Keynote Speaker: Groundwater Management for the Gulf Coast—Daily Challenges and Successes

Historically, rapidly expanding industry and population was almost entirely supplied with groundwater from the Gulf Coast aquifers. The over-reliance on groundwater for the booming population of the Greater Houston area caused the ground to sink, putting the area at even greater risk for flooding. Two subsidence districts have worked cooperatively to address over-pumpage of groundwater and have effectively stopped groundwater-related subsidence in most coastal areas and are now focusing efforts on the more inland areas of Greater Houston, where groundwater continues to be pumped and subsidence continues to occur. There have been many challenges since the creation of the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District and the Fort Bend Subsidence District. The continued success of groundwater regulation are important for the Greater Houston area to continue as a thriving metropolitan area and industrial hub.