GROUND-WATERRESOURCES OF KERR COUNTY, TEXAS

[Pages:59]TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD Report 102

GROUND-WATER RESOURCES OF KERR COUNTY, TEXAS

NOVEMBER 1969

TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD

REPORT 102

GROUND?WATER RESOURCES OF KERR COUNTY, TEXAS

By

Richard D. Reeves United States Geological Survey

Prepared by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the

Texas Water Development Board City of Kerrville and

Upper Guadalupe River Authority

November 1969

Mills Cox, Chairman Robert B. Gilmore Milton T. Potts

TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD

Marvin Shurbet, Vice Chairman Groner A. Pitts W. E. Tinsley

Howard B. Boswell, Executive Director

Authorization for use or reproduction of any material contained in this publication, I~e., not obtained from other sources, is freely granted without the necessity of securing permission therefor. The Board would appreciate acknowledgement of the source of original material so utilized.

Published and distributed by the

Texas Water Development Board Post Office Box 12386 Austin, Texas 78711

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACT

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INTRODUCTION

Purpose and Scope of the Investigation

Location and Economic Development of the Area

Previous Investigations

Well-Numbering System

Topography and Drainage

Climate

GEOLOGY AS RELATED TO THE OCCURRENCE OF GROUND WATER

Pre-Cretaceous Rocks

Cretaceous System

Hosston and Sligo Formations

Trinity Group

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Pearsall Formation

Pine Island Shale Member

Cow Creek Limestone Member

Hensell Member

Glen Rose Limestone

Lower Member

Upper Member

Fredericksburg and Washita Groups

Edwards and Associated Limestones

Grayson Shale

Buda Limestone

Tertiary(?) and Quaternary Systems

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TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONT'D.)

GROUND WATER

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Source and Occurrence of Ground Water

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Recharge, Movement, and Discharge of Ground Water .... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Relation Between Ground Water and Streamflow

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Fluctuation of Water Levels

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Well Construction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Ground-Water Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Aquifer Tests

Chemical Quality of Ground Water. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

AVAILABILITY OF GROUND WATER FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT. .

ARTIFICIAL RECHARGE POSSIBILITIES AT KERRVILLE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

REFERENCES CITED. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Page 11 11 11 12 12 14 14 14 19 20 21 23

TABLES

1. Geologic Units and Their Water-Bearing Properties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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2. Results of Aquifer Tests .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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3. Records of Wells and Springs

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4. Drillers' Logs of Wells. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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5. Water Levels in Wells.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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6. Chemical Analyses of Water from Selected Wells and Springs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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7. Chemical Analyses of Water from the Guadalupe River and Its Tributaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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FIGURES

1. Map of Central Texas Showing Physiographic Features and Location of Kerr County

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2. Graph Showing Average Monthly Temperature and Precipitation at Kerrville. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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3. Map Showing the Approximate Altitude of the Base of the Cretaceous Rocks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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4. Graphs Showing Comparison of Base Flow and Flood Flow of the Guadalupe River

at Comfort and Precipitation at Kerrville

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5. Graph Showing Selected Chemical Analyses of Water from

the Guadalupe River and Its Tributaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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6. Graph Showing Comparison of Water Levels in Wells and Pumpage at Kerrville. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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FIGURES (CONT'D.)

7. Graph Showing Monthly Pumpage of Ground Water by the City of Kerrville

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8. Graph Showing Relation of Distance to Drawdown and Time for a Well Pumping 1,000 Gallons Per Minute

9. Map Showing Dissolved-Solids, Sulfate, and Chloride Content of Water from Wells and Springs

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10. Geologic Map Showing Locations of Wells and Springs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

11. Geologic Section A-A' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

12. Geologic Section B-B' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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GROUND-WATER RESOURCES OF KERR COUNTY, TEXAS

ABSTRACT

Kerr County, an area of 1,101 square miles near the southern edge of the Edwards Plateau, had an estimated population of 20,400 in 1965. The economy depends largely on the raising of livestock and meeting the needs of vacationists and hunters. Most of the water used in the county is obtained from ground-water sources.

The principal water-bearing units in the county, from oldest to youngest, are the Hosston and Sligo Formations, the Hensell Member of the Pearsall Formation, and the Edwards and associated limestones. The Glen Rose Limestone is of lesser importance.

A total of about 3.600 acre?feet or 3.2 mgd (million gallons per day) of ground water was pumped from wells in 1966 to supply the needs of Kerr County. of which 2,470 acre-feet (2.2 mgd) was for municipal supply, 670 acre-feet (0.6 mgd) for domestic use and livestock. and about 460 acre-feet (0.4 mgd) for irrigation.

Additional ground water is available for development. An average of about 52.000 acre-feet per year is discharged from the Edwards and associated limestones through springs and seeps. An additional 6,000 acre-feet is discharged from the upper member of the Glen Rose Limestone. However. a substantial increase in withdrawals from the Edwards and associated limestones would necessarily result in a reduction in the natural ground-water discharge. which in turn would result in a reduction in the base flow of the Guadalupe River.

The area most favorable for the development of large-capacity wells from the Hosston. Sligo. and Pearsall Formations is the southern half of the county where the formations are thickest.

The chemical quality of the ground water in the aquifers is generally suitable for public supply and industrial use. and is excellent for irrigation. The water from the upper member of the Glen Rose Limestone is slightly saline; the evaporite beds in the upper member yield water that is high in sulfate and must be cased off when drilling to the underlying aquifers.

GROUND-WATER RESOURCES OF KERR COUNTY, TEXAS

INTRODUCTION

Purpose and Scope of the Investigation

The investigation in Kerr County was begun in September of 1966 as a cooperative project of the U.S. Geological Survey, the Texas Water Development Board, the city of Kerrville, and the Upper Guadalupe River Authority. The purpose of the study was to determine the occurrence, availability, dependability, and quality of the ground-water resources of Kerr County. The results of the investigation (completed in 1968) are described in this report.

The investigation consisted of an inventory of all municipal, industrial, and irrigation wells, and a representative number of domestic supply wells, livestock wells, springs, and oil tests. Data on water use and pumpage were collected, and measurements of the depth to water in wells were made during the inventory. The surface geology was mapped so that the recharge areas of the water-bearing units could be delineated. Maps and sections were prepared to illustrate and correlate geologic and hydrologic data.

The report contains records of 333 wells and springs (Table 3), drillers' logs of 11 wells (Table 4), records of periodic water-level measurements in 9 wells (Table 5), and chemical analyses of ,48 ground-water samples (Table 6). The locations of wells and springs are shown in Figure 10.

Appreciation is expressed to the many landowners, drillers, and city officials who willingly supplied much of the information on which this report is based"

Location and Economic Development of the Area

Kerr County is in central Texas near the southern edge of the Edwards Plateau (Figure 1). Kerrville, the county seat and the principal commercial center in the county, is about 60 miles northwest of San Antonio. The area of the county is 1,101 square miles.

The predominantly rough and rolling land is used primarily for the raising of livestock and for recreation. The county is a popular resort and hunting area;

recreation facilities are offered by many private and public camps. Farming, most of which is dry farming, is limited to the cultivation of feed and grain crops in the stream valleys. Kerrville is an important center for ranch products, ranching supplies, banking, and the manufacture of aircraft.

In 1965, the estimated population of Kerr County was 20,400, of which 11,300 lived in Kerrville. The small towns of Mountain Home, Hunt, Ingram, Legion, and Center Point had a combined population of about 3,100. In general, the population of the county has shown a slow but steady increase.

Previous Investigations

Prior to this investigation, little detailed information was available concerning the ground-water resources and geology of Kerr County. The public water supply of Kerrville was described by Sundstrum, Broadhurst, and Dwyer (1949, p. 74-75). The geology of parts of the county has been mapped and described by Barnes (1952a and 1952b; 1954a, 1954b, and 1954c). A reconnaissance report on the ground-water resources of the Guadalupe, San Antonio, and Nueces River basins, including most of Kerr County, was prepared by Alexander, Myers, and Dale (1964). A similar report by Mount and others (1967) included information on the northern part of the county. A low-flow investigation of the upper Guadalupe River basin was made by Kunze and Smith (1966).

Well-Numbering System

The well-numbering system in this report, based on the divisions of latitude and longitude, is the one adopted by the Texas Water Development Board for use throughout the State. Under this system, each 1-degree quadrangle in the State is given a number consisting of two digits. These are the first two digits appearing in the well number-large open-block numerals 57 and 68 as shown in Figure 10. Each 1-degree quadrangle is divided into 7-1/2 minute quadrangles, which are given two-digit numbers from 01 to 64. These are the third and fourth digits of the well number and are shown generally in the upper left-hand corner of each 7-1/2 minute quadrangle in Figure 10. Each 7-1/2 minute quadrangle is subdivided into 2?1/2 minute quadrangles which are given

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