Carrizo-Wilcox Aquiferinteractive map | cross-section
Aquifer Facts
- Aquifer type: confined and unconfined
- Area of outcrop: 11,227 square miles
- Area of subsurface: 25,491 square miles
- Proportion of aquifer with groundwater conservation districts: 65 percent
- Number of counties containing the aquifer: 66
Summary
The Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer is a major aquifer extending from the Louisiana border to the border of Mexico in a wide band adjacent to and northwest of the Gulf Coast Aquifer. It consists of the Hooper, Simsboro, and Calvert Bluff formations of the Wilcox Group and the overlying Carrizo Formation of the Claiborne Group. The aquifer is primarily composed of sand locally interbedded with gravel, silt, clay, and lignite. Although the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer reaches 3,000 feet in thickness, the freshwater saturated thickness of the sands averages 670 feet.
Water quality in the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer shows isolated areas of slightly saline to moderately saline groundwater in the eastern and central portions of the aquifer and more widespread areas of slightly to moderately saline groundwater in the southwest. Groundwater in the unconfined area is hard and typically has total dissolved solids concentrations less than 1,000 milligrams per liter. Groundwater in the confined area of the aquifer is generally softer and has total dissolved solids concentrations less than 1,000 milligrams per liter except in the southern and western portions of the aquifer. Parts of the aquifer in the Winter Garden area and portions of Brazos County are slightly to moderately saline, with total dissolved solids ranging from 1,000 to 7,000 milligrams per liter.
Irrigation pumping accounts for slightly more than half the water pumped, and pumping for municipal supply accounts for another 40 percent. Water levels have declined in the Winter Garden area because of irrigation pumping and in the northeastern part of the aquifer because of municipal pumping.
Reports
| ID | Date | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Aquifers Study | 12/31/2016 | Legislative Report | Texas Aquifers Study: Groundwater Quantity, Quality, Flow, and Contributions to Surface Water |
| R-236 | 7/1/1979 | TWDB numbered report | Stratigraphic and Hydrogeologic Framework of Part of the Coastal Plain of Texas |
| B-6105 | 4/1/1961 | Groundwater bulletin | Ground-Water Geology of Live Oak County, Texas |
| B-6520 | 8/1/1965 | Groundwater bulletin | Ground-Water Resources of La Salle and McMullen Counties, Texas |
| LP-214 | 2/1/1995 | Limited publication | Evaluation of Ground-Water Quality in Texas Counties Bordering the Rio Grande |
| CR-0099483279 | 3/1/2000 | Contract report | Transmissivity, Hydraulic Conductivity, and Storativity of the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer in Texas |
| R-332 | 9/1/1991 | TWDB numbered report | Ground-Water Resources of the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer in the Central Texas Region |
| B-6310 | 12/1/1973 | Groundwater bulletin | Reconnaissance Investigation of the Ground-Water Resources of the Brazos River Basin, Texas |
| R-186 | 9/1/1974 | TWDB numbered report | Ground-Water Resources of Grimes County, Texas |
| R-185 | 9/1/1974 | TWDB numbered report | Ground-Water Resources of Brazos and Burleson Counties, Texas |
| R-327 | 2/1/1991 | TWDB numbered report | Evaluation of Ground Water Resources in the Vicinity of the Cities of Henderson, Jacksonville, Kilgore, Lufkin, Nacogdoches, Rusk, and Tyler in East Texas |
| B-6212 | 7/1/1962 | Groundwater bulletin | Geology and Ground-Water Resources of Uvalde County, Texas |
| B-6003 | 6/1/1960 | Groundwater bulletin | Geology and Ground-Water Resources of Dimmit County, Texas |
| B-5911 | 10/1/1959 | Groundwater bulletin | Ground-Water Geology of Bexar County, Texas |
| B-5710 | 7/1/1957 | Groundwater bulletin | Ground-Water Geology of Wilson County, Texas |
| R-019 | 3/1/1966 | TWDB numbered report | Ground-Water Resources of Guadalupe County, Texas |
| R-012 | 9/1/1975 | TWDB numbered report | Ground-Water Resources of Caldwell County, Texas |
| R-004 | 11/1/1965 | TWDB numbered report | Ground-Water Resources of Gonzales County, Texas |
| B-6513 | 5/1/1965 | Groundwater bulletin | Availability and Quality of Ground Water in Leon County, Texas |
| R-150 | 8/1/1972 | TWDB numbered report | Ground-Water Conditions in Anderson, Cherokee, Freestone, and Henderson Counties, Texas |
| R-109 | 3/1/1970 | TWDB numbered report | Ground-Water Resources of Bastrop County, Texas |
| R-020 | 3/1/1966 | TWDB numbered report | Ground-Water Resources of Lee County, Texas |
| R-160 | 11/1/1972 | TWDB numbered report | Ground-Water Resources of Navarro County, Texas |
| LP-208 | 1/1/1989 | Limited publication | A Digital Model of the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer Within the Colorado River Basin of Texas (cross-section figures linked here) |
| B-6302 | 5/1/1963 | Groundwater bulletin | Availability and Quality of Ground Water in Smith County, Texas |
| B-6517 | 7/1/1965 | Groundwater bulletin | Ground-Water Resources of Camp, Franklin, Morris, and Titus Counties, Texas |
| R-018 | 3/1/1966 | TWDB numbered report | Ground-Water Resources of Houston County, Texas |
| R-027 | 8/1/1966 | TWDB numbered report | Ground-Water Resources of Harrison County, Texas |
| R-037 | 1/1/1967 | TWDB numbered report | Ground-Water Resources of Sabine and San Augustine Counties, Texas |
| R-079 | 8/1/1968 | TWDB numbered report | Ground-Water Resources of Wood County, Texas |
| R-101 | 10/1/1969 | TWDB numbered report | Ground-Water Resources of Gregg and Upshur Counties, Texas |
| R-110 | 3/1/1970 | TWDB numbered report | Ground-Water Conditions in Angelina and Nacogdoches Counties, Texas |
| R-297 | 4/1/1987 | TWDB numbered report | Ground-Water Resources of Rusk County, Texas |
| B-5601 | 8/1/1956 | Groundwater bulletin | Geology and Ground-Water Resources of Medina County, Texas |
| R-032 | 12/1/1966 | TWDB numbered report | Ground-Water Resources of Atascosa and Frio Counties, Texas |
| R-169 | 4/1/1973 | TWDB numbered report | Ground-Water Resources of Rains and Van Zandt Counties, Texas |
| R-056 | 8/1/1967 | TWDB numbered report | Availability and Quality of Ground Water in Fayette County, Texas |
| GT10-020 | 11/22/2010 | GAM task | Depth to aquifer layers for the Carrizo-Wilcox, Queen City, and Sparta aquifers in McMullen County |
| GR10-029_MP | 1/4/2011 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Post Oak Savannah GCD |
| GT10-009 | 9/3/2010 | GAM task | Predictive simulations for the Carrizo-Wilcox, Queen City, Sparta, and Yegua-Jackson aquifers in Groundwater Management Area 11 |
| GR10-024_MP | 8/18/2010 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Wintergarden GCD |
| GT10-024 | 7/16/2010 | GAM task | Analysis of pumping information for the Carrizo-Wilcox, Queen City, and Sparta aquifers in Groundwater Management Area 12 |
| GR10-022_MP | 7/9/2010 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Uvalde County UWCD |
| GR10-015_MP | 6/15/2010 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Evergreen UWCD |
| GR10-014_MP | 6/9/2010 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Lost Pines GCD |
| GR10-013_MP | 10/4/2011 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Brazos Valley GCD |
| GR10-010_MP | 7/1/2010 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Live Oak UWCD |
| GR09-034 | 6/29/2010 | GAM run | Predictive simulations for the Carrizo-Wilcox, Queen City, and Sparta aquifers in Groundwater Management Area 13 |
| GR09-031_MP | 7/9/2010 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Medina County GCD |
| GR09-021_MP | 7/31/2009 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Neches & Trinity Valleys GCD |
| GR09-020_MP | 8/6/2009 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Rusk County GCD |
| GR09-004 | 6/29/2010 | GAM run | Predictive simulations for the Carrizo-Wilcox, Queen City, and Sparta aquifers in Groundwater Management Area 13 |
| GR08-089_MP | 5/20/2009 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Lost Pines GCD |
| GR08-087_MP | 5/8/2009 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Bluebonnet GCD |
| GR08-078 | 10/13/2008 | GAM run | Predictive simulation for the Carrizo and Middle Wilcox aquifers in Anderson County |
| GR08-077_MP | 2/25/2009 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Mid-East Texas GCD |
| GR08-073_MP | 12/9/2008 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Brazos Valley GCD |
| GR08-071_MP | 10/3/2008 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Neches & Trinity Valleys GCD |
| GR08-062_MP | 9/3/2008 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Evergreen UWCD |
| GR08-050_MP | 7/16/2008 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Panola County GCD |
| GR08-049_MP | 7/7/2008 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Pineywoods GCD |
| GR08-043 | 9/19/2008 | GAM run | Predictive simulation for the Carrizo-Wilcox, Queen City, and Sparta aquifers in Groundwater Management Area 13 |
| GR08-043_CM | 9/29/2008 | GAM run | Average drawdowns by county for GAM Runs 08-41, 08-42, and 08-43 in Groundwater Management Area 13 |
| GR08-042 | 9/12/2008 | GAM run | Predictive simulation for the Carrizo-Wilcox, Queen City, and Sparta aquifers in Groundwater Management Area 13 |
| GR08-041 | 9/17/2008 | GAM run | Predictive simulation for the Carrizo-Wilcox, Queen City, and Sparta aquifers in Groundwater Management Area 13 |
| GR08-038_MP | 5/30/2008 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Pecan Valley GCD |
| GR08-035_MP | 5/29/2008 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Fayette County GCD |
| GR08-002_MP | 4/10/2008 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for McMullen GCD |
| GR08-001_MP | 3/10/2008 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Bee GCD |
| GR07-025_MP | 9/6/2007 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Guadalupe GCD |
| GR07-020 | 9/28/2007 | GAM run | Predictive simulation for the Carrizo-Wilcox, Queen City, and Sparta aquifers in Groundwater Management Area 11 |
| GR07-017 | 9/28/2007 | GAM run | Predictive simulation for the Carrizo-Wilcox, Queen City, and Sparta aquifers in Groundwater Management Area 13 |
| GR07-016 | 6/26/2007 | GAM run | Predictive simulation for the Carrizo-Wilcox, Queen City, and Sparta aquifers in Groundwater Management Area 13 |
| GR07-007_MP | 4/3/2007 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Anderson County UWCD |
| GR06-029 | 1/11/2007 | GAM run | Predictive simulation for the Carrizo-Wilcox, Queen City, and Sparta aquifers in Groundwater Management Area 13 |
| GR06-029_CM | 11/8/2011 | GAM run | Average drawdowns for the Carrizo-Wilcox, Queen City, and Sparta aquifers based on the analysis completed in GAM Run 06-029 |
| GR06-024_MP | 1/3/2007 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Pineywoods GCD |
| GR06-019 | 9/7/2006 | GAM run | Predictive simulation for the Carrizo-Wilcox, Queen City, and Sparta aquifers in Fayette County GCD |
| GR06-018_MP | 8/2/2006 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Plum Creek Conservation District |
| GR06-009 | 5/31/2006 | GAM run | Predictive simulation for the Carrizo-Wilcox, Queen City, and Sparta aquifers in Mid-East Texas GCD |
| GR06-008 | 7/6/2006 | GAM run | Predictive simulation for the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer in Rusk County GCD |
| GR06-005 | 3/17/2006 | GAM run | Impacts of pumping increases in the in the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer near Jewett, Texas (Leon County) |
| GR05-036_MP | 11/28/2005 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for McMullen GCD |
| GR05-034_MP | 9/8/2005 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Wintergarden GCD |
| GR05-030 | 7/15/2005 | GAM run | Recharge information for the Carrizo-Wilcox, Edwards-Trinity (Plateau) and Trinity aquifers in Uvalde County |
| GR05-031 | 7/21/2005 | GAM run | Recharge information for the Carrizo-Wilcox and Trinity aquifers in Medina County |
| GR05-022 | 6/3/2005 | GAM run | Water level information for the Gulf Coast, Carrizo-Wilcox, Queen City, and Sparta aquifers in Live Oak County |
| GR11-015_MP | 11/15/2011 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Anderson County UWCD |
| GR11-017_MP | 11/29/2011 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Guadalupe GCD |
| GR05-018 | 4/29/2005 | GAM run | Water budget information for the Carrizo-Wilcox, Queen City, and Sparta aquifers in Bee, Live Oak, and McMullen counties |
| GR05-005 | 3/31/2005 | GAM run | Post Oak Savannah GCD, water budget, water levels, drawdown through 2050, 2002 State Water Plan pumping summary, and interaction with the Brazos River Alluvium Aquifer |
| GR04-004 | 3/5/2004 | GAM run | Statistical summary and map of storage coefficient for the Simsboro Aquifer in Burleson County |
| GR04-003 | 2/9/2004 | GAM run | Statistical summary and map of transmissivity of the Simsboro Aquifer in Burleson County |
| GR04-001 | 4/22/2004 | GAM run | Recharge amounts and maximum pumping needed to maintain current water levels in Mid-East Texas GCD |
| GR03-033 | 11/21/2003 | GAM run | Aquifer recharge values for Neches and Trinity Valleys GCD |
| GR03-033_CM | 3/18/2004 | GAM run | Clarification memo for GR 03-033 |
| GR03-031 | 12/9/2003 | GAM run | Recharge amounts and maximum pumping that allows maintaining current water levels in Mid-East Texas GCD |
| GR03-030 | 3/5/2004 | GAM run | Predictive run using Region C provided pumping |
| GR03-028 | 9/19/2003 | GAM run | Predictive run using pumping data provided by Post Oak Savannah GCD |
| GR03-027 | 9/22/2003 | GAM run | Water budget and total storage above 4000 depth in Evergreen UWCD |
| GR03-024 | 9/5/2003 | GAM run | Total water availability in Henderson, Navarro, and Freestone counties |
| GR03-019 | 8/25/2003 | GAM run | Recharge information and total storage above 3000 feet using a predictive simulation in Milam and Burleson counties |
| GR03-017 | 8/18/2003 | GAM run | Recharge and total storage data for the Carrizo-Wilcox, Queen City, Sparta, and Gulf Coast aquifers in Fayette County GCD |
| GR03-015 | 7/18/2003 | GAM run | Water budget, storage, and water level drawdown for the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer and recharge information for the Gulf Coast Aquifer in Bee GCD |
| GR03-014 | 7/28/2003 | GAM run | Water availability for the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer in Henderson, Navarro, and Freestone counties |
| GR03-013 | 8/27/2003 | GAM run | 2010−2030 water level drawdowns for the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer in Rusk, Smith, and Gregg counties |
| GR03-012 | 7/18/2003 | GAM run | Water budget, storage, and drawdown in 2050 for the Trinity (Hill Country) and Carrizo-Wilcox aquifers in Medina County GCD |
| GR03-006 | 6/18/2003 | GAM run | Recharge, available storage, estimated and projected declines for the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer in Pineywoods GCD |
| GR08-023 | 8/29/2008 | GAM run | Predictive simulation for the Carrizo-Wilcox, Queen City, and Sparta aquifers in Groundwater Management Area 11 |
| GR11-007 | 6/12/2012 | GAM run | Estimated drawdown under assumed future pumping for the Carrizo-Wilcox, Queen City, and Sparta aquifers in Groundwater Management Area 13 |
| GR11-007_Add | 6/12/2012 | GAM run | Drawdown maps and water budget for GAM run 11-007 |
| GR09-034_Add | 6/27/2012 | GAM run | Predictive simulations for the Carrizo-Wilcox, Queen City, and Sparta aquifers in Groundwater Management Area 13 |
| GR12-011_MP | 6/25/2012 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for McMullen GCD |
| GR12-012_MP | 6/25/2012 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Bee GCD |
| GR12-001_MP | 7/2/2012 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan data for Plum Creek CD |
| GR11-010 | 7/30/2012 | GAM run | Predictive simulations for the Carrizo-Wilcox, Queen City, and Sparta aquifers in Groundwater Management Area 11 |
| R-380 | 7/1/2011 | TWDB numbered report | Aquifers of Texas |
| GR12-024_MP | 12/5/2012 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Pecan Valley GCD |
| GR08-022_MP_Ver2 | 8/14/2008 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Gonzales County UWCD |
| GR13-006_MP | 2/11/2013 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan data for Panola County GCD |
| GR13-002_MP | 3/21/2013 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan data for Fayette County GCD |
| GR12-025_TERS | 3/28/2013 | GAM run - Total Estimated Recoverable Storage | Total Estimated Recoverable Storage for aquifers in Groundwater Management Area 16 |
| GR13-014_MP | 6/25/2013 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management Plan data for Gonzales County UWCD |
| GR13-013_MP | 7/3/2013 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan data for Neches & Trinity Valleys GCD |
| GR13-003_MP | 7/26/2013 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management Plan Data for Pineywoods GCD |
| GR13-024_MP | 8/28/2013 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan data for Mid-East Texas GCD |
| GR13-028_MP | 8/30/2013 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan data for Bluebonnet GCD |
| GT13-036_TERS_Ver2 | 7/15/2013 | GAM task - Total Estimated Recoverable Storage | Total Estimated Recoverable Storage for aquifers in Groundwater Management Area 13 |
| GT13-038_TERS | 1/15/2014 | GAM task - Total Estimated Recoverable Storage | Total Estimated Recoverable Storage for aquifers in Groundwater Management Area 15 |
| GR14-005_MP | 3/26/2014 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management Plan data for Brazos Valley GCD |
| GT13-034_TERS | 4/2/2014 | GAM task - Total Estimated Recoverable Storage | Total Estimated Recoverable Storage for aquifers in Groundwater Management Area 11 |
| GT13-035_TERS_Ver2 | 5/16/2014 | GAM task - Total Estimated Recoverable Storage | Total Estimated Recoverable Storage for aquifers in Groundwater Management Area 12 |
| GT13-037_TERS | 6/9/2014 | GAM task - Total Estimated Recoverable Storage | Total Estimated Recoverable Storage for aquifers in Groundwater Management Area 14 |
| GR14-011_MP | 6/2/2014 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan data for Rusk County GCD |
| GR03-026 | 9/8/2003 | GAM run | Predictive run using pumping distribution provided by Post Oak Savannah GCD |
| GR14-014_MP | 12/12/2014 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management Plan data for Live Oak UWCD |
| GR15-002_MP | 6/30/2015 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan data for Medina County GCD |
| GR15-004_MP | 6/30/2015 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management Plan data for Evergreen UWCD |
| GR15-006_MP | 6/26/2015 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management Plan data for Uvalde County UWCD |
| GR15-007_MP | 7/29/2015 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management Plan data for Wintergarden GCD |
| GR16-014_MP | 3/17/2017 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Lost Pines GCD |
| GR17-011_MP | 11/20/2017 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for McMullen GCD |
| GR17-020_MP | 12/15/2017 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Bluebonnet GCD |
| GR17-021_MP | 1/3/2018 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Pineywoods GCD |
| GR17-015_MP | 1/31/2018 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Bee GCD |
| GR17-019_MP | 2/2/2018 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Fayette County GCD |
| GR18-006_MP | 4/9/2018 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Gonzales County UWCD |
| GR18-011_MP | 5/21/2018 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Pecan Valley GCD |
| GR18-019_MP | 7/6/2018 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Brazos Valley GCD |
| GR18-021_MP | 1/25/2019 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Brazos Valley GCD |
| GR18-020_MP | 2/11/2019 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Mid-East Texas GCD |
| GR18-017_MP | 3/6/2019 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Neches and Trinity Valleys GCD |
| GR19-019_MP | 9/5/2019 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Live Oak UWCD |
| GR19-022_MP | 1/29/2020 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Rusk County GCD |
| GR20-003_MP | 8/25/2020 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Medina County GCD |
| GR20-004_MP | 9/30/2020 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Wintergarden GCD |
| GR22-007_MP | 6/28/2022 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Post Oak Savannah GCD |
| GR22-008_MP | 8/12/2022 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Lost Pines GCD |
| GR22-017_MP | 2/9/2023 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Panola County GCD |
| GR23-003_MP | 5/17/2023 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Pineywoods GCD |
| GR23-009_MP | 6/2/2023 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Brazos Valley GCD |
| GR23-005_MP | 06/09/2023 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Bluebonnet GCD |
| GR23-012_MP | 06/12/2023 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Rusk County GCD |
| GR23-008_MP | 06/12/2023 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Fayette County GCD |
| GR23-015_MP | 07/28/2023 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for McMullen GCD |
| GR23-016_MP | 07/28/2023 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Bee GCD |
| GR23-018_MP | 10/09/2023 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Gonzales County UWCD |
| GR24-002_MP | 02/29/2024 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Neches & Trinity Valleys GCD |
| GR24-001_MP | 03/19/2024 | GAM run - Management Plan | Management plan information for Mid-East Texas GCD |