Development of ground-water resources in Orange County, Texas, and adjacent areas in Texas and Louisiana, 1971-80

Bonnet, C. W.; Gabrysch, R. K.

Abstract:

The major water-bearing unit in the study area is the Chicot aquifer. The Chicot aquifer overlies the Evangeline aquifer. The Evangeline aquifer is undeveloped in Orange County, but is developed at Evadale in Jasper County, Texas, and at Silsbee in Hardin County, Texas. Both aquifers consist of unconsolidated and discontinuous layers of sand and clay that dip toward the Gulf of Mexico. Pumpage in Orange County from the lower unit of the Chicot aquifer averaged 21.2 million gallons per day and pumpage from the upper unit of the Chicot averaged about 2 million gallons per day from 1971-79. Pumpage increased in municipal areas and decreased in industrial areas with little net change in total pumpage during the report period. Most water levels continued to decline in Orange County, generally at a slower rate than before 1971. Water levels tended to stabilize in areas where ground-water withdrawals decreased. In some of the areas water levels rose. Bench-mark elevations determined during 1973 show regional land-surface subsidence from 1918-73, generally attributed to ground-water development, to be less than 0.5 foot. Locally, subsidence due to production of oil, gas , saltwater, or sulphur was about 15 feet at Spindletop Dome, Jefferson County, Texas, and as much as 3 feet (.9 meter) near Port Acres gas field, Jefferson County, Texas. Although saltwater encroachment is evident in parts of southern Orange County, the encroachment is not expected to increase because artesian pressure is unlikely to be decreased further due to stable ground-water pumping and a projected increase in the use of surface water to meet future demands. (USGS)

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USGS Numbered Series

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7981

Citation Author:

Bonnet, C. W.; Gabrysch, R. K.

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ENGLISH

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Citation Phsyical Description:

v, 48 p., 3 over-size sheets, ill., maps ;28 cm.

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U.S. Geological Survey,

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Open-File Report

Citation Series Code:

OFR

Citation Series Number:

82-330

Citation Search Results Text:

Development of ground-water resources in Orange County, Texas, and adjacent areas in Texas and Louisiana, 1971-80; 1982; OFR; 82-330; Bonnet, C. W.; Gabrysch, R. K.

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1982

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citation/reference

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Development of ground-water resources in Orange County, Texas, and adjacent areas in Texas and Louisiana, 1971-80; 1982; OFR; 82-330; Bonnet, C. W.; Gabrysch, R. K.