set of graphs that present data on the compaction of subsurface materials for 1973-81. During these periods, ground-water pumping decreased in Galveston County and southern Harris County, Tex., and increased in northern and western Harris Coun
Authors
R.K. Gabrysch, C.E. Ranzau
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center

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.

SUBSIDENCE SCIENCE CAPABILITIES

OTWSC has expertise in subsidence science applications, including, but not limited to:

  • Modeling of land subsidence
  • Routine measuring of water levels in a large well network (more than 700 wells)
  • Developing regional depictions of groundwater levels
  • Incorporating groundwater-level data into geographic information system (GIS) to construct regional water-level altitude and water-level change contour maps.
  • Mapping applications that allow users to view annual water-level altitudes, water-level changes over time, and historical time series of compaction data.

 

Find out more about OTWSC groundwater science expertise in this printable information sheet.

Line
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Screen shot of the Texas Gulf Coast Groundwater and Land Subsidence Program web application
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details

Texas Gulf Coast Groundwater and Land Subsidence Web Application

This USGS viewer shows how water levels have changed over time and how groundwater demands have affected land subsidence in the region. Scientists created this tool using the largest subsidence data set in the US with more than 40 years of groundwater and compaction observations. 

Line
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details

CURRENT SUBSIDENCE SCIENCE

Houston Area Groundwater Level and Subsidence Monitoring

Projects related to Subsidence Science are listed below.

link
Houston subsidence

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...
By
Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center
link

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...
Learn More

Publications related to Subsidence Science are listed below.

Status of groundwater-level altitudes and long-term groundwater-level changes in the Chicot, Evangeline, and Jasper aquifers, Houston-Galveston region, Texas, 2018

Since the early 1900s, most of the groundwater withdrawals in the Houston-Galveston region, Texas, have been from the three primary aquifers that compose the Gulf Coast aquifer system—the Chicot, Evangeline, and Jasper aquifers. Withdrawals from these aquifers are used for municipal supply, industrial, and irrigation purposes. This report, prepared by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with
Authors
Sachin D. Shah, Jason K. Ramage, Christopher L. Braun
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center

Groundwater withdrawals 1976, 1990, and 2000--10 and land-surface-elevation changes 2000--10 in Harris, Galveston, Fort Bend, Montgomery, and Brazoria Counties, Texas

The study area comprising Harris County and parts of Galveston, Fort Bend, Montgomery, and Brazoria Counties in southeastern Texas forms part of one of the largest areas of land-surface-elevation change in the United States. Land-surface-elevation change in the study area primarily is caused by the withdrawal of groundwater. Groundwater withdrawn from the Chicot and Evangeline aquifers has been th
Authors
Mark C. Kasmarek, Michaela R. Johnson
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center

Investigation of land subsidence in the Houston-Galveston region of Texas by using the Global Positioning System and interferometric synthetic aperture radar, 1993-2000

Since the early 1900s, groundwater has been the primary source of municipal, industrial, and agricultural water supplies for the Houston-Galveston region, Texas. The region's combination of hydrogeology and nearly century-long use of groundwater has resulted in one of the largest areas of subsidence in the United States; by 1979, as much as 3 meters (m) of subsidence had occurred, and approximatel
Authors
Gerald W. Bawden, Michaela R. Johnson, Mark C. Kasmarek, Justin T. Brandt, Clifton S. Middleton
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center

Evaluation of ground-water flow and land-surface subsidence caused by hypothetical withdrawals in the northern part of the Gulf Coast Aquifer system, Texas

During 2003–04 the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) and the Harris-Galveston Coastal Subsidence District (HGCSD), used the previously developed Northern Gulf Coast Ground-Water Availability Modeling (NGC GAM) model to evaluate the effects of hypothetical projected withdrawals on ground-water flow in the northern part of the Gulf Coast aquifer sys
Authors
Mark C. Kasmarek, Brian D. Reece, Natalie A. Houston
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center

Hydrogeology and simulation of ground-water flow and land-surface subsidence in the northern part of the Gulf Coast aquifer system, Texas

As a part of the Texas Water Development Board Ground- Water Availability Modeling program, the U.S. Geological Survey developed and tested a numerical finite-difference (MODFLOW) model to simulate ground-water flow and land-surface subsidence in the northern part of the Gulf Coast aquifer system in Texas from predevelopment (before 1891) through 2000. The model is intended to be a tool that water
Authors
Mark C. Kasmarek, James L. Robinson
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center

Land subsidence in the United States

This report explores the role of science in defining and understanding subsidence problems, and shows that the optimal use of our land and water resources may depend on improved scientific understanding to minimize subsidence. More than 80 percent of the identified land subsidence in the Nation is a consequence of human impact on subsurface water, and is an often overlooked environmental consequen
Authors
Devin L. Galloway, David R. Jones, S. E. Ingebritsen
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Water Science Center

Ground-water withdrawals and land-surface subsidence in the Houston-Galveston region, Texas, 1906-80

The withdrawal of larqe amounts of ground water in the Houston-Galveston region, Texas, has resulted in water-level declines of as much as 250 feet (76 meters) in wells completed in the Chicot aquifer and as much as 300 feet (91 meters) in wells completed in the Evangeline aquifer during 1943-77. Since late 1976, changes in pumping distribution resulting from efforts to control subsidence and the
Authors
R.K. Gabrysch
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center

Approximate water-level changes in wells in the Chicot and Evangeline aquifers, 1977-81 and 1980-81, and measured compaction, 1973-81, in the Houston-Galveston region, Texas

This report consists of: (1) Four maps that present data on water-level changes during 1977-81 and 1980-81 in the Chicot and Evangeline aquifers and (2) one set of graphs that present data on the compaction of subsurface materials for 1973-81. During these periods, ground-water pumping decreased in Galveston County and southern Harris County, Tex., and increased in northern and western Harris Coun
Authors
R.K. Gabrysch, C.E. Ranzau
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center
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