94-2 From Sinking Ground to Alternative Solutions: How the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District Manages Groundwater Withdrawal to Prevent Subsidence

Session: Geoscience and Water: How Geoscience Affects Water-Related Public Policy–Past, Present, and Future

Presenting Author:

Authors:

Abstract:

Land subsidence in the greater Houston region was first identified at Goose Creek Oil Field in Baytown, Texas, with three feet of measured subsidence over eight years beginning in 1918 (Pratt and Johnson, 1926). With increased industrialization and population growth, the region relied on groundwater to support and sustain development. This excessive groundwater use caused aquifer compaction which led to land subsidence measured at over nine feet in some areas. Subsidence impacts included increased flooding and infrastructure damage that ultimately led to the creation of the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District (HGSD) by the Texas Legislature in 1975. HGSD’s mission is to regulate groundwater withdrawal to prevent further subsidence. This mission is accomplished through a novel regulatory approach and regional collaboration from major water providers that built infrastructure for alternative water sources. The combination of continuous research and monitoring along with reasonable regulations and collaborative partnerships has successfully stopped ongoing subsidence in the coastal region of Harris and Galveston counties, southeast Texas. Annual analyses on precipitation, water use, groundwater levels, and land surface monitoring are conducted by HGSD to provide datasets for water management planning efforts utilized by local to state agencies. Other recently completed work includes a massive benchmark survey campaign across 13 counties in southeast Texas. Results from the benchmark survey revealed that areas, which are fully converted to alternative water sources per HGSD’s Regulatory Plan, measured no subsidence when compared to historical benchmark datasets.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 57, No. 6, 2025

doi: 10.1130/abs/2025AM-10279

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