Quality Scientific Analysis for the Long Term...Evangeline aquifer "500-foot" sand lower sand "700-foot" sand upper sand b a s e o f C h i c o t aqui f er s y s t e m "200-foot" massive

Quality Scientific Analysis for theLong Term

Hydrogeology and Simulation ofHydrogeology and Simulation ofGround-Water Flow and Land-Ground-Water Flow and Land-

Surface Subsidence in the Chicot,Surface Subsidence in the Chicot,Evangeline, and Jasper Aquifers,Evangeline, and Jasper Aquifers,

Houston Area, TexasHouston Area, TexasMark C. Kasmarek & Eric W. StromMark C. Kasmarek & Eric W. Strom

In Cooperation with: Texas WaterIn Cooperation with: Texas WaterDevelopment Board, Harris-Development Board, Harris-

Galveston Coastal SubsidenceGalveston Coastal SubsidenceDistrict, San Jacinto River Authority,District, San Jacinto River Authority,

and the City of Houstonand the City of Houston

TWDB Ground-Water AvailabilityModels in Texas

Modified from TWDB website

Conceptual Chicot Aquifer Flow System

Conceptual Ground-Water Flow

Burkeville Confining SystemUndifferentiated Sediments

Numerous Clay Lenses

Hydraulic Connection

AQUIFER OUTCROPSNORTWEST HOUSTON-METRO

FRESHWATER

SOUTHEASTGulf of TexasCHICOTEVANGELINE

JASPER

SALINEWATER

Conceptual Ground-Water Flow

Upper Gulf Coast GAM AquiferOutcrops

Upper Gulf Coast GAM Grid

Stratigraphic and Hydrologic Sections

GAM Chicot TopGAM Chicot Aquifer Top

Contour Interval = 30 feetMax Elevation = 422 feetMin Elevation = 0 feet

GAM Chicot BaseGAM Chicot Aquifer Base

Contour Interval = 120 feetMax Elevation = 394 feetMin Elevation = -1,286 feet

GAM Evangeline Top

GAM Evangeline Aquifer Top

Contour Interval = 120 feetMax Elevation = 394 feetMin Elevation = -1,286

GAM Evangeline Base

GAM Evangeline Aquifer Base


GAM Burkeville Top

GAM Burkeville ConfiningSystem Top


GAM Burkeville Base

GAM Burkeville ConfiningSystem Base


GAM Jasper Top

GAM Jasper Aquifer Top


GAM Jasper Base

GAM Jasper Aquifer Base


1977-1999

Chicot Water-Level Change

Map

GULF OF MEXICOGULF OF MEXICO

GALVESTON B

AY

GALVESTON

BAY

HOUSTONHOUSTON

95º96º

97º 31º

30º

29º

N

Up-dip limit of the Chicot aquifer

Down-dip limit of freshwaterDown-dip limit of freshwater

-250

-200

-200 -150-100

-150

-100

-100-150

-150

-200

-200

0

0

50

50

50

50

100

100

150

100

100

150150

200200

200250

250

300

200

100

150

-50

-50

-50

-50

-50

-250

-150

-150

-150-150

-100-100-150

-50 -100

0

1977 Measured and Simulated ChicotWater Levels


GALVESTON

BAY

GALVESTON B

AYHOUSTONHOUSTON

95º96º

97º 31º

30º

29º

N

Up-dip limit of the Evangeline aquifer


100

100

100

100

150

150

200

200

250

200

250

300

250250

300

150

200

250250

300

300

50

-100

-50

-50-50

-50

-50

-300-300

0

0

0

-100

-350

-350

-300

50

50

-100-250

250200

1977 Measured and SimulatedEvangeline Water Levels


GALVESTON B

AY

GALVESTON BAY

HOUSTONHOUSTON

95º96º

97º 31º

30º

29º

N

Up-dip limit of the Chicot aquifer


-200-200

-150

-150-150

-100

-100-200

-100

-100

-150

-50

-50

-50

0

0

0

00

0

0

50

50

50

50

100

100

150

100

100

150150

150

200

200200

250250300

200

-100

-50

1996 Measured and Simulated ChicotWater Levels


GALVESTON B

AY

GALVESTON

BAY

HOUSTONHOUSTON

95º96º97º 31

º

30º

29º

N

Up-dip limit of the Evangeline aquifer


100

100

100

100

150

150

200

200

250

200

200

250

300

250250

250

300

150

200

250250

300

300

50

-100-100 -150

-50

-50

-50

-50

-300

-150

0

0

0

0

0

-350

-250-250

-200

-200

-150

5050

-100

1996 Measured and SimulatedEvangeline Water Levels

1978-1995 Measured Land-SurfaceSubsidence

1978-1995 Simulated Land-SurfaceSubsidence


GALVESTON

BAY

GALVESTON

BAY

HOUSTONHOUSTON

95º96º97º 31

º

30º

29º

N

1.0

3.04.0

5.06.0

4.0

2.03.0

9.0

8.0

7.06.0

5.0

2.0

1.0

6.0

5.04.0

7.0

8.0

10.09.0 9.0

8.0

7.0

1906-1995 Measured Land-SurfaceSubsidence

1891-1995 Simulated Land-SurfaceSubsidence

Long-Term Water-Level TrendsLong-Term Water-Level Trends

Hydrographs from Wells Screened in the EvangelineAquifer Used for Model Calibration

Hydrographs from Wells Screened inthe Chicot and Jasper Aquifer

Pre-Development Water-Budget-FlowRates

1996 Water-Budget-Flow Rates

Model Sensitivity to Changes inAquifer Parameters

Model Sensitivity to Changes in Clayand Sand Storage Parameters

Exhibit 19Figure 7. Map showing location of extensometer sites, Houston-Galveston Region, Texas.

Extensometer Sites in Harris and GalvestonCounties

Exhibit 20

Figure 8. Graphics showing measured compaction of subsurface material,1973-2000, at extensometer sites shown in figure 7.

2000 Line Graph Data from Extensometer Sites

Typical Extensometer Site

Conceptual Clay Compaction

Exhibit 11

Figure 1. Map showing approximate water-level altitudes inthe Chicot Aquifer, Houston-Galveston Region, Texas,January – February 2001

2001 Water-Level Altitude in the Chicot Aquifer

Figure 2. Map showing approximate water-level changes in theChicot Aquifer, Houston-Galveston Region, Texas, 1977-2001

Exhibit 12

1977-2001Water-Level Change Map in the Chicot Aquifer

Exhibit 14

Zero Water-Level Changes in the ChicotAquifer

Exhibit 15

Figure 4. Map showing approximate water-level altitudes in the EvangelineAquifer, Houston-Galveston Region, Texas, January – February 2001

2001 Water-Level Altitude in the Evangeline Aquifer

Figure 5. Map showing approximate water-level changes in theEvangeline Aquifer, Houston-Galveston Region, Texas, 1977-2001

Exhibit 16

1977-2001 Water-Level Change Map in the EvangelineAquifer

Exhibit 18

Zero Water-Level Changes in the Evangeline Aquifer

THE CHICOT AQUIFERSYSTEM OF

SOUTHWESTERNLOUISIANA

prepared by theU.S. Geological Survey

Surface extent of Louisiana’s aquifers and aquifer systems

GROUND-WATER WITHDRAWALS IN LOUISIANA BY PARISH, 2000

Withdrawals, in milliongallons per day

0 - 2

2 - 1 0

1 0 - 5 0

5 0 - 1 0 0

1 0 0 - 2 0 0

25

PUMPAGE BY MAJOR AQUIFER OR AQUIFER SYSTEM, 2000

374

9

821

290

19 423 7

7714 921

0100

200

300400

500600700

800900

Red R

iver A

lluvia

l

Mississ

ippi Rive

r Allu

vial

Upland

Terrac

eChic

ot

Southe

ast Lo

uisiana

Evang

eline

Jasp

erCata

houla

Cockfi

eldSpa

rtaCarr

izo-W

ilcox oth

erW

ITH

DR

AW

AL

RA

TE,

IN M

ILLI

ON

GA

LLO

NS

PER

DA

Y

PROBLEMS/CONCERNS

• Ground-water withdrawals are loweringwater levels in some areas of the Chicotaquifer systems.

• In certain areas, these withdrawals arecreating conditions favorable for saltwaterencroachment.

Chicot aquifer system

Areal extent of freshwaterRecharge Area

WITHDRAWALS FROM THE CHICOT AQUIFER SYSTEM, 2000

Industry9%

Irrigation65%

Aquaculture11%

Other Uses2%

Power Generation

2%

Public Supply11%

WITHDRAWALS FROM THE CHICOT AQUIFER SYSTEM, 1946-2000

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

WIT

HDRA

WAL

RAT

E, IN

MIL

LIO

N G

ALLO

NS P

ER D

AY

2 4 6 8 10 MILES

2 4 6 8 10 KILOMETERS0

0

BEAUREGARDPARISH

CALCASIEUPARISH

CAMERONPARISH

VERNONPARISH GULF OF

MEXICO

NORTH SOUTH

FEETSEA LEVEL

-500

-1,000

-1,500

FEETSEA LEVEL

-500

-1,000

-1,500

Not to scale

Chicotaquifersystem

Evangeline

aquifer

"500-foot"sand

lowersand

"700-foot"sand

uppersand

base

of

Chicot

aquifer

system

"200-foot"sand

massivesand

Waterlevel

CALCASIEUPARISH

JEFFERSONDAVISPARISH

ACADIAPARISH

EASTWESTLAFAYETTE

PARISHST. MARTIN

PARISH

FEETSEA LEVEL

-500

-1,000

-1,500

FEETSEA LEVEL

-500

-1,000

-1,500

Not to scaleTrace of sections shown on figure 1

Evangeline

Atchafalayaaquifer

aquifer

lower sand

"500-foot"sand

"200-foot"

sand

"700-foot"sand

upper sandshallow sands

b a s e o h i c o t f C a q u i f e r s y s t e m

"700-foot" sand

lower sand

Waterlevel

5 10 15 20 MILES

5 10 15 20 KILOMETERS0

0

Lake Char les

Cameron

CrowleyJennings

Abbevi l le

Lafayette

St . Mar tinvi l le

New Iber ia

Frankl in

DeRidder

Leesvi l le

Oberl in

Vi lle Plat te

Alexandr ia

Marksvi l le

Opelousas

New Roads

POTENTIOMETRIC CONTOUR -- Shows altitude at which water level would have stood in tightly cased wells. Dashed where

approximately located. Interval 10 and 20 feet. Datum is sea level

APPROXIMATE BOUNDARY BETWEEN THE CHICOT MASSIVE SAND TO THE

NORTH AND THE UPPER AND LOWER SANDS TO THE SOUTHAPPROXIMATE BOUNDARY BETWEEN THE CHICOT MASSIVE SAND TO THE NORTH AND THE "200-," "500-," AND

"700-FOOT" SANDS TO THE SOUTHAPPROXIMATE BOUNDARY BETWEEN THE UPPER AND LOWER SANDS TO EAST AND THE "200-" AND "700-FOOT"

SANDS TO THE WEST

LINE OF HYDROGEOLOGIC SECTION (see fig. 3)

-40

-50

-50

-70

-60

-60

LOCATION OF WELL FOR WHICH WATER-LEVEL GRAPH IS SHOWN

24

68

10 M

ILES

24

68

10 K

ILOM

ETER

S00

GROUND-WATER WITHDRAWALS IN CALCASIEU PARISH, 1955-2000

1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

WIT

HD

RA

WA

LS, I

N M

ILLI

ON

GA

LLO

NS

PER

DA

Y

0

50

100

150

200 PUBLIC SUPPLYRICE IRRIGATIONINDUSTRIALTOTAL (all uses)

Upper Gulf Coast GAM AquiferOutcrops

Attendance list at the 3rd Stakeholder Advisory Forum for the northernGulf Coast aquifer Groundwater Availability Model, November 15, 2001

Names AffliationAli Chowdhury Texas Water Development BoardDavid W. Minze Bluebonnet GWCDEric Strom US Geological SurveyErnest Roebuck Texas Water Development BoardHaskell L. Simon Region K -Regional Water Planning GroupIan Jones Texas Water Development BoardJim Adams SJRAJoe Broadus US Geological SurveyJohn Nelson LBG-Guyton AssociatesMark C. Kasmarek US Geological SurveyRobert K. Gabrysch Consultant HydrogeologistRon Neighbors Harris-Galveston Coastal Subsidence DistrictSteve Musick Texas Natural Resources Conservation

CommissionTom Michel Harris-Galveston Coastal Subsidence District

Discussion at the 3rd Stakeholder Advisory Forum for the northern Gulf Coastaquifer Groundwater Availability Model; November 15, 2001

Question: What are the model boundaries?

Response: The northern model boundary is the updip limit of the Jasper Aquiferoutcrop, the eastern boundary is the Sabine River, the southern boundary is theGulf of Mexico, and the western boundary is the surface water divide of theLavaca-Navidad River basins.

Question: You suggest that most of the water down-dip in the Jasper aquifer isbrackish/saline but in Matagorda County we produce fresh water from the Jasperaquifer – is there an inconsistency?

Response: In the outcrop areas, the waters in the Jasper aquifer are fresh but asthey move down-dip, they become more saline particularly near the coastline.

Question: Is there a vertical connection between the Burkeville and the Jasperaquifers?

Response: Yes, in some of the northern updip areas of the Burkeville ConfiningSystem, the Burkeville sediments contain greater percentages of sand thatallows the sediments to be more transmissive than the down-dip Burkevillesediments that have a large percentage of clay. When groundwater is withdrawnfrom wells in the updip outcrop areas of the Evangeline aquifer, water canpotentially flow from the Jasper aquifer upwards through the transmissive areasof the Burkeville Confining System and into the Evangeline aquifer.

Question: Is there no recharge from the rainfall into the Chicot aquifer near thecoastline?

Response: Most recharge into the Chicot aquifer enters through the updipoutcrop areas. Using Tritium isotope age dating of the ground water in the Chicotand Evangeline aquifers, it has been determined that the age groundwater isincreasingly older the further downdip the water is sampled. The time that itwould take for a drop of precipitation to enter the aquifer system at the coastwould be determined by the thickness of the clay beds as the water movedvertically down through the sediments. Additionally, the presence of theBeaumont Clay also impedes vertical flow rates. Groundwater travel time in theoutcrop areas on the other hand is relatively fast (50 ft/yr.).

Question: Can we use the model to determine spacing of wells or interferencebetween wells due to pumping?

Response: This is a regional groundwater flow model. On a county basis, themodel should yield groundwater availability values, but may not provide answersto address local issues unless the model is reconstructed with a finer mesh andpopulated with additional data. This regional model can be split up into smallones to address local concerns.

Question: What is the use of the model if we as a groundwater district cannot useit?

Response: The model should provide answers to regional groundwater issues.Countywide groundwater availability values can also obtained using this model.

Comments: A stakeholder indicated that the first model developed by the USGSis an analog model. With time, successive models are attempting to bettersimulate the groundwater flow conditions. Using better hydrogeologic data, eachsuccessive model increases our understanding of the hydraulic and stratigraphiccomplexities of the Gulf Coast Aquifer System. The Chicot and Evangeline modelthat was created with a cooperative agreement with the City of Houston and theUSGS is at present being finalized and prepared for publication. UsingMODFLOW with the Interbed Storage Package, transient model calibrationdetermined that considerable amounts of water are released from the numerousclay interbeds as these interbeds are depressurized and subsequently compact.Models improve over time with addition of new hydrogeologic data and increasedunderstanding of the aquifer system. The previous and current models are thefirst models to use subsidence interactively during transient model calibration.

Question: At this stage of model calibration and creation, do we need to meeteach quarter when not much new information is presented? It would make moresense if we have these quarterly meetings when some results are available inmid - 2002.

Response: We will look into this. If the contract allows, we will allow the nextmeeting to be held in 6 months.

Question: As a follow-up of a question from the previous SAF meetingconcerning the validity of the Sabine River being the eastern model boundarydue to the impact of ground-water withdrawal in the Lake Charles geographicarea.

Response: We have consulted with the Louisiana USGS Office on this matter.Ongoing cooperative agreements in western Louisiana and eastern Texas haveproduced water-level data from wells and subsequent interpretive Open FileReports showing recently created water level altitude maps for adjacent areaseast and west of the Sabine River. These data show conclusively that the SabineRiver is an appropriate eastern model boundary.

Documents

Quality Scientific Analysis for the Long Term...Evangeline aquifer "500-foot" sand lower sand "700-foot" sand upper sand b a s e o f C h i c o t aqui f er s y s t e m "200-foot" massive