V(&xH:1dxB0"5Cu)edL9x2Z~Q`&1R`oC1NTEGxfP8QMiuy6T8-%HI Y{*,t wBh# Sinking situation of subsidence in Houston, Gulf Coast USGS measures groundwater levels in over 700 wells in an 11-county area annually in the The District enjoyed visiting the Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Lands newest attraction, Ocean Bound: A Deep Dive Into the Science of How Water Flows. This interactive exhibit provides a look into how actions on land can impact water and even has an area designated for learning more about groundwater and subsidence. J.M:xo[q]omJdI Wf@M|$ot-MB@V5J SDh!!FwTtd\#\v?T{DJo"DfTFaF.%I\J'3@$;k 8f Land subsidence is the gradual lowering of land-surface elevation. water-level altitude and regional water-level change contour map can be found in the individual year ArcGIS Online Map of Subsidence Rates in Fort Bend and Surrounding Counties, Texas, USA, 2020 Annual Groundwater Report Executive Summary, ArcGIS Online Map of Subsidence Rates in Fort Bend and surrounding Counties, Texas, USA. Activities The Harris-Galveston Subsidence District is a special purpose district created by the Texas Legislature in 1975. Used by HGSD as guides in the exercise of the powers in the accomplishment of the purposes of Special Districts Code. <> In collaboration with Galveston Bay Foundation and Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service, HGSD . Contact Information; District Website; Legislation House Bill 552; Chapter 284, 64th Legislature, 1975; The District was created to provide for the regulation of groundwater . Annual Pumpage Reports are due by January 31, 2023. Groundwater Conservation Districts | Texas Water Development Board Surface water shift through $381M Luce Bayou Project keeps homes limits According to a 2017 USGS report, Water levels in the southeastern parts of the study area in the Chicot and Evangeline aquifers have generally continued to rise since 1977, while water levels in the northern and western parts of Harris County and Southern Montgomery County have continued to decline. The GULF-2023 model is a new $588,000 endeavor jointly funded by the HGSD and FBSD, in cooperation with USGS. Fort The primary aquifers in the Gulf Coast aquifer system in the Houston-Galveston region are the established the Fort Bend Subsidence District and two groundwater conservation districts: Lone Star 1989: Established by the Texas State Legislature. A resident of the Houston area since 2011, Vanessa began working in community . =3R{;vBbh *J2q!Ol] 5rR(T/hgb(0XY g;}HcBei3Wbhq+(MH9DX0ayqQ^\I:v@|\S$N=fV(~'|Wo+p&O%b endstream endobj 191 0 obj <>stream Significant brackish groundwater resources exist within the Gulf Coast Aquifer System near Houston, Texas in Harris, Galveston, Fort Bend, and surrounding counties. However, there is another cause of subsidence in our area which causes the activation of surface faults (which can damage roads, houses, and buildings), loss of wetlands and . 218 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<47E07B46D706934486CB2062ED92DA88><05048E564C3EFD429B1933026D915C3D>]/Index[186 44]/Info 185 0 R/Length 144/Prev 850166/Root 187 0 R/Size 230/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream Harris-Galveston Subsidence District (coastal Texas, U.S.A.) is worldwide one of the frontrunners in subsidence prevention, by regulating, registering, and permitting the withdrawal of groundwater from deep aquifers. The development of brackish groundwater resources has become a more common water management strategy in the State of Texas. 1975: Established by Texas State Legislature. The District Science and Research Plan represents the strategic direction for science and research conducted or supported by the Fort Bend Subsidence District (FBSD) and, as such, is an essential component of the Districts regulatory planning process. Visit smarteraboutwater.org for water conservation resources to help homeowners, businesses, and the community. Conventional Measurement Method, Borehole Extensometers, GPS, and Measuring Subsidence in the Future. Water-level altitude contours, wells, and compaction data have been combined in an interactive map that allows users to view annual water-level altitudes from 1977 through the present, water-level changes over time, and historical time series of compaction data. The U.S. Geological Survey prepared this dataset in cooperation with the HarrisGalveston Subsidence District, City of Houston, Fort Bend Subsidence District, and Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District. Since 1990, the Fort Bend Subsidence District has regulated groundwater withdrawals and monitored subsidence in Fort Bend county. Creation year: 1975 (64th Texas Legislature). Annual Groundwater Report, Cumulative Compaction of Subsurface Sediments, Regional Groundwater Update and more. The Harris-Galveston Coastal Subsidence District has required reduced groundwater use to slow or stop subsidence (sinking of ground level) in Harris and Galveston Counties. The review of the plan includes the following steps: The initial stakeholder meeting for the joint regulatory plan review will take place May 20, 2020 and future progress meetings will be scheduled periodically throughout the project. Chicot-Evangeline (undifferentiated) and Jasper, which are composed of laterally discontinuous deposits This process is crucial to prevent buildings from flooding. 2019 Annual Groundwater Report Appendix A, 2019 Annual Groundwater Report Appendix B, 2019 Annual Groundwater Report Appendix C. Pursuant to Fort Bend Subsidence District (the District or FBSD) Resolution No. Created by the Texas Legislature in 1975 to stop further subsidence in the Houston-Galveston region. SMU is developing subsidence maps from 1992 to 2023 by integrating data obtained from multi-temporal Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR), a remote sensing technique using data collected from orbiting satellites, to quantitatively evaluate subsidence over specific periods of time across the region. In the Houston-Galveston region, land subsidence is caused by compaction of fine-grained aquifer sediments (silts and clays) below the land surface due to groundwater withdrawals. People who live in the lower lying coastal areas (i.e., lower elevations and flatter topography) have much more reason to be concerned with subsidence than those who reside further inland in areas of higher elevations with more topographic relief. H\j@}l/6 6i!i$U6"o=B9|c7MfwzQCyaks,Oi&LOcuVcc6_z0Y.MTQM>lW~2Miu8hV4c:ul:fU,+?/Q_spA.%Y[Hliicc-iiiiooo#t8zAG#+0SL W`y$[yzzxzzzxzzzxzzzxzzzxzzzxzzzxzgJ0Fi6xN4._3I]8o HGSD works closely with State and Federal agencies to foster collaboration and improve governmental efficiency. The public hearing fulfills the requirements of the Districts enabling legislation, which states that the Board of Directors shall hold a public hearing to take testimony concerning the effects of groundwater withdrawals on the subsidence of land within the District during the preceding year. 5 0 obj HGSD has the goal of reducing the area to 20% reliance on groundwater by 2035 and managing water to promote . PDF Water-Level Altitudes 2016 and Water-Level Changes in the Chicot - USGS The Science and Research Plan is designed to be a dynamic document with the intention to provide clarity to the strategic direction of the District and guidance to future science and research priorities in support of the District Regulatory Plan. (4) "Groundwater" means water located beneath the earth's surface. By 1977, the withdrawals had resulted in water-level altitude declines of 350 feet below datum in the The RGUP was jointly supported by the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District, the Fort Bend Subsidence District, and the Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District. This is accomplished through the careful regulation of groundwater withdrawals, working in collaboration with surface water suppliers. HARRIS-GALVESTON SUBSIDENCE DISTRICT SUBCHAPTER A. All Rights Reserved. Website by Abstract Media, Lone Star GCD, 655 Conroe Park North Drive, Conroe, TX, 77303, United States, Lone Star Static Well Level Monitoring Network Map, Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District - Phase 3 Site-Specific Subsidence Investigations, Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District - Phase 2 Subsidence Investigations, Subsidence Study Phase 1 Draft Final Report. Land subsidence is sinking of the land surface, caused by compressing the many layers of clay beneath the surface. Alters the flow of creeks and bayous which may increase the frequency and severity of flooding. This dataset documents for 2018 the depth to groundwater measured in wells screened in the Chicot, Evangeline, and Jasper aquifers in the HoustonGalveston region, Texas. Since the mid 1970s, the USGS and the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District have conducted scientific investigations and subsidence monitoring for over 40 years. Finally, use the Tab key to toggle the links within each districts. 2017 Annual Groundwater Report Final Approved (Revised 2.0). Purpose: To manage groundwater withdrawal and enforce groundwater regulation throughout Harris and Galveston counties, in hopes of preventing the land subsidence that leads to increased flooding. destroyed or were not measured during the individual publication study period. Data provided by the USGS. In cooperation with Harris County MUD 501 is within the boundaries of the Harris Galveston Subsidence District (the Subsidence District) which regulates groundwater withdrawal. Up to 2020, regional water-level altitude maps were created by manually interpolating contours of )|#.`/D;WcM0z,B] mXU+^yZ!9K254cC.(WjoFgpK1EpvgoV "H7 OKQ:kHLa`Z=Hmm'rh`:Qfb5.!H{ 6+sBQ Phone: 281-342-3273 While some of the duties and goals are similar to those of groundwater conservation districts, Harris-Galveston . As the Houston Chronicle reported, Over the years, Texas lawmakers enacted bills to create subsidence or water conservation districts in counties that include Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery and Galveston. When expanded it provides a list of search options that will switch the . Click for She joins Harris County from the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District, where she has served as Deputy General Manager for the past 3 years and oversaw the District's Regulatory Planning, Scientific Research, and Water Conservation Programs. Creation year: 2001 (77th Texas Legislature). Types of research sponsored by the District include: Each year the Board of Directors holds a public hearing for the purpose of taking testimony concerning the effects of groundwater withdrawals on the subsidence of land within the District during the preceding year. }D?|=X'W|pqe'p]x/ Bend County Subsidence District, If you are a leader with a passion for executing projects that improve our local communities, check out this opportunity! Harris-Galveston Subsidence District; Fort Bend Subsidence District; . This position serves as the Chief Operating Officer of the Fort Bend Subsidence District and provides the day-to-day leadership, management, and vision necessary to effectively complete the Districts mission. Community Click here to view information and publications from USGS about groundwater and subsidence on the Texas Gulf Coast. Application for Groundwater Certificate Replacement, and Acknowledgment of District Regulatory Requirements. The cumulative compaction in the Chicot and Evangeline aquifers are measured at 13 extensometer stations in the 11-county area. Water-level change in the Gulf Coast Aquifer, 1977 to 2018. in the Houston-Galveston region to provide for the regulation of groundwater withdrawals in areas within 2001: Established by the Texas State Legislature. Fort Bend Subsidence District (FBSD) - Fort Bend County, Texas publication. Further information detailing the data processing and map creation for each published regional Oil and Gas Production Causes Subsidence, Wetlands Loss, and Flooding water below land surface) from the referenced well land-surface altitude. Alternative water sources, like treated surface water, prevents excessive groundwater pumping, thereby minimizing subsidence. From USGS well monitoring over decades they are able to show that once subsidence districts are created, groundwater levels rise significantly, thereby decreasing subsidence issues in their districts. Evaluation of projected population and future water demands, Development of subsidence models to simulate future subsidence based on projected water demands, Measurement of annual water-level to show the impact of conversion requirements on the water-level in the aquifer, Assessment of alternative water supplies including brackish groundwater use and aquifer storage and recovery. University of Houston . Report Street Light Outage Prior to 1975, the withdrawal of groundwater from the Chicot-Evangeline aquifer was unregulated, and Harris-Galveston Subsidence District (HGSD) in Texas was recognized as a WaterSense Partner of the Year for the first time for helping residents and businesses save water outdoors. Water supply evaluation and population projections are underway. On our last stop, we toured theCity of Houstons Northeast Water Purification Plant Expansion. Lone Star GCD is working with the Subsidence District to make the newer stations available online. Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District - Phase 3 Site-Specific Subsidence Investigations (December 12, 2022), Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District - Phase 2 Subsidence Investigations (January 26, 2022), Subsidence Study Phase 2 Final Report (as approved on May 10, 2022), Subsidence Study Phase 2 Task 1 and Task 2 Draft Report, Subsidence Study Phase 2 Scope of Work (as approved on April 13, 2021), Subsidence Study Phase 1 Final Report (as approved on August 11, 2020), Subsidence Study Phase 1 Draft Final Report (pending Board approval on August 11, 2020). If you would like to find out more about their strategies and available data, please visit: https://hgsubsidence.org/, 2022 Annual Pumpage Reports are due on January 31, 2023. Now on its fifth iteration since 1976, the plan describes the different regulatory areas throughout the district, defines groundwater withdrawal limits for each area, and provides guidelines for permitting. Click here to read our blog about how it could be addressed with a new USGS subsidence mapping tool. New goals would allow for ground to sink in The Woodlands, more water Since it is not a GCD, HGSD participates in the activities of GMA 14 as an inter-local participant. The nearby hydrograph shows that when a subsidence district was created around 1976 (red line), groundwater levels in the Chicot Aquifer rose substantially. 1045, 1989 Tex. You can also view water levels by visiting the Lone Star Static Well Level Monitoring Network Map. extensometer stations in the 11-county area. These sites are being cooperatively run and operated by the following agencies. Principal faults in the Houston, Texas, metropolitan area - USGS They have successfully slowed-down land subsidence, decreased flood risks, and overall maintained the viability of the area. This report, prepared by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District, City of Houston, Fort Bend Subsidence District, Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District, and Brazoria County Groundwater Conservation District, is one in an annual series of reports depicting water-level altitudes and water . It has since been turned into the Baytown Nature Center. You can view research studies, model information, and interactive maps under the Science & Research tab of the HGSD website. 1999: Regulatory areas converted into 3 primary areas. %N_yuJlv\DxD"`UIci+QV8F,P"iRNd[U]4#8T&2m4=oCgq! Legislature authorized the establishment of the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District to regulate and These efforts have identified and documented the susceptibility of land surface subsidence due to the production of groundwater in the Chicot and Evangeline aquifers. Learn about Land Subsidence in Houston, Galveston and surrounding areas. The Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts supports Texas groundwater conservation districts and their efforts to conserve, preserve, and protect Texas groundwater. Richmond, TX 77469 The District uses exceptional scientific research to ensure the best available technology and approaches are considered with respect to water management and subsidence monitoring. Contact information for the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District. All Rights Reserved Regional water-level change maps were constructed by interpreting the compiled water-level altitude data Elections To address the issues associated with land-surface subsidence and compaction, the 64th Texas State Harris County MUD 501 is within the boundaries of the Harris Galveston Subsidence District (the Subsidence District) which regulates groundwater withdrawal. Deputy General Manager Fort Bend Operations, Now Hiring! SMU is developing subsidence maps from 1992 to 2023 by integrating data obtained from multi-temporal Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR), a remote sensing technique using data collected from orbiting satellites, to quantitatively evaluate subsidence over specific periods of time across the region. Harris-Galveston Subsidence District | The Texas Alliance of Information about the Management team at the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District. The water-level measurements in the dataset are built upon and stored in the National Water Information System: web interface, groundwater information, and field measurements website located here: http://dx.doi.org/10.5066/F7P55KJN. Removing water from fine-grained aquifer sediments compresses the aquifer leaving less pore space available to store water resulting . In cooperation with Harris-Galveston Subsidence District, the City of Houston, Fort Bend County Subsidence District, Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District, and Brazoria County Groundwater Conservation District, the U.S. Geological Survey Texas Water Science Center Gulf Coast Program collects, processes, and interprets groundwater-level . regional water-level change maps. 0 In the event of an emergency, please dial 9-1-1. Newsroom - Harris County, Texas HGSD lies within the boundaries of Groundwater Management Area 14 (GMA 14). Available job opportunities with Harris-Galveston Subsidence Distrcit. Harris-Galveston Subsidence District . =*-SRIbI -|tdAl` Q ka+dzLp[fAh/tGp7=>>q[y,Nz Ma Request for Qualifications and other important information related to doing business with the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District. Purpose: To preserve, conserve and protect Montgomery Countys groundwater supplies. HVMs9W(GEU nQ,bb]4vb3Z_lW=zl%{O;\o%{ebEw This button displays the currently selected search type. For keyboard navigation: First, use Arrow Keys to navigate up and down the districts. With the last regulatory plan adopted in 2013, HGSD recently initiated a joint regulatory plan review in cooperation with the Fort Bend Subsidence District (FBSD) in January 2020. 229 0 obj <>stream HGSD Financial Information including Budgets, Annual Audits, and Financial Reports. USGS TXWSC - Coastal Science The Harris-Galveston Subsidence District, created in 1975, was the first of these districts. While some areas in Houston have significantly reduced their groundwater pumping (particularly with the creation of subsidence and groundwater districts, whose purpose is to regulate groundwater pumping), subsidence still remains a threat for the region. available to store water resulting in the lowering (sinking or settling) of the land-surface. Then, use either Enter or Space key to open the selected district. Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District, Brazoria County Groundwater Conservation District, Fort Lone USGS measures groundwater levels in over 700 wells in an 11-county area annually in the Houston-Galveston area in order to develop a regional depiction of groundwater levels. Land subsidence is the gradual lowering of land-surface elevation. historical year or as the difference in water-level altitude at each well for the water-level data accurate land-surface altitude data available at the time of publication were used in the creation of Harris-Galveston Subsidence District and West Harris County Regional The District was created to provide for the regulation of groundwater withdrawal throughout Harris and Galveston counties for the purpose of preventing land subsidence, which leads to increased flooding.