105 Coastal Hydrogeology in an Age of Rising Seas (Posters)
As sea levels rise, understanding hydrogeology is crucial in coastal areas. Seawater intrusion can lead to loss of potable or agricultural water supplies, and water table rise due to increasing sea level can lead to increased flooding and affect infrastructure.
Monday, 20 October 2025
8:00 AM - 5:30 PM
HBGCC, Hall 1
Understanding Recharge Dynamics and Groundwater Contamination in Unincorporated Gulf Coast Communities using Innovative In-Situ Subsurface Characterization Techniques
Paper number: 105-4
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 8:00 AM – 8:00 AM
Authors
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Cody LopezTexas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, Texas
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Laura ButtonTexas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, Texas
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Joy BrownTexas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, Texas
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Clarissa GarciaTexas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, Texas
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Roya NarimaniTexas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, Texas
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Dorina MurguletTexas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, Texas
Abstract
In coastal communities of South Texas, shallow aquifers face increasing contamination due to extreme wet events, inadequate drainage, and limited infrastructure. This study investigates the mechanisms driving recharge and contaminant transport in flood-prone, marginalized coastal communities in Aransas and Nueces counties, underlain by contrasting soils (sandy versus clayey), and aquifer settings (unconfined versus confined aquifer), and disproportionately burdened by water quality challenges. Preliminary time-series analysis of groundwater solutes reveals high concentrations of bacteria, copper, lead, and radium isotopes after flooding events, which is indicative of leaching and vertical transport of contaminants into the aquifer. To better characterize the subsurface and evaluate the vulnerability of these aquifers, cutting-edge in-situ hydrogeophysical characterization tools, including cone penetration testing (CPT), hydraulic profiling tool (HPT), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), have been integrated to assess lithology, porosity, hydraulic conductivity, and mobile water fractions. These hydrogeophysical datasets are combined with solute concentrations and analyzed using random forest regression to identify key geochemical and hydroclimatic controls on contaminant mobilization. This integrative approach enables site-specific understanding of aquifer susceptibility in underserved Gulf Coast communities and informs the development of data-driven strategies for groundwater protection and equitable water management in coastal colonias.
Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 57, No. 6
doi: 10.1130/abs/2025AM-413308
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