Unified Interior Regions
Region 6: Arkansas-Rio Grande-Texas-Gulf
Regions L2 Landing Page Tabs
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).
Nutrient and Sediment Monitoring in Inflows to Texas Bays and Estuaries
The USGS Texas Water Science Center is evaluating the variability of nutrient and sediment concentrations and loads entering Texas bays and estuaries across a range of hydrologic conditions in Galveston Bay (inflow from the Trinity and San Jacinto Rivers), Matagordo Bay (inflow from the Colorado River), San Antonio Bay (inflow from the Guadalupe River), and Nueces Bay (inflow from Nueces River...
Cyanobacteria Methods
Texas Water Science Center (TXWSC) scientists are testing different methods of detecting and quantifying cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins in Texas reservoirs. The results of these tests could be used to develop a cost-effective monitoring plan to evaluate the presence and concentration of cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins in Texas reservoirs.
City of Austin Water Quality Data Review and Analysis
The USGS and City of Austin have been working together on water-quality sampling and studies of surface-water and groundwater sites in the Austin area for many years. A large variety of water-quality samples have been collected over a range of hydrologic conditions and submitted for numerous laboratory analyses. Both agencies are interested in exploring existing data for potential insight on...
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 ...
Catahoula Water Chemistry Network
In 2009, large volume groundwater users began the exploration of the Catahoula Sandstone as an alternate water source in Montgomery County. Little to no information exists on the water quality of the Catahoula Sandstone in Montgomery County. To assess the viability of the Catahoula Sandstone as a potential source of groundwater, the USGS Texas Water Science Center is collecting water-quality...
Carrizo Aquifer Water Quality
The USGS Texas Water Science Center, in cooperation with the San Antonio Water System, has been collecting data since 2004 to characterize the quality of and ascertain changes in groundwater at and near the water system’s Twin Oaks Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) site, where the water system has been injecting water from the Edwards aquifer into the Carrizo aquifer for storage. Findings are...
Assimilative Capacity of Lake Livingston
The nutrient and sediment data collected by this study provides insight into assimilative capacity of reservoirs and impacts to inflows for coastal Texas.
Bandera Flood Early Warning Tool
Risk of future flooding events in the Bandera County area highlights a critical need for a flood warning system. As part of the flood warning system, a tool set is needed to enhance the communication of flood risk and provide emergency managers additional information necessary to better mitigate the impacts of flooding. The USGS Texas Water Science Center is helping build this tool set...
Arroyo Colorado Water Quality Monitoring
As a result of being able to continuously monitor the water column in multiple depths, dynamic changes in water chemistry (such as those that result from barge traffic and large storms) now can be identified, thereby helping water resource managers better understand changes in water quality in the Arroyo Colorado.
Bird Banding Laboratory
The Bird Banding Laboratory (BBL) is an integrated scientific program established in 1920 supporting the collection, archiving, management and dissemination of information from banded and marked birds in North America. This information is used to monitor the status and trends of resident and migratory bird populations. Because birds are good indicators of the health of the environment, the...
Hurricane Harvey - Forecast and Documentation of Coastal Change
Hurricane Harvey coastal change forecast and pre- and post-storm photos documenting coastal change.
Land-cover changes associated with oil and natural-gas production and concentrations of selected constituents in surface-water and streambed-sediment samples collected upstream from and within an area of oil and natural-gas production, south Texas, 2008–17
The extensive development of oil and natural-gas resources in south Texas during the past 10 years has led to questions regarding possible environmental effects of processes associated with oil and natural-gas production, in particular the process of hydraulic fracturing, on water and other natural resources. Part of the lower San Antonio River...
Crow, Cassi L.; Opsahl, Stephen P.; Pedraza, Diana E.; Pease, Emily C.; Kushnereit, Ross K.
Geologic framework and hydrostratigraphy of the Edwards and Trinity aquifers within Hays County, Texas
The Edwards and Trinity aquifers are classified as major aquifers by the Texas Water Development Board and are major sources of water in south-central Texas, where Hays County is located. Detailed maps and descriptions of the geologic framework and hydrostratigraphic units (HSUs) of these karstic aquifers in Hays County are needed for water...
Clark, Allan K.; Pedraza, Diana E.; Morris, Robert R.
Annual and approximately quarterly series peak streamflow derived from interpretations of indirect measurements for a crest-stage gage network in Texas through water year 2015
In 2006, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), incooperation with the Texas Department of Transportation,began collecting annual and approximately quarterly seriespeak-streamflow data at streamflow-gaging stations in smalltomedium-sized watersheds in central and western Texasas part of a crest-stage gage (CSG) network, along withselected flood-...
Asquith, William H.; Harwell, Glenn R.; Winters, Karl E.
New insights into surface-water/groundwater exchanges in the Guadalupe River, Texas, from floating geophysical methods
In south-central Texas, the amount of streamflow in the Guadalupe River is a primary concern for local and downstream communities because of municipal, agricultural, wildlife, and recreational uses. Understanding the flow paths and rates of exchange between the surface water in the river and the groundwater in the underlying Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer...
Ikard, Scott J.; Banta, J. Ryan; Stanton, Gregory P.
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,...
Shah, Sachin D.; Ramage, Jason K.; Braun, Christopher L.
Characterization of peak streamflows and flood inundation of selected areas in southeastern Texas and southwestern Louisiana from the August and September 2017 flood resulting from Hurricane Harvey
Hurricane Harvey made landfall near Rockport, Texas, on August 25, 2017, as a Category 4 hurricane with wind gusts exceeding 150 miles per hour. As Harvey moved inland, the forward motion of the storm slowed down and produced tremendous rainfall amounts over southeastern Texas, with 8-day rainfall amounts exceeding 60 inches in some locations,...
Watson, Kara M.; Harwell, Glenn R.; Wallace, David S.; Welborn, Toby L.; Stengel, Victoria G.; McDowell, Jeremy S.
Water-quality observations of the San Antonio segment of the Edwards aquifer, Texas, with an emphasis on processes influencing nutrient and pesticide geochemistry and factors affecting aquifer vulnerability, 2010–16
As questions regarding the influence of increasing urbanization on water quality in the Edwards aquifer are raised, a better understanding of the sources, fate, and transport of compounds of concern in the aquifer—in particular, nutrients and pesticides—is needed to improve water management decision-making capabilities. The U.S. Geological Survey...
Opsahl, Stephen P.; Musgrove, MaryLynn; Mahler, Barbara; Lambert, Rebecca B.
New insights on scale-dependent surface-groundwater exchange from a floating self-potential Dipole
In south-central Texas the lower Guadalupe River has incised into the outcrop of the Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer. The river and the aquifer are hydraulically connected across the outcrop, although the connectivity is obscured at the surface by alluvium and surface-water and groundwater exchange dynamics are currently poorly understood. To investigate...
Ikard, Scott; Teeple, Andrew P.; Payne, Jason ; Stanton, Gregory P.; Banta, J. Ryan
Lakes and reservoirs—Guidelines for study design and sampling
The “National Field Manual for the Collection of Water-Quality Data” (NFM) is an online report with separately published chapters that provides the protocols and guidelines by which U.S. Geological Survey personnel obtain the data used to assess the quality of the Nation’s surface-water and groundwater resources. Chapter A10 reviews limnological...
Hydrogeology and simulation of groundwater flow in the Central Oklahoma (Garber-Wellington) Aquifer, Oklahoma, 1987 to 2009, and simulation of available water in storage, 2010–2059
The Central Oklahoma (Garber-Wellington) aquifer underlies about 3,000 square miles of central Oklahoma. The study area for this investigation was the extent of the Central Oklahoma aquifer. Water from the Central Oklahoma aquifer is used for public, industrial, commercial, agricultural, and domestic supply. With the exception of Oklahoma City,...
Mashburn, Shana L.; Ryter, Derek W.; Neel, Christopher R.; Smith, S. Jerrod; Correll, Jessica S.
Water quality, sources of nitrate, and chemical loadings in the Geronimo Creek and Plum Creek watersheds, south-central Texas, April 2015–March 2016
Located in south-central Texas, the Geronimo Creek and Plum Creek watersheds have long been characterized by elevated nitrate concentrations. From April 2015 through March 2016, an assessment was done by the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority and the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board, to...
Lambert, Rebecca B.; Opsahl, Stephen P.; Musgrove, MaryLynn Forecast first: An argument for groundwater modeling in reverse
Numerical groundwater models are important compo-nents of groundwater analyses that are used for makingcritical decisions related to the management of ground-water resources. In this support role, models are oftenconstructed to serve a specific purpose that is to provideinsights, through simulation, related to a specific func-tion of a complex...
White, Jeremy T.
Servicing a Streamgage at Barker Reservoir Following Hurricane Harvey
USGS scientist Tom Pistillo wades through the waters of Barker Reservoir to ensure accurate reservoir water-level data are being measured, which are critical for helping the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Harris County Flood Control District make informed reservoir operation decisions.
Planning Hurricane Harvey Response Efforts
Planning meeting at the USGS Gulf Coast Office.
Hurricane Harvey Flooding on Buffalo Bayou at Piney Point
USGS field crews made multiple record high flood measurements on Aug. 27, including downstream of Addicks and Barker dam. Flood measurements near Addicks and Barker dam are critical for making public safety decisions, as 1.2 million people live downstream.
USGS hydrologic technicians Eric Boeding and Robert Ellis measured the height and speed of
...
USGS Scientist Monitoring Streamflow & Flooding from Hurricane Harvey
In addition to staff that conduct field measurements of flooding conditions, others monitor information indoors. Here, USGS scientist Jeff East is monitoring streamflow and flooding from Hurricane Harvey.
Highest streamflow recorded near Anahuac, Texas.
USGS scientist Matthew Barnes makes the highest streamflow measurement ever recorded at Eagle Ferry Rd near Anahuac, Texas. Find more
information from this site information here: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?site_no=08042558
USGS Streamgage on West Side of Houston During Hurricane Harvey
Photo of a USGS streamgage on the west side of Houston during Hurricane Harvey. Find more information from this site information here:
https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?site_no=08072680
Flood measurements in Houston during Hurricane Harvey
USGS scientist Mackenzie Mullins takes flood measurements at Berry Bayou in Houston, Texas.
USGS storm-tide sensor installed in preparation for Hurricane Harvey
USGS storm-tide sensor installed in preparation for Hurricane Harvey on St. Charles Bay near Interstate 35.
USGS scientist installs a storm-tide sensor
USGS scientist Charles Hartmann installs a storm-tide sensor in preparation for Hurricane Harvey in Carancahua Bay, Texas.
USGS scientists installs storm-tide sensor
USGS scientist Darwin Ockerman installs a storm-tide sensor at Packery Channel near Corpus Christi, Texas.
USGS storm-tide sensor installed in preparation for Hurricane Harvey
USGS storm-tide sensor installed in preparation for Hurricane Harvey near Matagorda, Texas.
USGS scientist flags a debris line on a telephone pole
USGS hydrologic technician Brandon Cooper flags a debris line on a telephone pole approximately 14.3 feet above the ground and located about 245 feet east of the bridge on Keith Road over Boggy Creek, September 15, 2017.
“From the mountains to the coast, the southeastern U.S. contains ecosystems that harbor incredible biodiversity. Many of those ecosystems are already highly at risk from urbanization and other human land-use change. Identifying the ecosystems at risk from climate change will help inform conservation and management to ensure we don’t lose that biodiversity.” (Jennifer Constanza, report author)
A new report about how groundwater quality and quantity has changed in and around Gaines, Terry and Yoakum counties, Texas is now available from the U.S. Geological Survey.
Outlook incorporates multiple hypoxia models for the second year
This week’s Earthview is of the Brazos River Flood...
Reporters: Do you want to interview USGS scientists as they measure flooding? Please contact Jennifer LaVista.
First-of-its-kind survey shows that algal toxins are found nationwide
Reporters: Do you want to interview USGS scientists as they measure flooding? Please contact Jennifer LaVista.
The East Austin, Texas quadrangle is the updated "feature map" on the US Topo and Historical Topographic Map Collection websites.
Flood Preparedness – There’s a New USGS Map (or App) for That
This week's EarthView is a scorcher!
Updated US Topo maps for Texas and Oklahoma available for download; add Census Bureau road data, wetlands layer and select trails
New research can help water managers along the Rio Grande make wise decisions about how to best use the flow of a river vital for drinking water, agriculture and aquatic habitat. These studies also show how conditions from the prolonged drought in the West have affected the Rio Grande watershed.
Contacts
Locations
South Central Climate Adaptation Science Center
Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center – Austin, TX Office
Phone: (512) 927-3500
Fax: (512) 927-3590
Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center – Oklahoma City, OK Office
Phone: 405-810-4400
Fax: 405-843-7712
Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center – Tulsa, OK Office
Phone: 918-254-6651
Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center – Woodward, OK Office
Phone: 580-256-5031
Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center – Lubbock, TX Office
Phone: (806) 993-0229
Fax: (806) 993-0235
Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center – Conroe, TX Office
Phone: (936) 271-5300
Fax: (936) 271-5399
Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center – Wichita Falls, TX Office
Phone: (940) 397-4453
Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center – Fort Worth, TX Office
Phone: (817) 263-9545
Fax: (682) 316-5022
Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center – El Paso, TX Office
Phone: (915) 534-6308
Fax: (915) 534-6299
Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center – San Angelo, TX Office
Phone: (325) 944-4600
Fax: (325) 942-0495
Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center – Corpus Christi, TX Office
Phone: (361) 825-2073
Fax: (361) 825-2025
Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center – San Antonio, TX Office
Phone: (210) 691-9200
Fax: (210) 691-9270