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Why has Houston experienced so much sinking or subsidence?
Subsidence in the Houston area is primarily caused by excessive groundwater pumping. Flooding is of particular concern in many areas within Houston, especially low-lying areas near the bayous and Gulf coast. Jersey Village, Katy, the Woodlands and Houston proper all experience differing degrees of subsidence.
Does Houston suffer from land subsidence?
Land-surface subsidence, or land subsidence, in Harris County, Texas, which encompasses much of the Houston area, has been occurring for decades. Land subsidence has increased the frequency and extent of flooding, damaged buildings and transportation infrastructure, and caused adverse environmental effects.
Is the city of Houston sinking?
Houston, Texas is sinking at the same rate. Data from the US Geological Survey shows that parts of Houston have sunk around 10 to 12 feet since the 1920s. Today, the city’s northwestern areas are sinking by as much as 2 inches per year. Like in New Orleans, the main culprit in Houston is excessive groundwater pumping.
Why is Houston subsiding?
SUBSIDENCE: HOUSTON IS SINKING In 1975, the Texas Legislature created the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District “to provide for the regulation of groundwater withdrawal for the purpose of preventing land subsidence.” The area is sinking due to groundwater withdrawal from underground aquifers.
Is Houston Texas still sinking?
According to the USGS, Houston has not sunk quite as badly as Mexico City, at only about 10-12 feet since the 1920s, but the population in the area is large and growing, suggesting subsidence will continue to be a pressing issue.
Is Katy sinking?
Annual subsidence report shows Katy, Jersey Village with highest rate of ground sinking over time. Declines in the aquifer levels related to groundwater withdrawal are tied to increased subsidence, HGSD officials said.
Are cities sinking in Texas?
A recent report says geology and groundwater pumping have created a “perfect storm” for sinking cities. Flooding in downtown Houston. Parts of Texas, particularly in Houston and along the Gulf Coast, could be sinking — and the problem will get worse, a new report suggests.
How are Houston’s two subsidence districts managing subsidence?
The Houston area’s two subsidence districts — the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District, HGSD, and the Fort Bend Subsidence District — have worked to monitor subsidence and mitigate it through a variety of water management efforts.
What is subsidence and how dangerous is it?
The report published in Science by a collection of international researchers, including researchers from the U.S. Geologic Survey, examined the global threat of subsidence, which is the sinking of land due primarily to groundwater withdrawal for such purposes as drinking water or irrigation.
Why did Mexico City sink?
Though the geology and history of land use of Mexico City are very different from the Gulf Coast, the modern sinking of that city is directly related to the pumping of groundwater. It is also indirectly related to the population growth in the area, something Mexico City and Houston have in common.