This report is one in an annual series of reports that depicts water-level altitudes and water-level changes in the Chicot, Evangeline, and Jasper aquifers, and compaction in the Chicot and Evangeline aquifers in the Houston-Galveston region. The Houston-Galveston region comprises Harris, Galveston, Fort Bend, Waller, and Montgomery Counties and adjacent parts of Brazoria, Grimes, Walker, San Jacinto, Liberty, and Chambers Counties. The report was prepared in cooperation with the Harris-Galveston Coastal Subsidence District, the City of Houston, and the Fort Bend Subsidence District. For the Chicot and Evangeline aquifers, maps show approximate water-level altitudes in 2002, water-level changes from 2001 to 2002, approximate water-level changes from 1977 to 2002, lines of zero water-level change for intervals increasing in 5-year increments beginning with 1977–82, and approximate water-level changes from 1990 to 2002 (in the Fort Bend subregion [Fort Bend County and adjacent areas]) (figs. 1–10). For the Jasper aquifer, maps show approximate water-level altitudes in 2002 and water-level changes from 2001 to 2002 and 2000 to 2002 (figs. 11–13). The report also contains a map showing extensometer (well equipped with compaction monitor) site locations (fig. 14) and graphs showing measured compaction of subsurface material at selected sites from 1973 or later to 2001 (fig. 15).

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has published annual reports of water-level altitudes and water-level changes for the Chicot and Evangeline aquifers in the Houston-Galveston region since 1979; and separate annual reports of same for the Fort Bend subregion since 1990. The USGS published its first water-level-altitude map for the Jasper aquifer in the greater Houston area (primarily Montgomery County) in 2001. This year (2002), the altitude and change maps for the three aquifers are in this report.