The USGS is a science agency within the Department of Interior that conducts research on water resources, ecosystems, energy and minerals. The Texas Water Science Center conducts studies in cooperation with GCDs to understand groundwater resources. Existing cooperative studies involve data collection and analysis, conceptual modeling, and groundwater modeling. Potential areas of future cooperation include studying brackish water, surface water interactions with groundwater, and additional modeling.

1. Introduction to the U.S. Geological Survey
and USGS-GCD Cooperative Studies
By Johnathan R. Bumgarner
February 2014

2. Outline
• Introduction to the USGS
• Groundwater studies roadmap
• USGS/GCD cooperative program
– Existing
– Potential

3. Introduction to USGS
• Dept. of Interior
• Founded in 1879
• Six Science Themes
– Ecosystems
– Energy, Minerals and Environmental Health
– Core Science Systems
– Climate and Land-Use Change
– Natural Hazards
– Water Resources
• Interdisciplinary scientific monitoring, assessment, and
research
• Employees in every state

5. USGS Mission – Water Resources
• To provide hydrologic information and understanding
needed by others to achieve the best use and
management of the Nation’s water resources.
• USGS accomplishes this mission in cooperation with State,
Local, and Other Federal Agencies.

6. Texas Water Science Center (TWSC)
Staffing Level
Austin
San Antonio
Houston
Fort Worth
San Angelo
Wichita Falls
Corpus Christi
Lubbock
68
29
23
20
14
7
1
3
Federal Occupational Series
Hydrologists – Geologists – Geographers – Hydrologic Technicians
Biologists – Hydraulic Engineers – Chemical Engineers – Chemists
Geophysicists – Physical Scientists

7. Core Capabilities
Analytical Techniques
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Watershed modeling
Flood and low-flow frequency analysis
Sediment and chemical load
determination
Aquatic testing
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Acoustic Doppler velocity measurements
Ground-water age dating
Surface and borehole geophysics
Evapotranspiration analysis
Ground-water recharge modeling
Solute-transport modeling
Geochemical modeling
Ground-water flow modeling
Geodatabase development
Flood inundation modeling
Data Collection
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Real time streamflow data
Continuous groundwater level
data
Water-quality data
Storm Surge data collection
Stream-sediment transport data
Meteorological data
Data Archival
Web services

8. Surface Water Gaging Network
527 – Real-time Stream Gage Sites
127 – Real-time Lake Sites

9. Water Quality Activities
•
Stream and reservoir data collection
• Real-time water quality monitoring
• Chemical/microbial source tracking
• Total maximum daily load (TMDL)
studies
• Biological indicator analyses
• Sediment coring /Age dating
• Trend analysis
• Historical database/archival

10. Groundwater Data Collection
Part per billion water quality
sampling protocols
Periodic and continuous
water level monitoring
Groundwater
studies and
investigations are
expanding
statewide

11. Geophysical Capabilities
• TWSC Capabilities
–
–
–
–
–
–
TDEM – Time-Domain Electro-magnetics
FDEM – Frequency-Domain Electro-magnetics
DC – Direct-Current Resistivity
CC – Capacitively Coupled Resistivity
MRS – Magnetic Resonance Soundings
Borehole Geophysics
• USGS –Denver Capabilities
– HEM – Helicopter Electro-magnetics (FDEM and
TDEM)
– CSAMT – Controlled Source Audio
Magnetotellurics
– GPR – Ground Penetrating Radar
– Seismic Refraction and Reflection
– Micro gravity station
– Magnetics
– IP – Induced Polarization
– SP – Spontaneous Potential
11

12. Data and Spatial Studies (DSS)
Technical Capabilities
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Spatial Data Production
Administration and management
Analysis and modeling
Visualization
Land use / land cover mapping
Watershed delineation and characterization
Web mapping capabilities
Custom tool development

13. Leveraging National Expertise
•
•
•
•
•
National Laboratories
Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility (HIF)
National Research Program (NRP)
Publishing Network
Discipline Office Reviews
–
–
–
–
–
Groundwater
Surface Water
Water Quality
Publication
Safety

14. Groundwater Studies Roadmap
•
•
•
•
•
•
Data compilation and management
Data gap analysis
Data collection
Data analysis
Conceptual model development
Groundwater-flow modeling

15. USGS/GCD Cooperative Program: Existing
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Middle Pecos GCD (MPGCD)
Llano Estacado UWCD (LEUWCD)
Sandy Land UWCD (SLUWCD)
Harris-Galveston Subsidence District (HGSD)
Fort Bend Subsidence District (FBSD)
Lone Star GCD (LSGCD)
Brazoria County GCD (BCGCD)
Trinity Glen Rose GCD (TGRBCD)
Clearwater GCD (CGCD)
North Plains GCD (NPGCD)
Panhandle GCD (PGCD)
South Plains UWCD (SPUWCD)
Wintergarden GCD (WGCD)
Central Texas GCD (CTGCD)
Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA)

17. PGCD
• Roadmap elements: Data compilation and
management
• Geodatabase and data-entry software development
• Status: Complete

18. WGCD
• Roadmap elements: Data compilation, management,
and gap analysis
• Completed a well inventory and developed a
geodatabase for data management. Currently
compiling existing hydrogeologic data and completing
a field reconnaissance of some inventoried wells.
• Status: Ongoing

20. SPUWCD, LEUWCD, MPGCD
• Roadmap elements: Data collection and analysis
• Borehole geophysical log data are being collected
and used to assess well construction, geologic
properties, stratigraphic unit depth and thickness,
water quality of wellbore fluid, and hydraulic
properties such as ambient flow direction and
porosity
• Status: Complete

21. LSGCD
• Roadmap elements: Data collection and analysis
• Provide an initial geochemical baseline to
characterize water quality of groundwater obtained
from multiple public supply wells screened in the
Catahoula Sandstone aquifer
• Using geochemical data collection and analytical
techniques to quantify recharge rates
• Status: Ongoing

22. HGSD, FBSD, LSGCD, BCGCD
• Roadmap elements: Data compilation, management,
gap analysis, collection, analysis
• Collection and analysis of water-level altitudes and
changes and compaction data in the aquifer system
to assess the rate and magnitude of subsidence and
the relation of subsidence to groundwater
management activities
• Status: Ongoing

23. LEUWCD, SLUWCD
• Roadmap elements: Data compilation, management,
gap analysis, collection, analysis; and conceptual
model development
• Develop conceptual models of the Ogallala and
Edwards-Trinity (High Plains) aquifers
• Assess if declines in the saturated thickness increase
the potential for groundwater-quality degradation
• Status: Ongoing

24. MPGCD
• Roadmap elements: Data compilation, management,
gap analysis, collection, analysis; conceptual model
development, and groundwater-flow modeling
• Multi-phase study to evaluate the potential effects of
changes in groundwater withdrawals and/or
distribution
• Status: Complete

25. USGS/GCD Cooperative Program: Potential
• Brackish water resources
• Surface water data collection
– Spring flows
– Recharge studies
• Groundwater modeling
• Groundwater/surface-water interaction

26. Thank You
Bob Joseph
Director
Texas Water Science Center
512.927.3502
rljoseph@usgs.gov
Greg Stanton
Deputy Director of Studies
Texas Water Science Center
512.927.3558
gstanton@usgs.gov
George Ozuna
Senior Program Manager
Texas Water Science Center
210.691.9225
gbozuna@usgs.gov
John Bumgarner, P.G.
Chief, Hydrologic Studies
South Texas Program Office
210.691.9219
jbumgarner@usgs.gov