Brian Hunt
Brian’s interests include geologic mapping and hydrogeology in central and west Texas. Brian makes detailed geologic maps and map databases for the Bureau since he joined the BEG in 2020. In addition, he has greater than 20 years of experience working on groundwater availability, sustainability, and aquifer management issues in central Texas. Those issues require the integration of a variety of methods and data such as geologic/structure mapping, stratigraphy, geochemistry, water levels, dye tracing, geophysics, flow measurements, aquifer testing, and analytical/numerical modeling.
Brian is passionate about geology and hydrogeology and enjoys teaching students, leading field trips, and is a past president of the Austin Geological Society. He has over 100 published articles, maps, reports, and abstracts.
Research Interests
Geologic and structure mapping
Aquifer characterization, groundwater availability, and sustainability
Education
M.Sc. Geological Sciences (May 2000), The University of Texas at Austin, Texas
B.S. Geological Sciences (1996). Special Departmental Honors, The University of Texas at Austin, Texas
Professional History
Geologist/Hydrogeologist (Research Scientist Associate IV), Bureau of Economic Geology, The University of Texas at Austin (October 2020 - present)
Hydrogeologist, Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District (2001-2020)
Geology Instructor (July 2003): State University of New York at Purchase, Summer Study Abroad Program, Burgos, Spain; (Spring 2008) Austin Community College Environmental Geology
Geologist/Environmental Specialist (September 1999 to November 2000), Horizon Environmental Services, Austin, Texas
Petroleum Geologist Intern (Summer 1998), Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, Houston, Texas
Geologist (GS-5) (Summer 1997), United States Geological Survey, Menlo Park, California
Selected Publications
Hunt, B.B., Droxler, A.W., Lehrmann, D.J., and Khanna, P., 2025, Mill Springs Limestone Submember (new) of the Point Peak Member, Wilberns Formation, Moore Hollow Group, Texas, chap. C of Orndorff, R.C., Stamm, N.R., and Soller, S.R., eds., Stratigraphic notes—Volume 2, 2025: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1879–2, 13 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/pp1879v2
Hunt, B., Kennedy, V., Gary, M., and Scanlon, B., 2025, Source Water Study for the Hamilton Pool area, Western Travis County, Texas: The University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology, contract report prepared for Travis County under contract no. UTA21-000073. 29 p. https://dataverse.tdl.org/dataset.xhtml?persistentId=doi:10.18738/T8/3ZQJBU
Hunt, B., and T. McKinney, 2025, Hydrologic Monitoring of Priority Habitats in the Devils River, Val Verde County, Texas: The University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology, final contract report prepared for Texas State Wildlife Grant Program (TX T-212-R-1; F19AF01169), TPWD Contract No. 530618, UT-BEG Contract No. UTA 19-001561; 112 p. https://dataverse.tdl.org/dataset.xhtml?persistentId=doi:10.18738/T8/VAOG8R
Hunt, B. B., and Helper, M. A., 2024, Bedrock geologic map of the Black Gap area and Sierra del Carmen Mountains, Trans-Pecos, Texas: The University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology, Open-File Map No. 294, scale 1:50,000.
Hunt, B. B., Helper, M. A., Morris, J. N., Mutis-Duplat, E., and Gray, M. W., 2024, Geologic map of the Loyal Valley quadrangle, Mason County, Texas: The University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology, Open-File Map No. 289, scale 1:24,000.
Hunt, B. B., 2023, Geologic map of the Panther Creek Quadrangle, Mason County, Texas: The University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology, Open-File Map No. 270, map scale 1:24,000. https://store.beg.utexas.edu/publications/open-file-map/ofm0270
Hunt, B. B., 2023, Geologic map of the Monument Mountain SE Quadrangle, Mason County, Texas: The University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology, Open-File Map No. 271, map scale 1:24,000. https://store.beg.utexas.edu/publications/open-file-map/ofm0271
Hunt, B. B., Andrews, J.R., Paine, J.G., 2023, Geologic map of the Dolan Springs Quadrangle, Val Verde County, Texas: The University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology, Open-File Map No. 272, map scale 1:24,000. https://store.beg.utexas.edu/publications/open-file-map/ofm0272
Hunt, B. B., Johnson, B., and Helper, M., and Droxler, A., 2022, Geologic map of the Turtle Creek Quadrangle, Mason County, Texas: Bureau of Economic Geology, The University of Texas at Austin, Open-File Map No. 260, map scale 1:24,000, 1 sheet. https://store.beg.utexas.edu/publications/open-file-map/ofm0260
Hunt, B. B., Woodruff, C. M., Jr., and Barnes, V. E., 2021, Geologic map of the Pedernales Falls, Johnson City, Howell Mountain, and Round Mountain quadrangles, Blanco County, Texas: Bureau of Economic Geology, The University of Texas at Austin, Open-File Map No. 254, map scale 1:50,000, 2 sheets. https://store.beg.utexas.edu/publications/open-file-map/ofm0255
Hunt, B. B., J. G. Paine, C. M. Woodruff, Jr., and M. A. Helper, 2021, Integrating digital and traditional field methods into geologic mapping: An example from Central Texas: GeoGulf Transactions, v. 71, p. 141-148. http://www.geogulf.org/Dt7se9/Transactions/2021/2021_Transactions.html
Hunt, B. B., and B. A. Smith, 2021, Same aquifer, but different source of water: Contrasting the Middle Trinity Aquifer in Central Texas: GeoGulf Transactions, v. 71, p. 133–139. http://www.geogulf.org/Dt7se9/Transactions/2021/2021_Transactions.html
Hunt, B.B., Cockrell, L.P., Gary, R.H., Vay, J.M., Kennedy, V., Smith, B.A., and Camp, J.P., 2020, Hydrogeologic Atlas of Southwest Travis County, Central Texas. BSEACD Report of Investigations 2020-0331 March 2020, 80 p. + digital datasets. https://repositories.lib.utexas.edu/handle/2152/81562
Dickerson, P. W.; B. R. Hall, and B. B. Hunt (eds), 2019, Geology at the Crossroads--Big Bend Ranch State Park, Presidio and Brewster Counties, Texas. Austin Geological Society Guidebook 39, 122 p., map and 1 color page in back pocket, 2019.
Hunt, B.B., Smith, B.A., and Hauwert, N.M., 2019, Barton Springs segment of the Edwards (Balcones Fault Zone) Aquifer, central Texas, in Sharp, J.M., Jr., Green, R.T., and Schindel, G.M., eds., The Edwards Aquifer: The Past, Present, and Future of a Vital Water Resource: Geological Society of America Memoir 215, p. 75-100, https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/books/book/2156/The-Edwards-Aquifer-The-Past-Present-and-Future-of
Setlur, N., Sharp, J.M. and Hunt, B.B., 2019, Crystalline-rock aquifer system of the Llano Uplift, Central Texas, USA. Hydrogeol J. pp 1–16 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10040-019-02000-4
Smith, B.A., B.B. Hunt, D.A. Wierman, and M.O. Gary, 2018, Groundwater Flow Systems of Multiple Karst Aquifers of Central Texas. In I.D. Sasowsky, M.J. Byle, and L. Land (Eds). Proceedings of the 15th Multidisciplinary Conference on Sinkholes and the Engineering and Environmental Impacts of Karst and the 3rd Appalachian Karst Symposium, National Cave and Karst Research Institute (NCKRI) Symposium 6, p 17-29. https://bseacd.org/uploads/Smith-et-al.-2018-GW-Flow-Systems-in-Multiple-Karst-Aquifers-Sinkhole-Conference.pdf
Hunt, B.B., B.A. Smith, A. Andrews, D.A. Wierman, A.S. Broun, and M.O. Gary, 2015, Relay ramp structures and their influence on groundwater flow in the Edwards and Trinity Aquifers, Hays and Travis Counties, Central Texas, 14thSinkhole Conference, October 5-10, 2015, Rochester, Minnesota. 189-200 p. https://digital.lib.usf.edu/SFS0053749/00001
Wong, Corinne I., Kromann, Jenna S., Hunt, Brian B., Smith, Brian A., and Banner, Jay L., 2014, Investigation of Flow Between Trinity and Edwards Aquifers (Central Texas) Using Physical and Geochemical Monitoring in Multiport Wells. Vol. 52, No. 4–Groundwater–July-August 2014 (pages 624–639).
Awards
2024 William L. Fisher Research Prize for Research Excellence
Rainmaker, UT-BEG, 2024
Best Published Paper, 2016 (3rd place) Grover E. Murray Award, GCAGS Transactions
Best Published Paper, 2012 (2nd place) Grover E. Murray Award, GCAGS Transactions
