Dockum Aquiferinteractive map | cross-section

Aquifer Facts

  • Aquifer type: confined and unconfined
  • Area of outcrop: 3,525 square miles
  • Area of subsurface: 22,030 square miles
  • Proportion of aquifer with groundwater conservation districts: 55 percent
  • Number of counties containing the aquifer: 46

Summary

The Dockum Aquifer is a minor aquifer found in the northwest part of the state and is part of the High Plains Aquifer System, which also consists of the Ogallala and Rita Blanca aquifers. It is defined stratigraphically by the Dockum Group, which is composed of sandstones, conglomerates, mudstones, and siltstones. The Dockum Aquifer is overlain by the Ogallala Aquifer except in the outcrop areas along the Canadian and Colorado Rivers where the Ogallala has been eroded away. Permian System red-bed shales underlie the Dockum Aquifer, forming a no-flow lower boundary.

The water quality in the aquifer is generally poor and very hard. Naturally occurring radioactivity from uranium present within the aquifer has resulted in gross alpha radiation in excess of the state's primary drinking water standard in about 25 percent of Dockum Aquifer wells. Radium-226 and -228 also occur in amounts above acceptable standards. Nitrate is present at concentrations exceeding primary drinking water standards in about 10 percent of the wells, mostly in the outcrop areas, where it is associated with agricultural operations. Dockum Aquifer groundwater exceeds secondary drinking water standards for chloride, fluoride, iron, sulfate, and total dissolved solids in about one-third of the wells tested, primarily as the result of the evaporite minerals present in the Dockum Group and underlying formations of the Permian Basin.

Groundwater from the aquifer is used for irrigation, municipal water supply, and oil field waterflooding operations, particularly in the southern High Plains.

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-116 5/1/1970 TWDB numbered report Quantity and Chemical Quality of Low Flow in the Prairie Dog Town Fork Red River near Wayside, Texas, February 6-9,1968
R-315 11/1/1989 TWDB numbered report Evaluation of Ground-Water Resources in Dallam County, Texas
R-359 12/1/2003 TWDB numbered report The Groundwater Resources of the Dockum Aquifer in Texas
R-317 1/1/1990 TWDB numbered report Evaluation of Ground-Water Resources in Parts of Loving, Pecos, Reeves, Ward and Winkler Counties, Texas
B-6010 11/1/1960 Groundwater bulletin Geology and Ground-Water Resources of Hale County, Texas
R-015 2/1/1966 TWDB numbered report Ground-Water Resources of Gaines County, Texas
GMA1_DFC_02 6/3/2010 DFC submission Desired future conditions for the Blaine and Dockum aquifers
R-356 12/1/2001 TWDB numbered report Aquifers of West Texas
B-6310 12/1/1973 Groundwater bulletin Reconnaissance Investigation of the Ground-Water Resources of the Brazos River Basin, Texas
B-5604 3/1/1956 Groundwater bulletin Ground-Water Resources of the Crane Sandhills, Crane County, Texas
R-047 5/1/1967 TWDB numbered report Occurrence and Quality of Ground Water in Crockett County, Texas
R-050 6/1/1967 TWDB numbered report Ground-Water Resources of Mitchell and Western Nolan Counties, Texas
R-360 2/9/2004 TWDB numbered report Conference Proceedings: Aquifers of the Edwards Plateau
R-337 3/1/1992 TWDB numbered report Evaluation of Water Resources in Parts of the Rolling Prairies Region of North-Central Texas
R-330 7/1/1991 TWDB numbered report Evaluation of Ground-Water Resources in the Southern High Plains of Texas
R-078 5/1/1968 TWDB numbered report Ground-Water Resources of Upton County, Texas
R-145 4/1/1972 TWDB numbered report Water Wells and Ground-Water Chemical Analysis Data, Reagan County, Texas
R-146 4/1/1972 TWDB numbered report Water Well and Ground-Water Chemical Analysis Data, Irion County, Texas
R-166 3/1/1973 TWDB numbered report Ground-Water Resources of Coke County, Texas
R-167 4/1/1973 TWDB numbered report Ground-Water Resources of Hall and Eastern Briscoe Counties, Texas
GR11-009_MP 6/24/2011 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for High Plains UWCD No. 1
GT11-010 6/14/2011 GAM task Total pumping estimates for the Ogallala, Edwards-Trinity (High Plains), and Dockum aquifers in High Plains UWCD No. 1
GR11-003_MP 7/29/2011 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Santa Rita UWCD
GR10-026_MP 8/24/2010 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Sterling County UWCD
GT10-025 6/10/2010 GAM task Predictive simulations for the Dockum Aquifer
GR10-007_MP 7/20/2010 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Gateway GCD
GR10-001 6/21/2010 GAM run Predictive simulations for the Dockum Aquifer in Groundwater Management Area 7
GR09-018_MP 7/24/2009 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Llano Estacado UWCD
GR09-017_MP 7/24/2009 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Clear Fork UWCD
GR09-014 9/21/2010 GAM run Predictive simulation for the Dockum Aquifer in Groundwater Management Area 1
GR09-014_Add 9/21/2010 GAM run Predictive simulations for the Dockum Aquifer in Groundwater Management Area 1
GR09-013_MP 8/6/2009 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Wes-Tex GCD
GR09-007_MP 3/17/2009 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Garza County UWCD
GR09-006_MP 3/17/2009 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for High Plains UWCD No. 1
GR09-003_MP 1/23/2009 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for High Plains UWCD No. 1
GR09-002_MP 1/23/2009 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Garza County UWCD
GR08-075_MP 1/23/2009 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Middle Pecos GCD
GR08-048_MP 1/23/2009 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Lone Wolf GCD
GR11-021_MP 1/27/2012 GAM run - Management Plan Panhandle GCD Management Plan
GR12-007_MP 6/13/2012 GAM run - Management Plan Permian Basin UWCD Management Plan
GR12-004_MP 7/20/2012 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan data for Crockett County GCD
GR12-003_MP 7/2/2012 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan data for North Plains GCD
R-380 7/1/2011 TWDB numbered report Aquifers of Texas
GR12-020_MP 10/19/2012 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan data for Glasscock GCD
GR12-019_MP 11/16/2012 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan data for Coke County UWCD
GR12-017_MP 11/16/2012 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan data for Irion County WCD
GR12-003_MP_Ver2 9/17/2012 GAM run - Management Plan Revised management plan data for North Plains GCD
GR13-015_MP 6/27/2013 GAM run - Management Plan Management Plan data for Lone Wolf GCD
GR13-021_MP 8/28/2013 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan data for Garza County UWCD
GT13-025_TERS 8/20/2013 GAM task - Total Estimated Recoverable Storage Total Estimated Recoverable Storage for aquifers in Groundwater Management Area 1
GT13-026_TERS 9/19/2013 GAM task - Total Estimated Recoverable Storage Total Estimated Recoverable Storage for aquifers in Groundwater Management Area 2
GT13-027_TERS 9/19/2013 GAM task - Total Estimated Recoverable Storage Total Estimated Recoverable Storage for aquifers in Groundwater Management Area 3
GT13-029_TERS 9/19/2013 GAM task - Total Estimated Recoverable Storage Total Estimated Recoverable Storage for aquifers in Groundwater Management Area 6
GT13-030_TERS 10/2/2013 GAM task - Total Estimated Recoverable Storage Total Estimated Recoverable Storage for aquifers in Groundwater Management Area 7
GT13-042_TERS 11/1/2013 GAM task - Total Estimated Recoverable Storage Total Estimated Recoverable Storage by county for aquifers in High Plains UWCD No. 1
GR13-030_MP 2/18/2014 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan data for Wes-Tex GCD
GR14-010_MP 3/26/2014 GAM run - Management Plan Management Plan data for Middle Pecos GCD
GR14-002_MP 6/30/2014 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan data for Llano Estacado UWCD
GR14-007_MP 7/25/2014 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan data for Clear Fork GCD
GR14-013_MP 4/10/2015 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan data for Gateway GCD
GT15-006_TERS 12/17/2015 GAM task - Total Estimated Recoverable Storage Total Estimated Recoverable Storage for aquifers in Groundwater Management Area 1
GR16-001_MP 4/28/2016 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Panhandle GCD
GR16-013_MP 8/31/2016 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Permian Basin UWCD
GR17-012_MP 3/28/2017 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Sterling County UWCD
GR17-022_MP 3/28/2017 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Crockett County GCD
GR17-002_MP 4/4/2017 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Santa Rita UWCD
GR17-008_MP 4/7/2017 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for North Plains GCD
GR18-001_MP 5/10/2018 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Reeves County GCD
GR18-009_MP 5/25/2018 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Mesa UWCD
GR17-014_MP 6/1/2018 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Coke County UWCD
GR18-022_MP 2/11/2019 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Glasscock GCD
GR19-004_MP 2/27/2019 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Lone Wolf GCD
GR19-002_MP 3/1/2019 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for High Plains UWCD #1
GR19-001_MP 5/3/2019 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Garza County UWCD
GR19-017_MP 7/22/2019 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Llano Estacado UWCD
GR19-023_MP 10/1/2019 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Gateway GCD
GR19-024_MP 10/1/2019 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Clear Fork GCD
GR19-021_MP 2/20/2020 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Middle Pecos GCD
GR22-005_MP 5/23/2022 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Permian Basin UWCD
GR22-015_MP 1/13/2023 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for North Plains GCD
GR22-014_MP 1/23/2023 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Irion County WCD
GR22-016_MP 1/31/2023 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Sterling County UWCD
GR21-007_MAG 2/28/2023 GAM run - MAG Modeled available groundwater estimates for the High Plains Aquifer System in Groundwater Management Area 1
GR23-001_MP 5/10/2023 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Reeves County GCD
GR23-006_MP 08/23/2023 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Crockett County GCD
GR23-021_MP 09/22/2023 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Coke County UWCD
GR24-005_MP 03/01/2024 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Lone Wolf GCD
GR24-004_MP 03/14/2024 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Garza County UWCD
GR24-003_MP 04/02/2024 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District
GR24-006_MP 05/20/2024 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for High Plains UWCD #1
GR24-009_MP 09/16/2024 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Wes-Tex Groundwater Conservation District
GR24-010_MP 10/28/2024 GAM run - Management Plan Management plan information for Glasscock GCD
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