In 2001 , the Texas Legislature mandated that the Texas Water Development Board ( TWDB ) obtain or develop groundwater availability models for all the major and minor aquifers in Texas , in coordination with groundwater conservation districts and regional water planning groups ( Texas Water Code Section 16.012 .). The Marathon Aquifer is a formally designated minor aquifer in Texas . It is the last aquifer in the state to be studied under the groundwater availability program , and is certainly one of the most interesting and complicated . The Daniel B . Stephens & Associates , Inc . ( DBS & A ) Team , including Allan R . Standen LLC and Michelle A . Sutherland LLC , has been retained by the TWDB to develop a conceptual model for the Marathon Aquifer . This project will describe the occurrence of groundwater in the aquifer , identify the direction of groundwater flow , quantify the rate of recharge to the aquifer and provide an overview of water quality , along with many more factors that can affect groundwater conditions at Marathon and the surrounding area . The information that this study will provide will help residents , ranches and businesses understand this most important resource , and how to best use and preserve it into the future .
The project team has compiled a great deal of data from previous geological studies of the area , so a lot of the physical research of the Marathon Basin has already been accomplished . The team is , however , seeking permission from landowners to take well measurements and to compile hydrological data , which is generally limited .
The Marathon Aquifer covers over 390 square miles in north central Brewster County and is the most structurally complex aquifer in Texas . The proposed study area includes a one-mile buffer outside of the Marathon Aquifer boundary for geologic and hydrogeologic analysis , and the full upstream extent of the Maravillas and San Francisco watersheds that contribute surface water flow , and therefore groundwater recharge , to the aquifer .
The overall goal of the conceptual model is to compile , organize , and describe the necessary information for the development of a numerical groundwater flow model that will be completed at a later date , and to describe the components of the groundwater flow system as they relate to the Marathon Aquifer .
Data analysis will include the full period of record , from approximately the 1950s through at least 2019 . All the data utilized will be public information or will be made publicly available at project completion . The end result of this research will be a 3- D representation of how water moves into and through the Marathon Basin .
The team intends to compile new water level measurements , formation-specific and geographically distributed , throughout the Marathon Aquifer . Wells with existing historical water levels will receive priority for measurement to evaluate long-term trends . The final number of measurements collected will depend on both well access granted by landowners and physical access for taking measurements at the wellhead . A larger sample of testable wells with more diverse locations within the aquifer will give a more complete picture of the mystery underground .
The amount of water that recharges the aquifer will be estimated using a soil water-balance model . Data inputs , such as soil extent and hydraulic characteristics , vegetative cover , land use and climatic data are readily available in map form from various sources .
If you own land in the Marathon Basin and you have a well , allowing the DBS & A team to conduct fieldwork on your property can add vital information to the study . The larger the sample of testing areas , the more complete the picture of the Marathon Aquifer will be .
For more information about this project , or to take part in this historic study , contact the DBS & A Project Manager and principal hydrologist Neil Blandford at nblandford @ geologic . com ; Allan Standen , the principal geologist at astanden @ att . net ,; the TWDB project manager Jean Perez at Jean . Perez @ twdb . texas . gov , or the DBS & A local liaison Danielle Gallo at dgallo @ geo-logic . com .
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