Gulf Coast Aquiferinteractive map | cross-section

Aquifer Facts

  • Aquifer type: confined and unconfined
  • Area of aquifer: 41,970 square miles
  • Proportion of aquifer with groundwater conservation districts: 79 percent
  • Number of counties containing the aquifer: 56

Summary

The Gulf Coast Aquifer is a major aquifer paralleling the Gulf of Mexico coastline from the Louisiana border to the border of Mexico. It consists of several aquifers, including the Jasper, Evangeline, and Chicot aquifers, which are composed of discontinuous sand, silt, clay, and gravel beds. The maximum total sand thickness of the Gulf Coast Aquifer ranges from 700 feet in the south to 1,300 feet in the north. Freshwater saturated thickness averages about 1,000 feet.

Water quality varies with depth and locality. It is generally good in the central and northeastern parts of the aquifer, where total dissolved solids concentrations are less than 500 milligrams per liter but is more saline to the south, where total dissolved solids are typically 1,000 to more than 10,000 milligrams per liter and where the productivity of the aquifer decreases. Areas of increased salinity along the central and eastern Gulf Coast may be associated with saltwater intrusion in response to groundwater pumping or to brine migration in response to oil field operations and natural flows from salt domes intruding into the aquifer.

The aquifer is used for municipal, industrial, and irrigation purposes. In Harris, Galveston, Fort Bend, Jasper, and Wharton counties, water level declines of as much as 350 feet have led to land subsidence.

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-124 12/1/1970 TWDB numbered report Ground-Water Resources of Aransas County, Texas
R-181 3/1/1974 TWDB numbered report Ground-Water Resources of Duval County, Texas
LP-209 3/1/1991 Limited publication Ground-Water Quality and Availability In and Around Bruni, Webb County, Texas
R-365 2/1/2006 TWDB numbered report Aquifers of the Gulf Coast of Texas
R-316 1/1/1990 TWDB numbered report Evaluation of the Ground-Water Resources in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas
R-236 7/1/1979 TWDB numbered report Stratigraphic and Hydrogeologic Framework of Part of the Coastal Plain of Texas
B-5209 12/1/1952 Groundwater bulletin Ground-Water Resources of Starr County, Texas
B-6014 2/1/1961 Groundwater bulletin Ground-Water Resources of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Area, 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
R-017 1/1/1966 TWDB numbered report Ground-Water Resources of Bee County, Texas
R-061 10/1/1967 TWDB numbered report Ground-Water Resources of Brooks County, Texas
R-073 5/1/1968 TWDB numbered report Ground-Water Resources of Nueces and San Patricio Counties, Texas
LP-214 2/1/1995 Limited publication Evaluation of Ground-Water Quality in Texas Counties Bordering the Rio Grande
B-6202 1/1/1962 Groundwater bulletin Ground-Water Resources of Victoria and Calhoun Counties, Texas
B-6312 10/1/1963 Groundwater bulletin Ground-Water Resources of Refugio County, Texas
B-6518 8/1/1965 Groundwater bulletin Ground-Water Resources of De Witt County, Texas
R-091 3/1/1969 TWDB numbered report Ground-Water Resources of Matagorda County, Texas
R-270 7/1/1982 TWDB numbered report Ground-Water Resources of Colorado, Lavaca, and Wharton Counties, Texas
R-295 10/1/1986 TWDB numbered report Hydrology of the Jasper Aquifer in the Southeast Texas Coastal Plain
B-6406 6/1/1964 Groundwater bulletin Geology and Ground-Water Resources of Hardin County, Texas
B-6516 5/1/1965 Groundwater bulletin Geology and Ground-Water Resources of Orange County, Texas
B-6310 12/1/1973 Groundwater bulletin Reconnaissance Investigation of the Ground-Water Resources of the Brazos River Basin, Texas
R-321 1/1/1990 TWDB numbered report Evaluation of Water Resources of Fort Bend County, Texas
R-283 10/1/1983 TWDB numbered report Development of Ground-Water Resources in Orange County, Texas, and Adjacent Areas, 1971-1980
R-280 9/1/1983 TWDB numbered report Records of Wells, Drillers' Logs, Water-Level Measurements, and Chemical Analyses of Ground Water in Chambers, Liberty, and Montgomery Counties, Texas, 1975-79
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-139 12/1/1971 TWDB numbered report Records of Wells, Drillers' Logs, and Chemical Analyses of Ground Water in Galveston County, Texas, 1952-1970
R-136 11/1/1971 TWDB numbered report Ground-Water Resources of Montgomery County, Texas
R-059 9/1/1967 TWDB numbered report Ground-Water Resources of Jasper and Newton Counties, Texas
R-068 12/1/1967 TWDB numbered report Ground-Water Resources of Austin and Waller Counties, Texas
R-072 4/1/1968 TWDB numbered report Ground-Water Resources of Liberty County, Texas
R-074 5/1/1968 TWDB numbered report Ground-Water Resources of Tyler County, Texas
R-133 8/1/1971 TWDB numbered report Ground-Water Resources of Chambers and Jefferson Counties, Texas
R-152 6/1/1972 TWDB numbered report Development of Ground Water in the Houston District, Texas, 1966-69
R-004 11/1/1965 TWDB numbered report Ground-Water Resources of Gonzales County, Texas
R-001 10/1/1965 TWDB numbered report Ground-Water Resources of Jackson County, Texas
R-320 1/1/1990 TWDB numbered report Evaluation of Water Resources of Orange and Eastern Jefferson Counties, Texas
R-287 6/1/1984 TWDB numbered report Ground-Water Withdrawals and Land-Surface Subsidence in the Houston-Galveston Region, Texas, 1906-80
R-286 4/1/1984 TWDB numbered report Ground-Water Withdrawals and Changes in Water Levels in the Houston District, Texas, 1975-79
R-056 8/1/1967 TWDB numbered report Availability and Quality of Ground Water in Fayette County, Texas
R-304 11/1/1987 TWDB numbered report Records of Wells, Drillers' Logs, Water-Level Measurements, and Chemical Analyses of Ground Water in Chambers, Liberty, and Montgomery Counties, Texas, 1980-84
R-173 7/1/1973 TWDB numbered report Ground-Water Resources of Kleburg, Kenedy, and Southern Jim Wells Counties, Texas
GR11-002_MP 6/15/2011 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Red Sands GCD
GR11-001_MP 6/15/2011 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Duval County GCD
GR10-023 9/9/2010 GAM run Comparison of pumping simulations to recorded pumping for the Gulf Coast Aquifer in Groundwater Management Area 14
GT10-002 8/13/2010 GAM task Review of predictive simulations developed by AECOM for Groundwater Management Area 14
GR10-015_MP 6/15/2010 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Evergreen UWCD
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
GR10-008 6/30/2010 GAM run Predictive simulations for the Gulf Coast Aquifer in Groundwater Management Area 15
GR10-008_Add 6/30/2010 GAM run Predictive simulations for the Gulf Coast Aquifer in Groundwater Management Area 15
GR10-005_MP 8/23/2010 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Brush Country GCD
GR09-015_MP 9/28/2009 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for San Patricio County GCD
GR09-009_MP 5/29/2009 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Colorado County GCD
GR08-087_MP 5/8/2009 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Bluebonnet GCD
GR08-082_MP 1/5/2009 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Texana GCD
GR08-081_MP 1/5/2009 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Coastal Bend GCD
GR08-079 4/24/2009 GAM run Predictive simulation for the Gulf Coast Aquifer in Southeast Texas GCD
GR08-079_Add 4/14/2009 GAM run Aquifer and potentiometric thickness information for the Gulf Coast Aquifer in Southeast Texas GCD
GR08-076_MP 12/9/2008 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Coastal Plains GCD
GR08-073_MP 12/9/2008 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Brazos Valley GCD
GR08-062_MP 9/3/2008 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Evergreen UWCD
GR08-058_MP 7/23/2008 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Lower Trinity GCD
GR08-056 3/17/2009 GAM run simulation for the Gulf Coast Aquifer in Groundwater Management Area15
GR08-049_MP 7/7/2008 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Pineywoods GCD
GR08-039_MP 5/30/2008 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Refugio GCD
GR08-038_MP 5/30/2008 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Pecan Valley GCD
GR08-036_MP 7/23/2008 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Lone Star GCD
GR08-035_MP 5/29/2008 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Fayette County GCD
GR08-032_MP 5/23/2008 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Victoria County GCD
GR08-031_MP 7/22/2008 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Brazoria County GCD
GR08-019 9/23/2008 GAM run Predictive simulation for the Gulf Coast Aquifer in Groundwater Management Area 16
GR08-017 9/23/2008 GAM run Predictive simulation for the Gulf Coast Aquifer in Groundwater Management Area 16
GR08-009_MP 4/10/2008 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Goliad County GCD
GR08-003_MP 4/9/2008 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Corpus Christi ASRCD
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
GR07-043 3/21/2008 GAM run Predictive simulation for the Gulf Coast Aquifer in Groundwater Management Area 15
GR07-042 3/21/2008 GAM run Predictive simulation for the Gulf Coast Aquifer in Groundwater Management Area 15
GR07-036 1/10/2008 GAM run Predictive simulation for the Gulf Coast Aquifer in Groundwater Management Area 16
GR07-035 1/10/2008 GAM run Predictive simulation for the Gulf Coast Aquifer in Groundwater Management Area 16
GR07-034 11/30/2007 GAM run Predictive simulation for the Gulf Coast Aquifer in Groundwater Management Area 16
GR07-034_CM 2/15/2007 GAM run Average drawdowns associated with GAM Run 07-034
GR07-033 11/30/2007 GAM run Predictive simulation for the Gulf Coast Aquifer in Groundwater Management Area 16
GR07-033_CM 2/15/2007 GAM run Average drawdowns associated with GAM Run 07-033
GR07-028 9/13/2007 GAM run Predictive simulations for the Gulf Coast Aquifer in Groundwater Management Area 16
GR07-028_CM 2/15/2007 GAM run Average drawdowns associated with GAM Run 07-028
GR07-026_MP 9/25/2007 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for San Patricio GCD
GR07-014 10/15/2007 GAM run Predictive simulation for the Gulf Coast Aquifer in Groundwater Management Areas 15 and 16
GR07-012 4/19/2007 GAM run Predictive simulation for the Gulf Coast Aquifer in Groundwater Management Areas 15 and 16
GR07-014 10/15/2007 GAM run Predictive simulation for the Gulf Coast Aquifer in Groundwater Management Areas 15 and 16
GR07-011 4/19/2007 GAM run Predictive simulation for the Gulf Coast Aquifer in Groundwater Management Area 16
GR07-014_CM 12/11/2007 GAM run Additional results from the analysis completed in GAM Run 07-014
GR06-021 10/12/2006 GAM run Predictive simulation for the Gulf Coast Aquifer in Lower Trinity GCD
GR06-020 10/12/2006 GAM run Predictive simulation for the Gulf Coast Aquifer in Southeast Texas GCD
GR06-010 5/16/2006 GAM run Groundwater availability model presentation to Kenedy County GCD
GR06-007_MP 5/15/2006 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Lower Trinity GCD
GR06-006_MP 4/20/2006 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Southeast Texas GCD
GR06-001_MP 3/3/2006 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Red Sands GCD
GR05-032 8/15/2005 GAM run Predictive simulation for the Gulf Coast Aquifer in Bee and San Patricio counties
GR05-029 11/14/2005 GAM run Maps showing water levels, water-level changes, and water budgets for the Gulf Coast Aquifer in Matagorda and Wharton counties
GR05-027 10/27/2005 GAM run Predictive simulation for the Gulf Coast Aquifer in Goliad County
GR05-025 9/29/2005 GAM run Water level information for the Gulf Coast Aquifer in Bee County
GR05-024 6/8/2005 GAM run Volume calculations for the Gulf Coast Aquifer in Live Oak County
GR05-023 6/11/2005 GAM run Maps showing water levels and water-level changes for the Gulf Coast Aquifer in Matagorda and Wharton counties
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
GR05-015 7/13/2005 GAM run Predictive simulation for the Gulf Coast Aquifer in Goliad County
GR05-014 5/17/2005 GAM run Predictive simulation for the Gulf Coast Aquifer in Goliad County
GR05-004 1/23/2005 GAM run Calibration of the Gulf Coast (central) Aquifer GAM to evaluate drawdowns from fully penetrating wells in the Evangeline Aquifer
GR05-003 10/7/2004 GAM run Water budget for Matagorda and Wharton counties under predictive pumping, wet, and dry conditions
GR05-001 7/20/2005 GAM run Predictive runs using various pumping scenarios in Bee and San Patricio counties
GR04-008 4/8/2005 GAM run Water budget for Bee, Live Oak, and McMullen 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
GR03-007 3/7/2005 GAM run Refugio county water budget for the Gulf Coast Aquifer
GR11-019_MP 1/31/2012 GAM run - Management Plan Southeast Texas GCD Management Plan
GR03-001 5/20/2005 GAM run Predictive simulation for the Gulf Coast Aquifer in Goliad County GCD
GR11-016_MP 4/30/2012 GAM run - Management Plan Kenedy County Groundwater Conservation District Management Plan
GR10-011_MP 6/16/2010 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Starr County GCD
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
GR09-008_D 6/7/2011 GAM run Predictive simulations for the Gulf Coast Aquifer in Groundwater Management Area 16
GR12-013_MP 7/20/2012 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan data for Brush Country GCD
CR-0904831001 10/31/2011 Contract report Estimation of Groundwater Recharge to the Gulf Coast Aquifer in Texas, USA
R-380 7/1/2011 TWDB numbered report Aquifers of Texas
GR11-012 8/17/2012 GAM run Modeled Water Budget for the Gulf Coast Aquifer in Montgomery County
GR12-016_MP 10/19/2012 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan data for Corpus Christi ASRCD
CR-1004831113 6/1/2012 Contract report Updating the Hydrogeologic Framework for the Northern Portion of the Gulf Coast Aquifer
CR-0804830795 2/1/2010 Contract report Hydrostatigraphy of the Gulf Coast Aquifer from the Brazos River to the Rio Grande
GR12-024_MP 12/5/2012 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Pecan Valley GCD
GR12-018_MP 11/30/2012 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan data for Goliad County GCD
GR12-022_MP 11/29/2012 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan data for Victoria County GCD
GR04-021_Ver2 2/14/2005 GAM run Predictive model input files for the Gulf Coast (central) Aquifer
GR09-010_Ver2 9/16/2010 GAM run Predictive simulation for the Gulf Coast Aquifer in Groundwater Management Area 15
GR08-080_Ver2 9/23/2009 GAM run Predictive simulation for the Gulf Coast Aquifer in Southeast Texas GCD
GR12-018_MP_Ver2 1/24/2013 GAM run - Management Plan Goliad County GCD Management Plan GAM Run, version 2
GR13-007_MP 2/25/2013 GAM run - Management Plan Management Plan data for Lone Star 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
GR13-008_MP 6/25/2013 GAM run - Management Plan Management Plan data for Refugio GCD
GR13-014_MP 6/25/2013 GAM run - Management Plan Management Plan data for Gonzales County UWCD
GR13-003_MP 7/26/2013 GAM run - Management Plan Management Plan Data for Pineywoods 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
GR13-025_MP 12/13/2013 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan data for Coastal Bend GCD
GR13-027_MP 12/20/2013 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan data for Colorado County GCD
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
GR14-006_MP 4/1/2014 GAM run - Management Plan Management Plan data for Lower Trinity GCD
GT13-037_TERS 6/9/2014 GAM task - Total Estimated Recoverable Storage Total Estimated Recoverable Storage for aquifers in Groundwater Management Area 14
GR13-026_MP 9/18/2013 GAM run - Management Plan Management Plan data for Coastal Plains GCD
GR14-014_MP 12/12/2014 GAM run - Management Plan Management Plan data for Live Oak UWCD
GR15-004_MP 6/30/2015 GAM run - Management Plan Management Plan data for Evergreen UWCD
GR14-012_MP 7/12/2015 GAM run - Management Plan Management Plan data for Texana GCD
GR15-010_MP 8/12/2015 GAM run - Management Plan Managment Plan data for Calhoun County GCD
GR16-009 3/18/2016 GAM run Management plan information for Kenedy County Groundwater Conservation District
GR16-008_MP 5/16/2016 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Red Sands GCD
GR16-003_MP 8/8/2016 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for San Patricio County GCD
GR16-012_MP 10/31/2016 GAM run - Management Plan Management Plan Information for Southeast Texas GCD
GR16-011_MP 10/31/2016 GAM run - Management Plan Management Plan Information for Duval County GCD
GR16-021_MP 12/5/2016 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Brazoria County GCD
GR17-001_MP 10/5/2017 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Brush Country 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
GR17-023_MP 1/31/2018 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Lone Star 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
GR18-012_MP 6/27/2018 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Corpus Christi AS&RCD
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
GR19-003_MP 6/27/2019 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Lower Trinity GCD
GR19-019_MP 9/5/2019 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Live Oak UWCD
GR18-016_MP 10/24/2019 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Starr County GCD
GR20-006_MP 11/19/2020 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Texana GCD
GR22-004_MP 2/3/2022 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Calhoun County GCD
GR22-002_MP 3/10/2022 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Southeast Texas GCD
GR22-003_MP 3/22/2022 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Kenedy County GCD
GR21-022_MP 1/19/2022 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for San Patricio County GCD
GR22-009_MP 8/16/2022 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Brazoria 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
GR23-008_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
GR24-007_MP 06/28/2024 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Lower Trinity Groundwater Conservation District
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