Oklahoma-Texas Information

Rivers and streams play a vital role for communities and ecosystems across Oklahoma and Texas by providing water for drinking, recreation, and irrigation; recharging aquifers; aquatic life; and transporting sediment and nutrients. The USGS Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center (OTWSC) collects data and has science projects at several streams and their watersheds. Visit the links below for more...

A water budget is an accounting of hydrologic components of the water cycle, transfers between the components, and their relative contributions within a water system. Water budgets help define how much water is available, how much water is used, where the water comes from, and at what rate water is replenished or consumed. In its simplest form, a water budget defines the amount of water entering...

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...

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.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has identified sediment as a leading cause of impairment in the Nation’s rivers and streams. Excessive sedimentation degrades aquatic habitat; reduces longevity of water-supply, flood-control reservoirs; and is the primary transport mechanism of toxic organic chemicals, heavy metals, and nutrients. The USGS Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center (OTWSC)...

The USGS Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center (OTWSC) researches nutrients by analyzing water samples and habitats across the State. Information about the occurrence and abundance of nutrients is critical for understanding and maintaining water resources across Texas. Visit the links below for more information on our data and science.

Models provide the capability to simulate scenarios of possible future conditions and management options to help water-resource professionals with planning decisions. Groundwater models are commonly used to evaluate changes to the water budget of an aquifer resulting from land-use changes, water withdrawals, and climate, and how these changes affect streamflow, lake levels, water quality, and...

Annual peak streamflow (peak flow) at a streamgage is defined as the maximum instantaneous flow in a water year. A water year begins on October 1 and continues through September 30 of the following year. This definition of a water year is used because it more closely follows seasonal weather patterns. Peak flows in Texas can range from zero flow in very dry basins to flows that cause flooding and...

The USGS Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center (OTWSC) collects data and has science projects at more than 200 reservoirs. Visit the links below for more information on our data and science.

Hydrogeology is the study of how groundwater moves and is distributed. At the USGS Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center (OTWSC), hydrogeologic studies focus on regional groundwater assessments, focused investigations, aquifer delineation, and inter-agency science support.

Many types of algae can cause HABs in freshwater ecosystems. The most frequent and severe blooms typically are caused by cyanobacteria, the only freshwater “algae” with the potential for production of toxins that can adversely affect human health. USGS Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center (OTWSC) scientists studying HAB issues in water bodies throughout the United States, using a combination of...

The USGS Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center (OTWSC) has a hurricane response program which includes a rapid-deployment storm-surge monitor network in advance of hurricanes, real-time monitoring of streamflow throughout the impacted area during a hurricane, and collection of high-water marks and assessment of floods after hurricanes. Visit the links below for more information on our data and...