Unified Interior Regions
Region 6: Arkansas-Rio Grande-Texas-Gulf
Regions L2 Landing Page Tabs
Macroclimatic Controls of Coastal Wetland Ecosystem Structure and Function
At the global-scale, macroclimatic drivers govern ecosystem structure and function in tidal saline wetlands (e.g., salt marshes, mangrove forests, salt flats). However, global reviews and models for these ecosystems typically do not directly include climatic drivers. The objective of this research is to examine and forecast the effects of macroclimatic drivers on wetland ecosystem structure...
Geographical Trends in Ecosystem Function and Biodiversity of Wetlands as a Surrogate for Climate Change
Extreme drought and temperature in the southeastern United States may become more frequent in the future, and any extreme shifts in climate condition are likely to have effects on wetland ecosystem function. USGS research predicts the effects of climate change by shifts in function and biodiversity across existing climate gradients in baldcypress swamps.
GIS and Custom Application Support for the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council
The scientists at the Wetland and Aquatic Science Center (WARC) have provided coastal restoration project managers and decision makers with GIS planning, database and custom application capacity since 1992. The scope and complexity of this support has increased over the years and has resulted in the development of a comprehensive geospatial and advanced application teams that provide decision...
Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) Program
Welcome to the Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) information resource for the United States Geological Survey. Located at Gainesville, Florida, this site has been established as a central repository for spatially referenced biogeographic accounts of introduced aquatic species. The program provides scientific reports, online/realtime queries, spatial data sets, distribution maps, and general...
Modeling Landscape-Scale Habitat Relations for Landbirds During Migration: Science Support for the Gulf Coast Joint Venture
USGS uses weather surveillance radar data and landscape-scale habitat metrics to model bird-habitat connections along the western coast of the Gulf of Mexico.
RESTORE Science: Inventory of Gulf of Mexico Ecosystem Indicators Using an Ecological Resilience Framework
To effectively manage an ecosystem, resource managers need a way to evaluate its health and ability to function. Metrics that indicate ecosystem condition - or indicators - can be used to help determine how well management strategies work.
Transboundary Aquifer Assessment Program (TAAP)
Transboundary aquifers are an essential source of water for United States – Mexico border communities. Declining water levels, deteriorating water quality, and increasing use of groundwater resources on both sides of the border raise concerns about the long-term availability of this supply.
The U.S. – Mexico Transboundary Aquifer Assessment Act (Public Law 109-448) of 2006 was enacted...
NAWQA High Plains Regional Groundwater Study
As part of the National Water Quality Assessment Program (NAWQA), the USGS has evaluated ground-water quality in the High Plains aquifer system. Beginning in 1999 and continuing for a period of 6 years, the High Plains Regional Groundwater Study intensively investigated the...
Texas Source-Water Susceptibility Assessment
In the State of Texas, both surface water (streams, canals, and reservoirs) and ground water are used as sources of public water supply (PWS). Surface water sources of public water supply are susceptible to contamination from point and nonpoint sources. To help protect sources of drinking water and to help develop protective yet cost-effective and risk-mitigated monitoring strategies, the...
Water resources of St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana
Information concerning the availability, use, and quality of water in St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana, is critical for proper water-supply management. The purpose of this fact sheet is to present information that can be used by water managers, parish residents, and others for stewardship of this vital resource. Information on the...
White, Vincent E.; Prakken, Lawrence B.; Fendick, Robert B.Potentiometric surface, 2013, and water-level differences, 1991-2013, of the Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer in northwest Louisiana
The Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer is the primary source of fresh groundwater for public supply as well as industrial, agricultural, and domestic uses in several parishes in northwestern Louisiana, including Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, De Soto, Natchitoches, Red River, Sabine, and Webster. In 2010, about 19 million gallons per day (Mgal/d) were withdrawn...
Fendick, Robert B.; Carter, KaylaWater resources of St. Charles Parish, Louisiana
Information concerning the availability, use, and quality of water in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana, is critical for proper water-supply management. The purpose of this fact sheet is to present information that can be used by water managers, parish residents, and others for stewardship of this vital resource. Information on the availability, past...
White, Vincent E.; Prakken, Lawrence B.Water resources of La Salle Parish, Louisiana
Information concerning the availability, use, and quality of water in La Salle Parish, Louisiana, is critical for proper water-supply management. The purpose of this fact sheet is to present information that can be used by water managers, parish residents, and others for stewardship of this vital resource. Information on the availability, past and...
White, Vincent E.; Prakken, Lawrence B.Potentiometric surfaces and water-level trends in the Cockfield (upper Claiborne) aquifer in southern Arkansas and the Wilcox (lower Wilcox) aquifer of northeastern and southern Arkansas, 2012
The Cockfield aquifer, located in southern Arkansas, is composed of Eocene-age sand beds found near the base of the Cockfield Formation of Claiborne Group. The Wilcox aquifer, located in northeastern and southern Arkansas, is composed of Paleocene-age sand beds found in the middle to lower part of the Wilcox Group. The Cockfield and Wilcox...
Rodgers, Kirk D.Lithologic and hydrologic controls of mixed alluvial-bedrock channels in flood-prone fluvial systems: bankfull and macrochannels in the Llano River watershed, central Texas, USA
The rural and unregulated Llano River watershed located in central Texas, USA, has a highly variable flow regime and a wide range of instantaneous peak flows. Abrupt transitions in surface lithology exist along the main-stem channel course. Both of these characteristics afford an opportunity to examine hydrologic, lithologic, and sedimentary...
Heitmuller, Frank T.; Hudson, Paul F.; Asquith, William H.Simulations of potential future conditions in the cache critical groundwater area, Arkansas
A three-dimensional finite-difference model for part of the Mississippi River Valley alluvial aquifer in the Cache Critical Groundwater Area of eastern Arkansas was constructed to simulate potential future conditions of groundwater flow. The objectives of this study were to test different pilot point distributions to find reasonable estimates of...
Rashid, Haveen M.; Clark, Brian R.; Mahdi, Hanan H.; Rifai, Hanadi S.; Al-Shukri, Haydar J.Soil ecology of a rock outcrop ecosystem: Abiotic stresses, soil respiration, and microbial community profiles in limestone cedar glades
Limestone cedar glades are a type of rock outcrop ecosystem characterized by shallow soil and extreme hydrologic conditions—seasonally ranging from xeric to saturated—that support a number of plant species of conservation concern. Although a rich botanical literature exists on cedar glades, soil biochemical processes and the ecology of soil...
Cartwright, Jennifer M.; Advised by Dzantor, E. KudjoChallenges and opportunities in protecting the Obed Wild and Scenic River
No abstract available.
Hughes, J. C.; Duncan, J. R.; Harrold, B. C.; Wolfe, William J.; Knight, Rodney R.Data and spatial studies of the USGS Texas Water Science Center
Hydrologists, geographers, geophysicists, and geologists with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Texas Water Science Center (TXWSC) work in the USGS Water Mission Area on a diverse range of projects built on a foundation of spatial data. The TXWSC has developed sophisticated data and spatial-studies-related capabilities that are an integral part of...
Burley, Thomas E.Abundance of host fish and frequency of glochidial parasitism in fish assessed in field and laboratory settings and frequency of juvenile mussels or glochidia recovered from hatchery-held fish, central and southeastern Texas, 2012-13
In 2012–13, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), completed the first phase of a two-phase study of mussel host-fish relations for five endemic mussel species in central and southeastern Texas that were State-listed as threatened on January 17, 2010: (1) Texas fatmucket (Lampsilis...
Braun, Christopher L.; Stevens, Charrish L.; Echo-Hawk, Patricia D.; Johnson, Nathan A.; Moring, James B.Simulated effects of increased groundwater withdrawals in the Cave Springs area, Hixson, Tennessee
Concern for future water supplies in Tennessee has grown in recent years as a result of increased awareness of competing needs, the impact of droughts, and the need for more water to support growing populations. The U.S. Geological Survey conducts investigations to improve the knowledge about interactions of geology, climate, humans, and...
Haugh, Connor J.Eagle Ford Drill Core
A drill core from near Waco, Texas. This core was drilled by USGS during field work for an oil and gas assessment for the Eagle Ford of the Gulf Coast Basins. Cores like these provide information on the various rock layers, such as their make-up, their age, etc.
The USGS assesses undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and gas resources for the onshore United
...11 miles from FM 669 bridge Double Mt. Fork Brazos River
Location is about 11 miles downstream from Farm to Market Road 669 bridge over Double Mountain Fork Brazos River near Justiceburg, Texas, in Garza County.
USGS SIR 2016–5032
U.S. Highway 84 bridge over Double Mountain Fork Brazos River
Location is about 3 miles downstream from U.S. Highway 84 bridge over Double Mountain Fork Brazos River near Justiceburg, Texas, in Garza County.
USGS SIR 2016–5032
5 miles from FM Road 669 bridge Double Mt. Fork Brazos River
Location is about 5 miles downstream from Farm to Market Road 669 bridge over Double Mountain Fork Brazos River near Justiceburg, Texas, in Garza County.
USGS SIR 2016–5032
FM 669 bridge over Double Mountain Fork Brazos River
Location is about 9 miles downstream from Farm to Market Road 669 bridge over Double Mountain Fork Brazos River near Justiceburg, Texas, in Garza County.
USGS SIR 2016–5032
FM 669 bridge over Double Mountain Fork Brazos River
Location is about 8 miles downstream from Farm to Market Road 669 bridge over Double Mountain Fork Brazos River near Justiceburg, Texas, in Garza County.
USGS SIR 2016–5032
Scientists Sampling Groundwater from a Public Supply Well in Texas
USGS scientists collecting water quality samples at a public-supply well in Texas, overlying the Eagle Ford shale production area.
Memorial Day Flood in Texas
Road and bridge damage on the Blanco River near Blanco, Texas, from the Memorial Day 2015 Flood.
Texas Flood Surveys
Hydrologists from Arizona aid the Texas Water Science Center in gathering measurements and other information after the catastrophic Blanco River flooding event that swept Austin, Texas.
Blanco River 2015 Memorial Weekend Flood
Picturesque rivers of the Texas Hill Country can turn into raging torrents in the part of Texas known as Flash Flood Alley when storms drop many inches of rain in the river watersheds. This image shows a damaged street sign and flood debris left behind by record flood waters of the Blanco River near Martindale, TX on Memorial weekend, 2015.
Groundwater sample collection
Collecting a groundwater-quality sample from a public-supply well. This well is being sampled for water-quality constituents as part of the NAWQA Enhanced Trend Network project.
USGS Shares Findings and Lessons from Ike at the 2009 National Hurricane Conference in Austin
The 2008 hurricane season made its mark on the northern Gulf of Mexico coastline by leaving it more vulnerable to future storms.
On Nov. 1, 1933, Mrs. Bruce Reid recorded seeing both a male and female ivory-billed woodpecker in Texas. And on May 28, 1938, Oscar McKinley Bryans observed a ruby-throated hummingbird in Michigan, noting that the birds were most common when apple trees were blooming. These are just two of more than 6 million personal observations scribbled and preserved on notecards in government files.
Low levels of certain man-made chemicals remain in public water supplies after being treated in selected community water facilities.
What: Reporters are invited to attend a special presentation about the impacts of Hurricanes Ike and Gustav on the Texas and Louisiana coast. Compelling before-and-after photographs of the storms will be
Top scientists from across the world, including 192 earth science experts from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), will be gathering this week to share their latest findings and most innovative research.
Before-and-after Hurricane Ike photographs showing the near total destruction of a coastal neighborhood in Texas are now accessible online.
New maps that help forecast possible impacts and damages to coastal communities from Hurricane Ike can be accessed online.http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/hurricanes/ike/ .
Science that Weathers the Storm...USGS Scientists in the Field Preparing for Hurricane Ike (archive)
US Geological Survey (USGS) scientists will be installing storm-surge sensors to prepare for Hurricane Ike.
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists will be installing rapidly-deployable mobile gages and storm-surge sensors to prepare for Tropical Storm Gustav.
Heavy rainfall across the Midwest has caused major flooding.
Watch history in action as U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists share the secrets of sampling for metals in water with the Indian Tribes from Oklahoma, New Mexico, Louisiana, Texas, and Arkansas U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), Region VI.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in collaboration with National Weather Service (NWS), other Federal partners, and State and local stakeholders, has recently strengthened, or "hardened," 39 streamgages along the Texas Gulf Coast.