Texas Groundwater (TX Aquatic Science)

Texas Water- Groundwater

​Texas Aquatic Science

Understand the purpose and cycles of the water table and groundwater in Texas

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​Today, we will...

• Only about 3% of rain soaks into the ground

• When it does soak in, it fills into empty spaces between soil particles

• Some is taken up by plants

• Some seeps even deeper into the earth

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Groundwater

Multiple Choice

What percentage of rain is absorbed into the ground?

• NONE!

• 3%

• 50%

• 100%

• The GEOSPHERE is the solid part of the Earth

• Contains layers of spongy soil, sand, and rock

• These layers help filter contaminated water...most of the time

• Eventually, water reaches an area that is totally saturated. This is the saturated zone.

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​TX Geosphere

• When you reach the saturated zone, you're reaching GROUNDWATER.

• This area holds over half of the freshwater on Earth

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Totally Saturated

• The water table lies between the spongy layer and the saturated zone

• It can fluctuate in amounts due to increases/decreases in precipitation or use

• Why is the Water Table important?

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Water Table

Open Ended

What can affect the water table?

• Aquifers are areas of underground rock that hold water in pores or crevices

• Wells are usually dug to access this water

• Pumping out too much of this water can cause local water sources to dry up

• Droughts don't help either

• As our Texas population increases, our water resources have decreased significantly

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​Aquifers

• Pecos Valley

• Seymour

• Gulf Coast

• Carrizo-Wilcox

• Hueco-Mesilla Bolsons

• Ogallala

• Edwards-Trinity (Plateau)

• Edwards (Balcones Fault Zone)

• Trinity

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Aquifers in Texas

• Areas where water soaks into aquifers are known as recharge areas

• This can be around flooded streams, rivers, etc

• Springs also can help recharge our water sources since they are a constant supply of freshwater and ensure they don't go dry​

Aquifers cont'd

Open Ended

What aquifer are we in?

• We primarily use groundwater for drinking

• Other uses include water for crops and livestock​

• Some water is safe to drink directly from a well but not all

• Communities also tap into groundwater for drinking, recreation, and water treatment facilities

Groundwater Uses

• A reservoir is a man-made lake used to hold water

• Purposes include water conservation, flood management, water access for other purposes such as recreation

• TX has 188 major reservoirs

  for water supply access

• Reservoirs have become controversial due to imminent domain of private lands in order to build new reservoirs for a spiking population
  

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Reservoirs in Texas

• Choke Canyon

• Lake Livingston

• Lake Somerville

• Lake Travis

  
  
  
  

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Reservoirs in Texas

BRAZORIA COUNTY

• ​Brazoria Reservoir

• Harris Reservoir

• Brazoria City Reservoir

Open Ended

Exit Question: Describe something that you learned today: