Analog-model studies of the effects of recharge wells along the Houston ship channel on poten Evangeline aquifers, Houston, Texas

BECAUSE OF INCREASING CONCERN WATER LEVELS IN THE HOUSTON, TEXAS, AREA, AN ELECTRIC ANALOG MODEL WAS USED TO DETERMINE THE EFFECTS ON THE POTENTIOMETRIC SURFACES RESULTING FROM RECHARGING WATER THROUGH WELLS ALONG THE HOUSTON SHIP CHANNEL INTO THE TWO MAJOR AQUIFERS, THE CHICOT AND EVANGELINE. THE UPPER MODEL LAYER SIMULATED THE HYDROLOGIC CONDITIONS IN THE LOWER UNIT OF THE CHICOT AQUIFER UNDIFFERENTIATED. THE SIMULATION INCLUDED CLAY COMPACTION AND VERTICAL LEAKAGE AS WELL AS TRANSMISSIVITY AND STORAGE. THE LOWER MODEL LAYER SIMULATED THE HYDROLOGIC CONDITIONS IN THE EVANGELINE AQUIFER WHICH UNDERLIES THE CHICOT AQUIFER. FIFTEEN HYPOTHETICAL WELLS WERE MODELED RECHARGING THE AQUIFERS AT 1,000 GPM EACH WHILE CONCURRENTLY INCREASING THE ANNUAL GROUNDWATER PUMPING FROM THE AQUIFERS. THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE WATER RECHARGED TO AQUIFERS BY WELLS IS T ALTITUDE OF THE POTENTIOMETRIC SURFACE OF THE AQUIFERS FROM 1890-1980. THE SIMULATED EFFECT IS SHOWN ON THE POTENTIOMETRIC SURFACE OF THE AQUIFERS FROM RECHARGING THROUGH THE 15 WELLS DURING 1973-80. (WOODARD-USGS)