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Research about Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas

Source-linked reports with geographic coverage including Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
USGS2025

Hydrogeologic framework and conceptual model of the Red River alluvial aquifer east of Lake Texoma, southeastern Oklahoma, 1980–2022

The 1973 Oklahoma Groundwater Law (Oklahoma Statutes §82-1020.5) requires that the Oklahoma Water Resources Board conduct hydrologic investigations of the State’s groundwater basins to support a determination of the maximum annual yield for each groundwater basin. At present (2025), the Oklahoma Water Resources Board has not established a maximum annual yield for the Red River alluvial aquifer east of Lake Texoma. To support the evaluation and determination of a maximum annual yield, a hydrogeologic framework and conceptual groundwater-flow model were developed to assess groundwater availability in the Red River alluvial aquifer east of Lake Texoma. The scope of this hydrologic investigation is the alluvium and terrace containing the Red River alluvial aquifer in Oklahoma between Lake Texoma, the Texas State line, and the Arkansas State line, an extent referred to in this report as “the eastern part of the Red River alluvial aquifer.” Parts of the alluvium and terrace extent in Arkansas and Texas are included in some analyses to address hydrologic influences from outside the aquifer’s boundaries in Oklahoma. The eastern part of the Red River alluvial aquifer in southeastern Oklahoma consists of approximately 401,280 acres of Quaternary alluvium and terrace deposits associated with the Red River and its major tributaries. Mean annual recharge to the aquifer for the 1980–2022 study period was estimated to be 8.62 inches per year, or 17.98 percent of the mean annual precipitation over the same period (47.94 inches). This mean annual recharge rate is equivalent to an inflow of approximately 288,250 acre-feet per year for the eastern part of the Red River alluvial aquifer. Recharge estimated using the Soil-Water-Balance code accounts for 98.7 percent of the conceptual-model inflows to the eastern part of the Red River alluvial aquifer. Saturated-zone evapotranspiration accounts for 11.9 percent and net streambed seepage accounts for 87.4 percent of the outflows in the conceptual model.

Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas↗
USGS2024

Length-weight relationships of native and non-native fishes in the lower Red River catchment, USA

Length-weight relationships are useful for stock assessments and modeling alternative conservation and management strategies for both native and non-native fishes. We developed length-weight relationships for 18 native and non-native riverine fishes in the lower Red River catchment. Fishes were sampled in the summer and autumn seasons between May 2021 and March 2024 via electrofishing and gill nets. Measurements for each specimen consisted of total length (mm) and weight (g). We provide L-W relationships for 14 native fishes consisting of 5 families (Lepisosteidae, Catostomidae, Ictaluridae, Sciaenidae, and Polyodontidae) and 4 non-native species belonging to the family Cyprinidae. We collected 6,845 individuals ranging from 67 alligator gar to 1,848 smallmouth buffalo. All the L-W relationships were significant ( p < 0.05), and the majority (72% of species) of relationships between length and weight had r 2 values > 0.70. Our findings provide insight into the L-W relationships of riverine fishes and can be useful for modeling alternatives targeted at native fishes of recreational value and the removal efforts of non-native fishes.

Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas↗
USGS2024

Processing time and precision of aging structures for Bighead Carp and Silver Carp in the lower Red River catchment in the southern Great Plains

Objective Population demographics of invasive species are commonly evaluated to better develop management actions that are useful for reducing their abundance or controlling the population. Bighead Carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis and Silver Carp H. molitrix are emblematic invaders in the United States, where they continue to expand their range. There is currently no consensus about which hard structure from these species is best for age estimation. Our study objective was to compare the processing time and precision of five hard structures used for age estimation of both species. Methods We sampled fish in the lower Red River catchment of Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas during summer and autumn 2021–2022 and removed the lapillus otolith, left primary pectoral fin ray, postcleithrum, urohyal bone, and anterior-most pterygiophore of the dorsal fin from both Bighead and Silver carp. The structures ( n = 1204) were either embedded in epoxy or thin-sectioned and mounted on slides. Two readers estimated the age of the fish by using each structure and came to a consensus. Processing time was recorded from the onset of laboratory processing to the termination of polishing the cross sections for age estimation. Result Processing of otoliths was comparable to or faster than processing of the other structures and resulted in the highest between-reader agreement. The lowest coefficients of variation in age estimation were represented using lapillus otoliths for Bighead Carp and postcleithra for Silver Carp. Our age bias plots indicated that all other structures underestimated age relative to the lapillus otoliths. Conclusion Our results indicated that using lapillus otoliths for age estimation of these species would have the highest between-reader agreement and would incur no additional laboratory processing time. However, validation is needed to assess whether lapillus otoliths correctly age these species. From a management perspective, use of this structure would facilitate improved population comparisons.

Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas↗
USGS2023

Evaluating the spatial and temporal distribution and ecology of Bighead and Silver Carp and native fishes of the lower Red River basin

We investigated the spatial and temporal distribution of Bighead Carp and Silver Carp (hereafter Carp) in the lower Red River basin of Arkansas. Our study objectives were: 1) determine the spatial and temporal extent of Bighead and Silver Carp in the Red River basin of Arkansas; 2) determine habitat associations of large river fish assemblages; and 3) summarize the demographics of Bighead and Silver Carp. We sampled 67 reaches in the lower Red River and its major tributaries for juvenile Carp and other small-bodied fishes (24 of the reaches were in the Arkansas portion of the Red River). We conducted repeated surveys in these reaches where the reaches were sampled 2-3 times over approximately 2 years representing 242 surveys (95 surveys in Arkansas). We completed adult Carp and native fish assemblage sampling across 61 reaches (22 reaches in Arkansas) where we also repeated surveys at these locations (245 total surveys, 100 surveys completed in Arkansas during the reporting period). We captured the most large-bodied fishes (including Carp) using gillnets and electrofishing, whereas fyke nets and seine hauls collected mainly smaller-bodied fishes. Hoop nets captured fewer fishes when compared to other gear types. We sampled 120,072 fishes, comprising 70 species and 41 genera, from the mainstem Red River in Arkansas. We used data associated with the entire catchment (including OK and TX data) to model the occupancy of adult fishes including both carp species. Carp tended to occupy reaches with the presence of slackwater habitat, that were deeper and narrower (lower habitat complexity), with higher discharge conditions, and were positively associated with chlorophyll-a concentrations. Adult and juvenile assemblage structure varied with reach scale attributes with notable differences among some taxonomically similar species. No carp under the age of 3 were sampled in the catchment. Bighead Carp and Silver Carp in the Red River catchment appear to live longer and grow larger than other populations. Silver Carp and Bighead Carp in the lower Red River had a theoretical maximum length (𝐿 ∞ ) of 920 and 1,348-mm TL, respectively. The oldest sampled Silver Carp and Bighead Carp were age 14 and 17, respectively. Bighead Carp growth was positively associated with warmer air temperatures and negatively associated with discharge variability. Similarly, Silver Carp growth was positively associated with warm air temperature and negatively associated with discharge variability. However, Silver Carp growth was also positively related to high discharge conditions and the variability of air temperature. Silver Carp annual mortality was relatively low and recruitment into the population appeared steady. It appears that Carp are likely coming from another catchment, have only limited or periodic successful reproduction in the study area, or spawn downriver in LA. Continued monitoring for reproductive success would be helpful. Moreover, if the goal is to greatly reduce or eliminate carp, then strategies that prevent further immigration before reproduction occurs or becomes more successful would be ideal. Targeted removal may then be useful for reducing numbers already in the catchment; however, there are also oxbow lakes that contain carp but appear only connected to the river during major floods (i.e., possible source locations).

Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas↗
USGS2022

Increased landscape disturbance and streamflow variability threaten fish biodiversity in the Red River catchment, USA

Aim Stream fish distributions are hypothesized to be strongly associated with landscape characteristics at multiple scales. Variation in flow regimes and intensity of landscape disturbance are associated with stream fish distributions; however, relationships are poorly understood in many high-diversity regions. Our objective was to identify occurrence relationships between fish distributions and streamflow and landscape characteristics in the south-central United States. Location Our study area was the central Red River catchment in Oklahoma, Texas and Arkansas, USA. Methods We used existing fish surveys to model the occurrence of a diverse, warmwater assemblage among hydraulic response units (HRUs). We used multispecies occupancy modelling to identify variation in occurrence probability among 111 stream fishes in relation to landscape disturbance and flow regime characteristics. Results We found occurrence relationships with landscape disturbance and 11 metrics comprising all flow-regime components. The relationships varied within both major species groups and some genera. Frequency and duration were the most common metrics underlying flow regime relationships. More common stream fishes tended to be positively associated with higher levels of landscape disturbance and flow regime metrics representing variability; conversely, narrow-ranged fishes tended to be negatively associated. Occurrence relationships with flow metrics representing high-flow events were predominately negative. As expected, many species were strongly associated with ecoregion with landscape disturbance and flow relationships held constant. Main conclusions Our study informs land use and water management decisions and stream fish conservation at multiple spatial scales. Collectively, the findings suggest potential homogenization of the Red River fish assemblage with increased landscape disturbance and streamflow variability. A reduction in landscape disturbance and maintenance of natural flow patterns at coarser scales may benefit endemic and narrow-ranged fishes. Our findings also help guide finer-scale land use and water management decisions by identifying stream network areas with a high occurrence probability of less tolerant fishes.

Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas↗
USGS2021

Groundwater quality in the Edwards-Trinity aquifer system

Groundwater provides nearly 50 percent of the Nation’s drinking water. To help protect this vital resource, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Project assesses groundwater quality in aquifers that are important sources of drinking water. The Edwards-Trinity aquifer system constitutes one of the important aquifers being evaluated.

Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas↗
USGS2021

Which earthquake accounts matter?

Earthquake observations contributed by human observers provide an invaluable source of information to investigate both historical and modern earthquakes. Commonly, the observers whose eyewitness accounts are available to scientists are a self‐selected minority of those who experience a given earthquake. As such these may not be representative of the overall population that experienced shaking from the event. Eyewitness accounts can contribute to modern science only if they are recorded in the first place and archived in an accessible repository. In this study, we explore the extent to which geopolitics and socioeconomic disparities can limit the number of earthquake observers whose observations can contribute to science. We first revisit a late nineteenth‐century earthquake in the central United States in 1882 that provides an illustrative example of an event that has been poorly characterized due to a reliance on English‐language archival materials. For modern earthquakes, we analyze data collected for recent earthquakes in California and India via the online “Did You Feel It?” (DYFI) system. In California, online data‐collection systems appear to be effective in gathering eyewitness accounts from a broad range of socioeconomic groups. In India, however, responses to the DYFI system reveal a strong bias toward responses from urban areas as opposed to rural settlements, as well a bias with literacy rate. The dissimilarity of our results from modern earthquakes in the United States and India provides a caution that, in some parts of the world, contributed felt reports can still potentially provide an unrepresentative view of earthquake effects, especially if online data collection systems are not designed to be broadly accessible. This limitation can in turn potentially shape our understanding of an earthquake’s impact and the characterization of seismic hazard.

Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas↗
USGS1986

Planning report for the Edwards-Trinity Regional Aquifer-System analysis in central Texas, southeast Oklahoma, and southwest Arkansas

The Edwards-Trinity regional aquifer system supplies more than 0.78 million acre-feet per year (700 million gallons per day) of water for central Texas and small adjacent parts of southeast Oklahoma and southwest Arkansas. The system consists of three major aquifers and at least three minor aquifers in predominantly Cretaceous rocks, which together have an areal extent of about 80,000 square miles. The major aquifers are the Edwards-Trinity (Plateau) in west-central Texas, the Edwards (Balcones Fault Zone) in south-central Texas, and the Trinity in north-central Texas, southeast Oklahoma, and southwest Arkansas. Current (1986) and future concerns about the aquifer system involve the ever-increasing demand for water, most of which is associated with rapid population increase. Decreases in or elimination of spring discharges and encroachment of water from downdip salinewater zones into updip freshwater zones are of primary concern in the area underlain by ttie Edwards (Balcones Fault Zone) aquifer. Water-level declines of several hundred feet in the Trinity aquifer are a serious concern in some metropolitan areas. The Edwards-Trinity regional aquifer-system analysis project, begun in October 1985 and scheduled to be completed by October 1991, is one of a series of similar projects being conducted nationwide. The project is intended to define the hydrogeologic framework, and to describe the geochemistry and groundwater flow of the aquifer system in order to provide a better understanding of the system's long-term water-yielding potential. A multidisciplinary approach will be used in which computer-based digital simulation of flow in the system will be the principal method of hydrogeologic investigation.

Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas↗