What harm is there in subsidence?
In the low elevation areas, generally nearest the coast, land subsidence from 1906 to current of as much as 10 feet has been recorded (Map of Subsidence 1906-2000). When the elevation of your house is only 10 feet above sea-level and you lose 10 feet of elevation because of subsidence, your house is now under water. The Brownwood Subdivision in the City of Baytown is a perfect example of the effects of subsidence in coastal areas. Brownwood is now mostly underwater and has been turned into a nature center by the City of Baytown. Further inland, subsidence is not as evident because the relationship to sea-level is not as apparent, but still of great concern. The land surface of the greater Houston area is very flat and therefore prone to flooding. We also get a lot of rain in the average year, and sometimes a lot of rain when a tropical storm or hurricane moves through. Flooding has always been a major issue in the area. By continuing to over pump groundwater, we potentially change drai
