Submergence of wetlands as a result of human-induced subsidence and faulting along the upper Texas Gulf coast.

Two major contributing factors to wetland loss in the northern Gulf of Mexico are faulting and subsidence. Thousands of hectares of wetlands have been converted to either open water or shallow subaqueous flats since the 1930's. Large wetland losses have occurred in the Galveston Bay area. The major contributing factor to these losses is human-induced subsidence caused by ground-water withdrawal. Other factors include localized faulting and subsidence due to hydrocarbon production. These factors contribute to relative sea level rise which exceeds wetland vertical accretion. Much needed sediment deposition has been stopped by upstream dams and reservoirs. This deposition would help to offset subsidence.