Tracking sinking ground takes deep science—and deeper tools.
At Lake Houston, the U.S. Geological Survey monitors land subsidence using a suite of precision instruments. A deep benchmark pipe, anchored 1,940 feet underground, serves as a stable reference point to detect even the slightest land movement above.
“We measure how the surface shifts relative to this pipe both digitally and by hand,” says Jason Ramage of the USGS.
Above the shelter, a Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS) provides high-resolution GPS data to verify the pipe’s stability. Nearby groundwater wells—called a “nest” of piezometers—include screens at various depths to track water levels.
Measurements are taken using both an electric tape (which beeps when touching water) and a chalked steel tape that marks the water surface on contact. Together, these tools help scientists detect where the land is sinking, how fast it’s happening, and how it links to groundwater withdrawal.
Episode at https://bit.ly/HoustonSinking
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
Visit https://www.waterloop.org/
Subscribe to catch every video:https://www.youtube.com/@waterloop
Never miss an episode! Subscribe to waterloop:
🎧 Spotify:https://bit.ly/waterloopSpotify
🎧 Apple Podcasts:https://bit.ly/waterloopApple
🎧 YouTube Podcasts:https://bit.ly/waterloopYouTubePod
Follow waterloop for more stories on water sustainability:
🔹 Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/the_waterloop/
🔹 LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/thewaterloop
