Houston, TX (February 8, 2021) – The Regional Groundwater Science Partnership announces a report summarizing the first phase of review regarding groundwater and subsidence in Harris and Montgomery counties.
The information, generated by an independent Science Advisory Committee (SAC) of leading researchers from around Texas, provides a detailed set of findings and recommendations for the area concerning the monitoring and management of groundwater resources and subsidence, beginning with an assessment of previous studies provided for the region.
Groundwater is a critical resource for Texas and the greater Houston-Galveston region, and careful management of groundwater resources is necessary to meet current water needs, protect future supplies, and minimize land subsidence impacts on infrastructure, flooding, and private property. Accordingly, sustainable management of groundwater resources requires detailed, current, and accurate data.
“Groundwater extraction and subsidence impacts in the greater Houston-Galveston region are linked, and continue to represent important issues facing the region,” states Lisa Gonzalez, President and CEO of the Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC). “The Regional Groundwater Science Partnership brings stakeholders together to ensure that science-based evidence informs the creation of policies that promote sustainability of our region’s groundwater resources for future generations.”
Special-use districts, including Montgomery County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1, Southern Montgomery County MUD, The Woodlands Township, and the Woodlands Water Agency, comprise the Regional Groundwater Science Partnership.
The purpose of the coalition is to promote independent, science-based research and data analysis. The Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) serves as the project manager and will provide ongoing reports and public outreach products summarizing the SAC’s findings for community members and decision-makers in the greater Houston-Galveston region.
“The SAC brings a wealth of scientific knowledge to the table to provide an independent review of the data and scientific models that form the basis for management policies in the region,” states Dr. Stephanie Glenn, HARC’s Hydrology and Watersheds Program Director and the facilitator for the Science Advisory Committee (SAC).
The next phase of the Partnership’s work includes a public education and outreach campaign. You may download the SAC report and executive summary at harcresearch.org/research/rgwsp/.
About the Regional Groundwater Science Partnership
Regional stakeholders created the Regional Groundwater Science Partnership to enable science-based review, community education, and outreach activities. The Partnership’s work is financially supported by the Groundwater Research Consortium, comprised of municipalities and special-use districts in the greater Houston-Galveston Region. The Groundwater Science Advisory Committee (SAC) is comprised of leading groundwater and subsidence researchers from institutions around Texas.
