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Withdrawals from the Edwards-Trinity aquifer system and contiguous hydraulically connected units, west-central Texas, December 1974 through March 1977

January 1, 1991

The Edwards-Trinity aquifer system and contiguous hydraulically connected units (fig. 1) are being studied as a part of the U.S. Geological Survey's Regional Aquifer-System Analysis (RASA) program. The aquifer system, which underlies about 40,000 mi2 in west-central Texas, comprises mostly near-surface carbonate rocks, sand, and sandstone of Early Cretaceous age (Bush, 1986). Most groundwater withdrawals in this report are from the Edwards-Trinity aquifer system. However, two other sources contiguous and hydraulically connected to the Edwards-Trinity aquifer system yield appreciable water in the northwestern part of the study area. Withdrawals in Crane, Culberson, Loving, Ward, and Winkler Counties are from the Cenozoic alluvium. In Reeves County, approximately one-half of the withdrawals are from the Cenozoic alluvium and one-half are from the Edwards-Trinity system. Withdrawals in Andrews, Martin, northern Ector, and northern Midland Counties are from the High Plains aquifer. Other contiguous hydraulically connected minor aquifers are the source of withdrawals in counties along the northern boundary of the study area. No known potable water exists in the contiguous hydraulically connected units along the southeastern boundary of the system.

This report documents the categories, rates, and distribution of withdrawals from the Edwards-Trinity aquifer system and contiguous hydraulically connected units during December 1974 through March 1977. The report includes withdrawal information from all or parts of the 50 counties in the study area. In those regions where only part of a county is within the study area, the percentage of the total county area was used to calculate the estimates of livestock and domestic withdrawals. The authors wish to thank the Texas Water Development Board for providing withdrawal information for this report.

Publication Year 1991
Title Withdrawals from the Edwards-Trinity aquifer system and contiguous hydraulically connected units, west-central Texas, December 1974 through March 1977
DOI 10.3133/wri914021
Authors Dee L. Lurry, Dianne J. Pavlicek
Publication Type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Series Title Water-Resources Investigations Report
Series Number 91-4021
Index ID wri914021
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
USGS Organization Texas Water Science Center