Geophysical and hydrochemical analysis of the White River alluvial aquifer, Crosby County, Texas
— Barry J. Hibbs

A hydrogeologic and electrical resistivity study was conducted on White River alluvial aquifer in order to identify deposits that could provide water of sufficient quantity and quality to help augment municipal water supply for local communities. Fifty-four Schlumberger vertical electrical soundings were performed on topographically high terraces and recent alluvial deposits adjacent to White River, an ephemeral stream. Groundwater samples were collected for water quality analysis from a few livestock and irrigation wells in the alluvium. Water levels were measured in several water wells. These data, along with drillers logs and geotechnical logs, were used to constrain and interpret electrical resistivity sounding data. Test hole logs indicate that thicknesses of the alluvial deposits vary from about 11 to 25 m. Alluvial deposits are underlain in most areas by the Permian Quartermaster Group (Permian "redbeds"). Depth to groundwater is usually less than 4.5 m in recent deposits near White River, and usually exceeds 7.5 in on topographically high terraces at distances from the river. Groundwater quality analyses indicate that total dissolved solids (TDS) exceed 1,500 mg/L at low lying areas near the river and are most often less than 1,100 TDS on high terrace deposits. Electrical resistivity sounding curves were processed and correlated to these ground-truth data. The electrical resistivity sounding data also indicate that groundwater is relatively poor quality at low-lying areas near the river, and is relatively good quality on high terraces. Different ranges of TDS are likely due to evaporative concentration of groundwater at low-lying areas and less or negligible evaporation of groundwater on high terraces where depth to groundwater is greater.