Fresh Water Sources
Surface Water
Groundwater
Rivers, Streams, and Lakes
Aquifers and Springs
In a state so rich in diversity,
regional water issues are as broad
and variable as the Texas terrain.
BIG BEND REGION
Water Supply
Groundwater:
Hueco-Mesilla Bolson Aquifer
Surface water :
Rio Grande River
BIG BEND REGION
Water Demand
Surface water supplies 60% of
the region’s needs.
75% goes to
irrigation.
BIG BEND REGION
Characteristics
Rugged Terrain
Springfed creeks and
cienegas
BIG BEND REGION
Threats
Water-hungry invasives
Long term drought
BIG BEND REGION
Challenges
• Sharing the Rio Grande with
Mexico
• Declining water supply
• Population exploding
GULF COAST REGION
Water Supply
Groundwater :
Gulf Coast, Carrizo-Wilcox
Aquifers
Surface Water :
San Jacinto, Trinity, Brazos,
Nueces, San Antonio Rivers
GULF COAST REGION
Water Demand
Mid-North Coast:
Surface water meets
67% of the region’s
needs.
South Coast:
Surface water
meets 75% of the
region’s needs and
about half goes for
municipal uses.
GULF COAST REGION
Characteristics
Supports 60%-90% of
fisheries in the entire U.S.
Saltwater fishing nets billions of dollars annually.
GULF COAST REGION
Threats
• Wetland habitats are
disappearing at an
alarming rate.
• Pollution from upstream
prevents new life from
surviving.
• Water supplies may be
insufficient to meet the
demand.
GULF COAST REGION
Challenges
Upstream demands for
water restrict the flow
into coastal wetlands.
Increases in population
cause increase in water
demand.
HILL COUNTRY REGION
Water Supply
Groundwater :
Edwards and Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifers
Surface water :
Colorado, Guadalupe and Nueces
Rivers
HILL COUNTRY REGION
Water Demand
Surface water
supplies 61% of
the water demand.
More than half of
that goes to cities.
HILL COUNTRY REGION
Characteristics
• Cascading streams
• Deep blue reservoirs
• Bubbling springs
• Plants and animals found
nowhere else
HILL COUNTRY REGION
Threats
Many Springs have dried up
or stopped flowing.
Rainwater is diverted away
from recharge zones.
HILL COUNTRY REGION
Challenges
Population is expected
to increase by 70%.
PANHANDLE PLAINS
Water Supply
Groundwater :
Ogallala, Seymour, Cenozoic
Pecos Alluvium, Edwards-Trinity
Aquifers
Surface Water :
Red, Pecos, Canadian,
Colorado and Brazos Rivers
PANHANDLE PLAINS
Water Demand
Groundwater from the Ogallala aquifer
supplies 97% of the water demand.
While most is for
irrigation, the
Ogalalla provides
drinking water for
millions.
PANHANDLE PLAINS
Characteristics
25,000 playa lakes provide
habitat for ducks, geese and
migratory birds.
PANHANDLE PLAINS
Threats
Poor agricultural practices
can destroy playa lakes.
Groundwater can be
contaminated by
abandoned oil fields.
PANHANDLE PLAINS
Challenges
Managing groundwater in a
right of capture state is a
challenge.
Pumping from the Ogallala
Aquifer exceed the rate of
recharge. Over time, the
aquifer level is dropping.
PINEYWOODS REGION
Water Supply
Groundwater:
Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer
Surface Water :
Sabine, Cypress, Sulphur and Red
Rivers
PINEYWOODS REGION
Water Demand
Surface water meets 88% of the demand.
More than half of that is used by manufacturing.
PINEYWOODS REGION
Characteristics
Pine forests with seasonally
wet hardwood forest
bottoms.
PINEYWOODS REGION
Threats
Redistribution of water to
other regions of the state.
Loss of bottomland
hardwoods.
PINEYWOODS REGION
Challenges
Appropriating fresh water for future demands while
balancing requests for water from other regions.
PRARIES AND LAKES
Water Supply
Groundwater :
Trinity Aquifer
Surface Water :
Trinity, Red, Brazos Rivers
PRARIES AND LAKES
Water Demand
Groundwater
supplies 92% of the
water for DFW.
A combination of
groundwater and
surface water
supply the rest of
this region.
PRARIES AND LAKES
Characteristics
Known for its reservoirs and
record-making fishing.
PRARIES AND LAKES
Threats
Widespread pollution affects waters across the region.
PRARIES AND LAKES
Challenges
Maintaining
water quality in
highly populated
areas.
SOUTH TEXAS REGION
Water Supply
Surface Water :
Guadalupe, San Antonio, Nueces, Lavaca
and Rio Grande Rivers
Groundwater :
Edwards, Trinity, Carrizo-Wilcox and Gulf
Coast Aquifers
SOUTH TEXAS REGION
Water Demand
Groundwater:
Source for 76% of San
Antonio’s water. About
half of the groundwater
pumped in South Texas
goes for irrigation.
Surface water:
Source for 98% of the
water used in the Lower
Rio Grande Valley –
primarily for irrigation.
SOUTH TEXAS REGION
Characteristics
Plains of thorny shrubs
and trees
dotted with deep bluewater lakes.
Scattered patches of
palms and subtropical
woodlands in the Rio
Grande Valley.
SOUTH TEXAS REGION
Threats
Population in Lower Rio
Grande to increase by
175%
Future Surface water rights
are already taken
SOUTH TEXAS REGION
Challenges
Competing with
Mexico for water
resources.
Restoring regular
flow to the mouth of
the Rio Grande.
Keep Texas Wild!