The variables to be explored include: Since the District was created in 1975, our focus has been on preventing subsidence through reasonable regulation of groundwater use, says Mike Turco, General Manager of HGSD, our commitment to cutting-edge research and consistent investment in the highest-quality data collection, with agencies like the USGS, has provided a firm scientific basis for a successful regulatory plan. The new GULF-2023 model will be the latest product in a large body of scientific activities initiated by HGSD. compaction data. Chicot-Evangeline aquifer in southeastern Harris County, and correspondingly, by 1979, as much as 10 The Fort Bend Subsidence District was created by the Texas Legislature in 1989 as a conservation and reclamation district (Act of May 26, 1989, 71st Leg., R.S., ch. regional water-level change maps. When expanded it provides a list of search options that will switch the search inputs to match the current selection. The GULF-2023 model is a new $588,000 endeavor jointly funded by the HGSD and FBSD, in cooperation with USGS. water-level altitude and regional water-level change contour map can be found in the individual year Houston-Galveston area in order to develop a regional depiction of groundwater levels. Southeast Texas Groundwater Conservation District; Other Districts. 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. In addition to regulation, the district also conducts research to enhance its understanding of the Upper Gulf Coast aquifer to better manage subsidence. Water-level change in the Gulf Coast Aquifer, 1977 to 2018. Check out this great opportunity to learn about groundwater and subsidence at HMNS - Sugar Land's latest exhibit open now until May 14, 2023! Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gtXuURxS. 2001: Established by the Texas State Legislature. In order to evaluate the performance of the projection methodology which informed the 2013 DRP, the short-term projections from the RGUP have been evaluated against recent estimates of population and water demand from multiple sources at various geographic scales. 0 Over the last century, aquifers in this area have lost between 300 and 400 feet, leaving some of the land to collapse. . 18-396 passed on March 28, 2018, the Board of Directors held the Annual Groundwater Hearing beginning at 2:30 p.m. on May 23, 2018. University of Houston . The data is temporarily stored in an on-site monitor and periodically uploaded to computers at the Harris Galveston Subsidence District. In addition, they involve local communities by education and outreach programs to underscore the importance of water conservation, such as publishing an interactive viewer with GPS land subsidence monitoring stations (shown below). Subsidence can be an important issue in certain areas such as the Gulf Coast region. 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 . Next, we traveled to the infamous Brownwood Subdivision, which was abandoned due to substantial subsidence in the 1980s. Purpose: To preserve, conserve and protect Montgomery Countys groundwater supplies. HGSD conducts regulatory planning on a regular basis to confirm that adopted regulations have reduced subsidence rates. For detailed information on the processing methodology, please refer to https://ascelibrary.org/doi/10.1061/%28ASCE%29SU.1943-5428.0000399. Harris County MUD 501 is within the boundaries of the Harris Galveston Subsidence District (the Subsidence District) which regulates groundwater withdrawal. HGSD is divided into three regulatory areas stretching from High Island and Galveston upwards to Hempstead, TX. )|#.`/D;WcM0z,B] mXU+^yZ!9K254cC.(WjoFgpK1EpvgoV "H7 OKQ:kHLa`Z=Hmm'rh`:Qfb5.!H{ 6+sBQ Pay Your Water Bill 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. Grant opportunities to implement projects that help reduce water use in the HGSD Regulatory Areas. 229 0 obj <>stream The University of Houston processes the GPS data. Removing water from fine-grained aquifer sediments compresses the aquifer leaving less pore space Explore Groundwater-Level and Compaction Data in the Chicot, Evangeline and Jasper Aquifers. Datasets of water-level changes and altitudes in the Chicot, Evangeline, and Jasper aquifers. Up to 2020, regional water-level altitude maps were created by manually interpolating contours of Click here to read our blog about how it could be addressed with a new USGS subsidence mapping tool. Brazoria County Groundwater Conservation District . They have successfully slowed-down land subsidence, decreased flood risks, and overall maintained the viability of the area. Subsidence is known to have occurred in the southern part of Montgomery County based on monitoring and long-term surveying of land surface. Damages roadways, bridges, building foundations, and other infrastructure. 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. Pay Your Tax Bill Online Alternative water sources, like treated surface water, prevents excessive groundwater pumping, thereby minimizing subsidence. This report documents the impact of groundwater use on aquifer water levels and subsidence within the District and was prepared in accordance with an Inter-local Agreement between the District and the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District (HGSD). Fax: 281-232-3355. The network, initiated in 1994, currently extends across the Houston-Galveston region, across Harris, Fort Bend and surrounding counties, in an effort to represent the breadth and scope of subsidence in the region. extensometer stations in the 11-county area. These efforts have identified and documented the susceptibility of land surface subsidence due to the production of groundwater in the Chicot and Evangeline aquifers. The Authority has developed a groundwater reduction plan (GRP) and obtained Subsidence District approval of its GRP. Both surface water and groundwater rates were reduced by $0.50 per 1,000 gallons. After successfully implementing InSAR mapping in the Houston-Galveston region in 2019, this new project will harness the complimentary capabilities of the Subsidence Districts subsidence monitoring network and SAR imagery to develop these historical deformation maps. Harris-Galveston Subsidence District; Fort Bend Subsidence District; . Providing analysis of accurate and up to date predictions on water usage; the enforcement of real disincentives to those who rely too heavily on groundwater; and an unwavering commitment to practicing and promoting water conservation. adopted as an effective alternative to manual contour interpolation. The cumulative compaction in the Chicot-Evangeline undifferentiated aquifer is measured at 13 1 of 3. Reduces the ability to store water in an aquifer. These data were used to develop a groundwater flow model capable of simulating subsidence to inform the subsidence risk of brackish development of the Jasper aquifer. Land subsidence occurs when large amounts of groundwater have been excessively withdrawn from an aquifer. By Vanessa Holt. The results of this study confirm the potential for compaction in the Jasper aquifer and subsidence to occur from brackish groundwater development particularly in up-dip areas near where the Jas-per is being used for freshwater supply. Created by the Texas Legislature in 1975 to stop further subsidence in the Houston-Galveston region. The District has taken a reasonable approach to groundwater regulation in order to minimize subsidence within its regulatory areas. Conventional Measurement Method, Borehole Extensometers, GPS, and Measuring Subsidence in the Future. 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. Newsletters Working with surface water suppliers the HGSD controls subsidence by managing the use of groundwater resources in Harris and Galveston Counties. #hiring #houstonjobs, We are hiring a Water Conservation Program Coordinator to administer the Districts water conservation programs, including the school program, grant program, and outdoor irrigation program. (3-a) "Florist item" means a cut flower, potted plant, blooming plant, inside foliage plant, bedding plant, corsage flower, cut foliage, floral decoration, or live decorative material. Deputy General Manager Fort Bend Operations, Now Hiring! groundwater withdrawal on land subsidence in the Houston-Galveston region of Texas. According to the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District (HGSD), land subsidence is the sinking of the earth's surface due to subsurface (underground) movements. accurate land-surface altitude data available at the time of publication were used in the creation of Click for The Lone Star GCD has studied the Gulf Coast Aquifer for a decade and confirmed the reports of many local water suppliers, which state that water levels in the countys aquifers have declined at an alarming rate as a result of deficit pumping. One of the primary concerns of subsidence in the coastal regions is flooding due to storm surges associated with hurricanes, where permanent seawater inundation and periodic storm water surge can dramatically impact property. Since 1990, the Fort Bend Subsidence District has regulated groundwater withdrawals and monitored subsidence in Fort Bend county. endobj Since 2019, the Subsidence District has sponsored research conducted by Southern Methodist University (SMU) that utilizes a novel methodology to evaluate land-surface deformation (subsidence) in the region. This site is a publicly available, searchable, online database of water information. }D?|=X'W|pqe'p]x/ The primary aquifers in the Gulf Coast aquifer system in the Houston-Galveston region are the Water, For persons with questions or needing help regarding website accessibility, or to request the provided information in alternative formats, please call (713) 860-6400 or send an email to, Harris County Municipal Utility District 501, 10000 Towne Lake Parkway, Cypress, Texas 77433. The development of brackish groundwater resources has become a more common water management strategy in the State of Texas. Land subsidence is the gradual lowering of land-surface elevation. A focus of these scenarios will be on the variables that minimize subsidence in the future while accounting for the availability of alternative water supplies. Since the creation of the GMA, HGSD has provided information, research, and financial support to the GMA process. Water supply evaluation and population projections are underway. Numerous subsurface faults have been documented beneath the Houston metropolitan area at depths of 3,200 to 13,000 feet. Land subsidence is sinking of the land surface, caused by compressing the many layers of clay beneath the surface. 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. Lone Star GCD is working with the Subsidence District to make the newer stations available online. The RGUP originally started in 2010 as the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District (HGSD) 1999 Regulatory Plan Update, but due to its benefits to other regional groundwater regulatory agencies, the Fort Bend Subsidence District (FBSD) and the Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District (LSGCD) joined the collaborative effort in 2010.The primary benefit of collaboration between these three entities is that each of them could use the RGUP to vet their existing regulatory plans using updated population/water demand data and groundwater modeling capability, and in the case of HGSD and FBSD, investigate the physical effects of changing their existing regulatory plans to accommodate the practical realities facing their stakeholders while successfully completing the Districts mission objectives. The Harris-Galveston Subsidence District is a special purpose district created by the Texas Legislature in 1975 to regulate groundwater withdrawal throughout Harris and Galveston counties in order to prevent land subsidence. Contact Us. During todays Board Meeting, Rosa Alvarez, Susan Baird, Sarah Benavides, Steve Gillett, Katherine Mears, and Don Johnson were reappointed and took their Oath of Office. 1992: Regulatory areas redivided into 7 areas. available to store water resulting in the lowering (sinking or settling) of the land-surface. Data were compiled and multiple hydrologic parameters were utilized to improve the understanding of the brackish resources within the study area. Harris County MUD 501 is located within the boundaries of the Authority. 5 0 obj Based on this analysis, recommendations have been developed to refine the methodology used in the next regional update project to further improve the next iteration of the regulatory plan. This report, prepared by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Harris-Galveston Coastal Subsidence District, documents and refines the locations of principal faults mapped in the Houston, Texas, metropolitan area in previous studies. 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. feet of subsidence had occurred in the Houston-Galveston region. HGSD has the goal of reducing the area to 20% reliance on groundwater by 2035 and managing water to promote . Star Groundwater Conservation District, and HGSD works closely with State and Federal agencies to foster collaboration and improve governmental efficiency. The Houston area's two subsidence districts the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District, HGSD, and the Fort Bend Subsidence District have worked to monitor subsidence and mitigate it through a variety of water management efforts. water levels in the aquifer were declining with associated depressuring, dewatering, and compaction below the land surface due to groundwater withdrawals. Now hiring a Deputy General Manager for Fort Bend Operations. Areas of the nature center show reminiscences of the neighborhood and serve as an important reminder of what subsidence can do. Creation year: 1975 (64th Texas Legislature). Contact information for the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District. 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 . 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. The nearby hydrograph shows that when a subsidence district was created around 1976 (red line), groundwater levels in the Chicot Aquifer rose substantially. 1999: Regulatory areas converted into 3 primary areas. of Houston, Creation year: 2003 (approved by Brazoria County voters in 2005). yV'1p s$&:j},WF") ]WdO9mu]eh+5K[1T@sPdQ$j%j\\u)) ->qT?^R:@RY!cpu)88p/~p]7 WEWj$U$e'I|MVfgyUcgwy~h8qZ hK}&EiQ';[P2 =Yal City You can view research studies, model information, and interactive maps under the Science & Research tab of the HGSD website. The Authority has entered into a Water Supply Contract with the City of Houston to obtain treated surface water from Houston. This process is crucial to prevent buildings from flooding. Activities 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. 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. Legislature authorized the establishment of the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District to regulate and Harris County MUD 501 purchases its water supply from Harris County Municipal Utility District 500, which purchases surface water from the Authority. reduce groundwater withdrawals in Harris and Galveston Counties. 1 0 obj Since 1977, the USGS Texas Water Science Gulf Coast Program has published regional groundwater maps for Community Establishes policy regarding groundwater regulation withdrawals to control subsidence. The cumulative compaction in the Chicot and Evangeline aquifers are measured at 13 extensometer stations in the 11-county area. Subsidence is known to have occurred in the southern part of Montgomery County based on monitoring and long-term surveying of land surface. On the first stop, we visited the Texas City Rainwater Pump Station, where Texas Citys Emergency Management team takes runoff rainwater from ditches in the area and pumps it into Moses Lake. Population projections were developed at the census block level for each decade from 2010 to 2070 using the 2010 U.S. Census as a population baseline. subarea, and area B. Get regular updates on Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District. This model will provide valuable information to inform the regulatory decision-making of the HGSD and FBSD. GENERAL PROVISIONS Sec.A8801.001.AADEFINITIONS. 301 Jackson Street, Suite 639 Ground-Water Withdrawals and Land-Surface Subsidence in the Houston-Galveston Region, Texas, 1906-80: R-286: 4/1/1984: TWDB numbered report: https://lnkd.in/gZKAs__D. December 1, 2020. Occasionally, the district undertakes a review of the regulatory plan, working with other entities to assess future water needs and ensure that the plan will be successful in ceasing subsidence. Since the mid 1970s, the USGS and the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District have conducted scientific investigations and subsidence monitoring for over 40 years. water below land surface) from the referenced well land-surface altitude. 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. Then, use either Enter or Space key to open the selected district. 9 were here. The reduction in pumpage has resulted in the increase of water- level in the aquifer system in those areas and a reduction in subsidence rates. Alters the flow of creeks and bayous which may increase the frequency and severity of flooding. On our last stop, we toured theCity of Houstons Northeast Water Purification Plant Expansion.