Shorelines bordering the bays of Texas are generally not as dynamic as those along the Gulf of Mexico. Nevertheless, the predominantly erosional movement of these bay shorelines translates to large losses of wetlands, arable uplands, and recreational and residential property. The shorelines occur along steep clay bluffs, along salt- and brackish water marshes, along sand and shell beaches, at the base of moderate slopes composed mainly of sand, and in newly formed areas filled by dredged material.

In a five-county area of South Texas, geopressured-geothermal reservoirs in the Paleocene-Eocene Wilcox Group lie below medium- to heavy-oil reservoirs in the Eocene Jackson Group. This fortuitous association suggests the use of geothermal fluids for thermally enhanced oil recovery (TEOR). Geothermal fairways are formed, where thick deltaic sandstones are compartmentalized by growth faults. Wilcox geothermal reservoirs in South Texas are present at depths of 11,000 to 15,000 ft (3,350 to 4,570 m) in laterally continuous sandstones 100 to 200 ft (30 to 60 m) thick.