Unified Interior Regions
Region 6: Arkansas-Rio Grande-Texas-Gulf
Regions L2 Landing Page Tabs
Estimated Water Withdrawals in Oklahoma, 2005
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) established the National Water-Use Information Program in 1977 to collect uniform, current, and reliable information on water use. The USGS has compiled national estimates every 5 years since 1950. The most recent national water use compilation is for 2005. The data presented here are the result of the 2005 compilation effort for Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Water...
Estimated Water Withdrawals in Oklahoma, 2000
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) established the National Water-Use Information Program in 1977 to collect uniform, current, and reliable information on water use. The USGS has compiled national estimates every 5 years since 1950. The most recent national water use compilation is for 2000. The data presented here are the result of the 2000 compilation effort for Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Water...
Estimated Water Withdrawals in Oklahoma, 1995
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) established the National Water-Use Information Program in 1977 to collect uniform, current, and reliable information on water use. The USGS has compiled national estimates every 5 years since 1950. The most recent national water use compilation is for 1995. The data presented here are the result of the 1995 compilation effort for Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Water...
North Fork Red River Aquifer Study
In 2012 the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the OWRB, began an update of the hydrologic investigation and development of a groundwater-flow model for the North Fork Red River alluvial aquifer in Beckham, Greer, Jackson, and Kiowa Counties.
Upper Washita River Alluvial Aquifer Study
This project is a detailed study of the groundwater and surface water, the hydrogeology, climate, and base flow to streams, and the effects of water use and changes in weather and climate on the hydrologic system. The study includes field collection of groundwater and streamflow data, mapping the water table, aquifer base, and water use.
Salt Fork Red River Alluvial Aquifer Study
The objectives of this project are to describe the hydrogeology of the Salt Fork Red River alluvial aquifer and to produce numerical groundwater-flow models that can be used to simulate the transient groundwater-flow system. The Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) will use the outcomes from this project to determine the MAY and effects of future water extraction and drought. The geographic...
Red River Water Availability and Use and Ecological Characteristics Focus Area Study
Staff members of the Oklahoma Water Science Center in Oklahoma City and of the Oklahoma Coop Unit at Stillwater are working with USGS staff members from Water Science Centers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, and New Jersey to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of water-resource availability, refine water-use estimates, and characterize aquatic ecology and streamflows needed to support selected...
Oklahoma FloodWatch
By combining the historical record, data from ongoing streamgage monitoring, and data on new events, the USGS is able to develop the expertise and tools that help Federal, State, and local community leaders not only to enhance short-term preparation, aid, and recovery efforts, but to better understand how their flood risk may be changing over time and how they can reduce their risk in future...
Subject-Area Specialists
Please feel free to contact any of our subject-area specialists.
Center Director/Surface-water specialist - Jason Lewis
Data Chief - Vacant
Studies Chief - Matthew Varonka
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) specialist -...
Oklahoma DroughtWatch
The U.S. Geological Survey Oklahoma Water Science Center continuously monitors the status of surface water in the State's principal rivers, reservoirs, and aquifers. Selected index stations with long-term continuous record spanning many drought periods are used to compare existing streamflows, reservoir storage, and ground-water levels with normal and extreme recorded values. These comparisons...
Oklahoma StreamStats
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) periodically publishes streamflow statistics, such as flood-frequency, flow-duration, and mean annual streamflow statistics, for gaged sites with long-term record. Regionalized regression methods recently have been developed for estimating many of these streamflow statistics at ungaged sites as a function of measured physical and climatic drainage basin...
Oklahoma Water Science Center Publications
This page will help you locate, view, and download scientific and technical articles and reports as well as general interest publications such as booklets, fact sheets, pamphlets, and posters resulting from the research performed by our scientists and partners.
The USGS Publications Warehouse contains on-line content and citations for over 100,000...
Hydrogeological framework, numerical simulation of groundwater flow, and effects of projected water use and drought for the Beaver-North Canadian River alluvial aquifer, northwestern Oklahoma
This report describes a study of the hydrology, hydrogeological framework, numerical groundwater-flow models, and results of simulations of the effects of water use and drought for the Beaver-North Canadian River alluvial aquifer, northwestern Oklahoma. The purpose of the study was to provide analyses, including estimating equal-proportionate-...
Ryter, Derek W.; Correll, Jessica S.
Spatial and temporal migration of a landfill leachate plume in alluvium
Leachate from unlined or leaky landfills can create groundwater contaminant plumes that last decades to centuries. Understanding the dynamics of leachate movement in space and time is essential for monitoring, planning and management, and assessment of risk to groundwater and surface-water resources. Over a 23.4-year period (1986–2010), the...
Masoner, Jason R.; Cozzarelli, Isabelle M.
Regional potentiometric surface of the Ozark aquifer in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma, November 2014–January 2015
The Ozark aquifer, within the Ozark Plateaus aquifer system (herein referred to as the “Ozark system”), is the primary groundwater source in the Ozark Plateaus physiographic province (herein referred to as the “Ozark Plateaus”) of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Groundwater from the Ozark system has historically...
Nottmeier, Anna M.
Potentiometric surface of the Catahoula aquifer in central Louisiana, 2013
The Catahoula aquifer is an important source of fresh groundwater in central Louisiana. In 2010, about 3.96 million gallons per day (Mgal/d) were withdrawn from the Catahoula aquifer in Louisiana. In 2012, the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources began a study to document current water levels in...
Fendick, Jr., Robert B.; Carter, Kayla
Simulation of the effects of different inflows on hydrologic conditions in Lake Houston with a three-dimensional hydrodynamic model, Houston, Texas, 2009–10
Lake Houston, an important water resource for the Houston, Texas, area, receives inflows from seven major tributaries that compose the San Jacinto River Basin upstream from the reservoir. The effects of different inflows from the watersheds drained by these tributaries on the residence time of water in Lake Houston and closely associated physical...
Rendon, Samuel H.; Lee, Michael T. Nutrient-enhanced decomposition of plant biomass in a freshwater wetland
We studied soil decomposition in a Panicum hemitomon (Schultes)-dominated freshwater marsh located in southeastern Louisiana that was unambiguously changed by secondarily-treated municipal wastewater effluent. We used four approaches to evaluate how belowground biomass decomposition rates vary under different nutrient regimes in this...
Bodker, James E.; Turner, Robert Eugene; Tweel, Andrew; Schulz, Christopher; Swarzenski, Christopher M.
myScience—Engaging the public in U.S. Geological Survey science
myScience (http://txpub.usgs.gov/myscience/) is a Web application developed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Texas Water Science Center through a partnership with the USGS Community for Data Integration to address the need for increasing public awareness and participation in existing USGS citizen science projects. The myScience application...
Holl, Sally
Discharge, suspended sediment, and salinity in the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and adjacent surface waters in South-Central Louisiana, 1997–2008
Discharge, suspended sediment, and salinity data collected between 1997 and 2008 indicate that the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) is an important distributary of river water and suspended sediments to coastal wetlands in south-central coastal Louisiana. Following natural hydraulic gradients, the GIWW passively distributes freshwater and...
Swarzenski, Christopher M.; Perrien, Scott M. Landfill leachate as a mirror of today's disposable society: Pharmaceuticals and other contaminants of emerging concern in final leachate from landfills in the conterminous United States
Final leachates (leachate after storage or treatment processes) from 22 landfills in 12 states were analyzed for 190 pharmaceuticals and other contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), which were detected in every sample, with the number of CECs ranging from 1 to 58 (median = 22). In total, 101 different CECs were detected in leachate...
Masoner, Jason R.; Kolpin, Dana W.; Furlong, Edward T.; Cozzarelli, Isabelle M.; Gray, James L.
Methods for estimating the magnitude and frequency of peak streamflows at ungaged sites in and near the Oklahoma Panhandle
This report presents the results of a cooperative study by the U.S. Geological Survey and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to estimate the magnitude and frequency of peak streamflows from regional regression equations for ungaged stream sites in and near the Oklahoma Panhandle. These methods relate basin characteristics (physiographic and...
Smith, S. Jerrod; Lewis, Jason M.; Graves, Grant M.
Trace-metal and organic constituent concentrations in bed sediment at Big Base and Little Base Lakes, Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas—Comparisons to sediment-quality guidelines and indications for timing of exposure
This report compares concentrations for a wide range of inorganic and organic constituents in bed sediment from Big Base Lake and Little Base Lake, which are located on Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, to sediment-quality guidelines. This report also compares trace-metal concentrations in a bed-sediment core sample to sediment age to...
Justus, B.G.; Hays, Phillip D.; Hart, Rheannon M.
Numerical simulation of groundwater flow, resource optimization, and potential effects of prolonged drought for the Citizen Potawatomi Nation Tribal Jurisdictional Area, central Oklahoma
A hydrogeological study including two numerical groundwater-flow models was completed for the Citizen Potawatomi Nation Tribal Jurisdictional Area of central Oklahoma. One numerical groundwater-flow model, the Citizen Potawatomi Nation model, encompassed the jurisdictional area and was based on the results of a regional-scale hydrogeological study...
Ryter, Derek W.; Kunkel, Christopher D.; Peterson, Steven M.; Traylor, Jonathan P.
USGS Streamgage near Derby, Texas
Currently, most of the streamflow equipment is located on a streambank or bridge. Large structures are no longer needed at most streamgage locations. Today, streamgage equipment can be contained in small metal shelters that are located on streambanks or bridges.
USGS Streamgage near Junction, Texas
A modern 21st century version of a streamgage structure.
USGS Streamgage in Dallas, Texas
This 2014 photo shows the new location of the USGS streamgage that measures high flows on the Trinity River in Dallas. The gage was once located on a pier, but in 1975 was moved next to the stream.
USGS Streamgage near Carrollton, Texas.
Modern-day USGS streamgage at Elm Fork Trinity River near Carrollton, Texas.
1955 USGS streamgage near Carrollton, Texas
Nearly completed construction of a streamgage structure in 1955 at Elm Fork Trinity River near Carollton, Texas.
USGS streamgage in 1940 near Derby, Texas
In the earlier years of streamgaging, large “stilling wells” were constructed to contain the equipment needed to collect streamflow data. Historically, most of the streamflow equipment may have been located in these large structures, which were placed in the middle or next to the stream.
Oldest version of a USGS streamgage in Texas
One of the oldest versions of a streamgage structure constructed in Texas.
Oldest version of a USGS streamgage in Texas
A close-up view of the top part of one of the oldest streamgage structures constructed in Texas.
Early USGS streamgage in Texas
Looking upstream from gage site at Trinity River at Commerce Street Bridge.
Early USGS streamgage in Dallas, Texas
This 1922 photo shows an early USGS streamgage on the Trinity River in Dallas.
Wildfires Scorch Large Swaths Along Oklahoma-Kansas Border
Using shortwave infrared, near infrared, and visible bands, these Landsat images provide a before and after look at the 350 Complex and Anderson Creek fires.
Paddle Boarding on the Guadalupe River
Cool, clear rivers of the Texas Hill Country attract visitors for many recreational opportunities. Here, a family enjoys paddleboarding at Schreiner Park during spring break in Kerrville, Texas.
The new USGS Texas Water Dashboard is a cutting-edge USGS map that provides critical current water information and National Weather Service forecast data at your fingertips
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For the first time ever, scientists have simulated the movement of sediment throughout the San Antonio River Basin with a new U.S. Geological Survey model, created in cooperation with the San Antonio River Authority (SARA).
Historical groundwater withdrawals have caused the loss of land-surface elevation, or subsidence, in the Houston-Galveston region. Loss of surface elevation is a concern as it may increase the potential for more intense flooding in the study area according to the latest annual report conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey.
The U.S. Geological Survey has installed two streamgages to be used for flood monitoring in the City of Laredo, Texas.
Collaboration between federal Climate Science Centers, partner agencies and tribes is vital for minimizing and adapting to potential harmful effects of climate change on human society and surrounding ecosystems, according to a newly-released U.S. Geological Survey circular.
Beginning this week, the U.S. Geological Survey will be drilling two test boreholes near Del Rio, Texas, to collect core samples and geophysical information important to better understand the physical properties of the subsurface.
Nesting loggerhead sea turtles in the northern Gulf of Mexico feed among areas that were oiled by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill and where human activities occur, several of which are known to pose threats to sea turtles, a new U.S Geological study showed.
The 2006 prohibition on the use of coal-tar-based pavement sealants in Austin, Texas, has resulted in a substantial reduction in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), according to a new study by the U.S. Geological Survey.
Want to know how elevation will benefit your state? The USGS National Geospatial Program is advancing the 3D Elevation Program, known as 3DEP, in response to the growing need for high-quality three-dimensional representations of the Nation’s natural and constructed features.
Stronger storms, rising seas, and flooding are placing hundreds of millions people at risk around the world, and big part of the solution to decrease those risks is just off shore. A new study finds that coral reefs reduce the wave energy that would otherwise impact coastlines by 97 percent.
The rate of earthquakes in Oklahoma has increased by about 50 percent since October 2013, significantly increasing the chance for a damaging quake in central Oklahoma.
The biology of small streams in the Illinois River Basin has been disturbed by a mix of factors, according to a new U.S. Geological Survey report.
In a new study involving researchers at the U.S. Geological Survey, scientists observed that a human-induced magnitude 5.0 earthquake near Prague, Oklahoma in November 2011 may have triggered the larger M5.7 earthquake less than a day later.
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