Part 1: Water Water is stored in “reservoirs” –Oceans –Lakes –Rivers –Atmosphere –biosphere.
n b a Hydrologic Conditions in Georgia, 2010 · Lakes and Reservoirs Major lakes and reservoirs...
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6 5 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2012–3101 July 2012 Streamflow station 02336910 Sweetwater Creek at Austell, Georgia (photograph by Andrew E. Knaak, April 8, 2010). Walter F George Lake Hartwell Lake J Strom Thurmond Lake Lake Sidney Lanier West Point Lake Lake Seminole (Jim Woodruff) Allatoona Lake Lake Sinclair Richard B Russell Lake A t l a n ti c O c e a n Weiss Lake Savannah Atlanta GEORGIA SC AL FL EXPLANATION 2010 EPD discrete QW station Georgia water planning regions Altamaha Coastal Georgia Coosa–North Georgia Lower Flint–Ochlockonee Metro North Georgia Water Planning District Middle Chattahoochee Middle Ocmulgee Savannah–Upper Ogeechee Suwannee–Satilla Upper Flint Upper Oconee Atlanta 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 0 200 400 600 800 1,000 1,200 0 20 40 60 80 100 Oct 12, 2009 Midnight 4 am 4 pm 8 pm 8 am Noon Midnight 4 am 4 pm 8 pm 8 am Noon 19.0 19.5 18.5 17.0 18.0 17.5 Oct 13, 2009 Midnight 02208150, Alcovy River at New Hope Road, near Grayson, Georgia Discharge, in cubic feet per second Turbidity, from Neph, Formazin Nephelometric Units Water temperature, in degrees Celsius Specific conductance, in micrograms per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius Much above normal, > 90 Highest Much below normal < 10 Lowest Above normal, 76 to 90 Normal, 25 to 75 Below normal, 10 to 24 EXPLANATION Percentile classes 02208150 A l c o v y R Grayson Gwinnett County GEORGIA EXPLANATION Water quality network 2010 water year WT WT, SC WT, SC, DO, pH WT, SC, DO, pH, NTU WT, SC, NTU WT, SC, Salinity WT, water temperature; SC, specific conductance; DO, Dissolved oxygen; pH; NTU, nephelometric turbidity units; Salinity Mcintosh Chatham Effingham Floyd GEORGIA Rabun Coweta Clay Fulton Douglas Gwinnett Dekalb Rockdale B. 01/01/10 – 03/30/10 D. 07/01/10– 09/30/10 C. 04/01/10 – 06/30/10 A. 10/01/09– 12/31/09 Georgia These maps represent 2010 WY hydrologic conditions compared to available historical data. The colors represent runoff (flow per unit area) as a percentile range of long-term averages. Runoff was calculated for each basin and assumed to be uniform over the entire basin area. Only streamflow stations with a complete daily-flow dataset for the 2010 WY were used (U.S. Geological Survey, 2010b). Historic flooding near the end of the 2009 WY coupled with high rainfall throughout the first quarter of the 2010 WY resulted in some of the highest runoff percentiles observed on record (map A). The second and third quarters of the 2010 WY transitioned from above normal 1 Water year is the period October 1 through September 30 and is designated by the year in which it ends. For example, the 2010 water year began on October 1, 2009, and ended on September 30, 2010. Lakes and Reservoirs Major lakes and reservoirs throughout Georgia are managed primarily by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Georgia Power Company to provide water for public and industrial use, flood protection, power generation, wildlife management, and recreation. Managing lakes and reservoirs requires computer models that rely on USGS data to predict changes in climate and water demands. During the first half of the 2010 WY, water levels in Hartwell Lake and Lake Sidney Lanier rose above the top of conser- vation-pool levels following two separate historical flooding events in the 2009 WY. Lake Sidney Lanier on the Chat- tahoochee River is the primary drinking- water source for the Atlanta metropolitan area. Lake Lanier is the most upstream reservoir in a series of reservoirs that include West Point Lake, Walter F. George Lake, and Lake Seminole. Lake Lanier had slightly more inflow than outflow during the 2010 WY, and the lake elevation remained, fluctuating above and below the top of conservation-pool level (1,071 feet,). The elevation of West Point Lake was regulated to maintain water level near the top of conservation pools. The volume of Lake Lanier is nearly 14 times greater than the volume of West Point Lake, West Point Lake remains near full-pool elevation even in times of drought. West Point Dam provides flood protection and hydro- electric power to Troup County, and its construction was authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1962 (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 2009c). Hartwell Lake is on the border between Georgia and South Carolina on the Savannah and Tugaloo Rivers. Hartwell Lake is the most upstream major reservoir on the Savannah River. Water is released to the downstream reservoirs, Richard B. Russell and J. Strom Thurmond. These three lakes on the Savannah River are managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for water supply, power generation, and water-quality needs of the Savannah River from below Thurmond Dam all the way to Savannah, Georgia, and the Atlantic Ocean (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 2009a). Hartwell Lake reached an all-time historical low elevation during the 2009 WY, but lake elevations increased rapidly in response to the historical September 2009 flooding event, and water levels were above the top of conservation-pool levels 9 out of 12 months during the 2010 WY. By Andrew E. Knaak, Paul D. Ankcorn, and Michael F. Peck For more information contact: Director, USGS Georgia Water Science Center 3039 Amwiler Road, Suite 130 Atlanta, Georgia 30360 770–903–9100 http://ga.water.usgs.gov/ Allatoona Lake is on the Etowah River and is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. During the 2010 WY, Allatoona Lake remained above the top of the conservation-pool level from October 2009 to July 2010. In August and September 2010, water levels dropped below the top of the conservation-pool level as a result of more than twice the amount of outflow than inflow. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) Georgia Water Science Center (GaWSC) maintains a long-term hydrologic monitoring network of more than 320 real-time streamgages, including 10 real-time lake-level monitoring stations and 63 real-time water-quality monitors. Additionally, the GaWSC operates more than 180 groundwater wells, 41 of which are real-time. One of the many benefits from this monitoring network is that the data analysis provides an overview of the hydrologic conditions of rivers, creeks, reservoirs, and aquifers in Georgia. Streamflow data are verified throughout the year by USGS hydrog- raphers, and this information is available to water-resource managers, recreationalists, and Federal, State, and local agencies. Hydrologic conditions are determined by comparing the results of statistical analyses of the data collected during the current water year 1 (WY) to historical data collected over the long term. Changing hydrologic conditions emphasizes the need for accurate, timely data to help State and local officials make informed decisions regarding the management and conservation of Georgia’s water resources for agricultural, recreational, and water-supply needs and for use in protecting life and property. Streamflow and Groundwater Data Daily, monthly, and yearly stream- flow and groundwater statistics from the 2010 USGS annual data report (ADR; U.S. Geological Survey, 2011a) were used to develop this summary. Data for WYs 1999–2010 can be accessed online at http://ga.water.usgs.gov/publications/ pubswdr.html. At this website, a digital map allows the user to search for current and historical data and graphics collected as part of the USGS monitoring network. Quarterly Hydrologic Conditions in Georgia for 2010 WY, Based on Drainage Basin Runoff Hydrologic Conditions in Georgia, 2010 Torak, L.J., Painter, J.A., and Peck, M.F., 2010, Geohydrology of the Aucilla–Suwannee– Ochlockonee River Basin, south-central Georgia and adjacent parts of Florida: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2010–5072, 78 p. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 2009a, Hartwell Dam & Lake: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, accessed May 1, 2010, at http://www.sas.usace.army.mil/lakes/hartwell/ intro.htm#funfacts. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 2009b, Lake elevations, inflows and outflows, accessed May 1, 2010, at http://www.sas.usace.army.mil/. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 2009c, West Point Lake: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District, accessed May 1, 2010, at http://westpt.sam.usace.army.mil/. U.S. Geological Survey, 1975, Hydrologic unit map 1974, State of Georgia: U.S. Geological Survey, scale 1:500,000, 1 sheet. U.S. Geological Survey, 2007, U.S. Geological Survey Ground-Water Climate Response Network: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2007–3003, 4 p., accessed July 1, 2009, at http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2007/3003/. U.S. Geological Survey, 2010a, Historic Flooding in Northern Georgia, September 16–22, 2009: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2010–3061, References Cressler, C.W., Thurmond, C.J., and Hester, W.G., 1983, Ground water in the greater Atlanta region, Georgia: Georgia Geological Survey Information Circular 63, 144 p. Georgia Automated Environmental Monitoring Network, 2010, Record high air temperatures, accessed on November 1, 2010 at http://www. georgiaweather.net/. Grams, S.C., 2011, Benefits of long-term water- quality monitoring in Georgia [abs.]: University of Georgia, Athens, Proceedings of the 2011 Georgia Water Resources Conference, April 11–13, 2011, 1 p. Proceedings of the Georgia Water Resources Conference, 6.1 Watershed Data, April 2011. Hirsch, R.M., Hamilton, P.A., and Miller, T.L., 2006, U.S. Geological Survey perspective on water- quality monitoring and assessment: Journal of Environmental Monitoring, v. 8, p. 512–518. Peck, M.F., Leeth, D.C., and Painter, J.A., 2011, Ground-water conditions and studies in Georgia, 2008–2009: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2011–5048, 83 p.; at http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2011/5048/. National Climatic Data Center, 2009, National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, accessed November 1, 2010, at http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/. 2 p., accessed August 10, 2010, at http://pubs. usgs.gov/fs/2010/3061/. U.S. Geological Survey, 2010b, U.S. Geological Survey Groundwater Watch, Climate Response Network, accessed August 1, 2011, at http://groundwaterwatch.usgs.gov/. U.S. Geological Survey, 2010c, Water Quality Watch—Continuous real-time water quality in the United States, accessed August 1, 2011, at http://waterwatch.usgs.gov/wqwatch/. U.S. Geological Survey, 2011a, U.S. Geological Survey annual data report for Georgia, water year 2010, accessed August 1, 2011, at http:// ga.water.usgs.gov/publications/pubswdr.html. U.S. Geological Survey, 2011b, WaterWatch— Current water resources conditions, accessed May 1, 2011, at http://waterwatch.usgs.gov/. to normal (maps B, C ) . Extreme summer temperatures combined with little precipitation resulted in decreased runoff, and by the fourth quarter, runoff throughout most of the State was below normal (map D ) . The northwestern corner of the State had some of the lowest runoff conditions on record. Water-quantity and water-quality infor- mation are equally important for insuring adequate water availability for human con- sumption, industrial uses, and aquatic eco- systems. Streamflow conditions are a primary driver of nonpoint-source-related water quality and the most important component affecting water quality in streams (Hirsch and others, 2006). Real-time streamflow and USGS Water-Quality Network in Georgia The USGS in cooperation with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division (GaEPD) collected discrete water-quality samples at 49 long-term monitoring stations and 3 continuous water-quality monitoring stations. Data have been collected to determine trends at some of the 49 long-term monitoring stations since 1968. Data from the network assist the GaEPD in meeting responsibilities under the Clean Water Act, including (1) identifying the beneficial uses of surface waters within the State, (2) establishing water-quality standards to maintain the full beneficial uses of those waters, and (3) identifying water bodies where stream standards are not met and beneficial uses are impaired (Grams, 2011). Water-quality data for Georgia streams are available on a publicly accessible website at: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ga/nwis/qw/. O N J (Data from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 2009a) F M A M J J A S D 2009 2010 Inflow and outflow, in cubic feet per second Water level elevation, in feet above National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 655 657 659 661 663 0 100,000 200,000 300,000 400,000 0 20,000 60,000 100,000 140,000 180,000 1,068 1,069 1,070 1,071 1,072 1,073 1,074 Alatoona Lake Hartwell Lake Lake Sidney Lanier West Point Lake 628 629 630 631 632 633 634 635 636 637 0 100,000 200,000 300,000 400,000 500,000 Inflow Outflow Water level 840 Top of conservation pool 0 50,000 100,000 150,000 200,000 250,000 820 825 830 835 845 850 855 water-quality monitors can be used to improve estimated real-time concentrations and loads of many constituents including sediment, nutrients, and trace elements. Current water-quality conditions at real-time water-quality monitors maintained in the GaWSC network (see map on left) can be accessed online at http://waterwatch.usgs.gov/wqwatch/ (U.S. Geological Survey, 2010c). Current real-time data, which are useful for understanding aquatic ecosystem health, include water temperature, dissolved oxygen, and pH. Specific conductance and turbidity help aid in identifying timing of pollutants. Several real-time water-quality monitors are located in urban watersheds near the Atlanta metropolitan area, including Gwinnett County (17), Fulton County (10), Dekalb County (4), and Douglas County (1). The hydrographs (see graph on right) show the relation between water quantity (discharge) and water quality over the dura- tion of a storm at USGS streamgage 02208150 on the Alcovy River near Grayson, Georgia. During the storm on October 9, 2009, turbidity initially increased prior to the peak of stormwater runoff from sediment washing from impervious surfaces and then decreased with increasing discharge. Specific conductance and water temperature decreased with increasing discharge because of the lower amount of dissolved constituents in rainfall and lower temperatures. As streamflow returned to baseflow following the storm, conductance and temperature returned to pre-storm conditions. Storm runoff response such as this is site specific.
Transcript of n b a Hydrologic Conditions in Georgia, 2010 · Lakes and Reservoirs Major lakes and reservoirs...
65U.S. Department of the InteriorU.S. Geological Survey
Fact Sheet 2012–3101July 2012
Streamflow station 02336910 Sweetwater Creek at Austell, Georgia (photograph by Andrew E. Knaak, April 8, 2010).
Walter FGeorge
Lake
Hartwell Lake
J Strom Thurmond Lake
LakeSidneyLanier
WestPointLake
Lake Seminole(Jim Woodruff)
AllatoonaLake
LakeSinclair
Richard B Russell Lake
Atla
ntic
Oce
an
WeissLake
Savannah
Atlanta
GEORGIA
SC
AL
FL
EXPLANATION
2010 EPD discrete QW station
Georgia water planning regions
Altamaha
Coastal Georgia
Coosa–North Georgia
Lower Flint–OchlockoneeMetro North Georgia Water Planning DistrictMiddle Chattahoochee
Middle Ocmulgee
Savannah–Upper Ogeechee
Suwannee–Satilla
Upper Flint
Upper Oconee
Atlanta
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
0
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
0
20
40
60
80
100
Oct 12, 2009
Mid
nigh
t4
am
4 pm
8 pm
8 am
Noo
n
Mid
nigh
t
4 am
4 pm
8 pm
8 am
Noo
n
19.0
19.5
18.5
17.0
18.0
17.5
Oct 13, 2009Midnight
02208150, Alcovy River at New Hope Road, near Grayson, Georgia
Disc
harg
e, in
cub
ic
feet
per
sec
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Turb
idity
, fro
m N
eph,
For
maz
inN
ephe
lom
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Uni
tsW
ater
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pera
ture
, in
deg
rees
Cel
sius
Spec
ific
cond
ucta
nce,
in
mic
rogr
ams
per c
entim
eter
at
25
degr
ees
Cels
ius
Much above normal, > 90Highest
Much below normal < 10Lowest
Above normal, 76 to 90Normal, 25 to 75Below normal, 10 to 24
EXPLANATIONPercentile classes
02208150
Alcovy R
Grayson
GwinnettCounty
GEORGIA
EXPLANATIONWater quality network 2010 water year
WTWT, SCWT, SC, DO, pH
WT, SC, DO, pH, NTUWT, SC, NTUWT, SC, Salinity
WT, water temperature; SC, specific conductance; DO, Dissolved oxygen; pH; NTU, nephelometric turbidity units; Salinity
Mcintosh
Chatham
Effingham
Floyd
GEORGIA
Rabun
Coweta
Clay
FultonDouglas
GwinnettDekalb
Rockdale
B. 01/01/10– 03/30/10
D. 07/01/10– 09/30/10
C. 04/01/10– 06/30/10
A. 10/01/09– 12/31/09
Georgia
These maps represent 2010 WY hydrologic conditions compared to available historical data. The colors represent runoff (flow per unit area) as a percentile range of long-term averages. Runoff was calculated for each basin and assumed to be uniform over the entire basin area. Only streamflow stations with a complete daily-flow dataset for the 2010 WY were used (U.S. Geological Survey, 2010b). Historic flooding near the end of the 2009 WY coupled with high rainfall throughout the first quarter of the 2010 WY resulted in some of the highest runoff percentiles observed on record (map A). The second and third quarters of the 2010 WY transitioned from above normal
1Water year is the period October 1 through September 30 and is designated by the year in which it ends. For example, the 2010 water year began on October 1, 2009, and ended on September 30, 2010.
Lakes and ReservoirsMajor lakes and reservoirs throughout
Georgia are managed primarily by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Georgia Power Company to provide water for public and industrial use, flood protection, power generation, wildlife management, and recreation. Managing lakes and reservoirs requires computer models that rely on USGS data to predict changes in climate and water demands. During the first half of the 2010 WY, water levels in Hartwell Lake and Lake Sidney Lanier rose above the top of conser-vation-pool levels following two separate historical flooding events in the 2009 WY.
Lake Sidney Lanier on the Chat-tahoochee River is the primary drinking-water source for the Atlanta metropolitan area. Lake Lanier is the most upstream reservoir in a series of reservoirs that include West Point Lake, Walter F. George Lake, and Lake Seminole. Lake Lanier had slightly more inflow than outflow during the 2010 WY, and the lake elevation remained, fluctuating above and below the top of conservation-pool level (1,071 feet,). The elevation of West Point Lake was regulated to maintain water level near the top of conservation pools. The volume of Lake Lanier is nearly 14 times greater than the volume of West Point Lake, West Point Lake remains near full-pool elevation even in times of drought. West Point Dam provides flood protection and hydro-electric power to Troup County, and its construction was authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1962 (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 2009c).
Hartwell Lake is on the border between Georgia and South Carolina on the Savannah and Tugaloo Rivers. Hartwell Lake is the most upstream major reservoir on the Savannah River. Water is released to the downstream reservoirs, Richard B. Russell and J. Strom Thurmond. These three lakes on the Savannah River are managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for water supply, power generation, and water-quality needs of the Savannah River from below Thurmond Dam all the way to Savannah, Georgia, and the Atlantic Ocean (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 2009a). Hartwell Lake reached an all-time historical low elevation during the 2009 WY, but lake elevations increased rapidly in response to the historical September 2009 flooding event, and water levels were above the top of conservation-pool levels 9 out of 12 months during the 2010 WY.
By Andrew E. Knaak, Paul D. Ankcorn, and Michael F. Peck
For more information contact:Director, USGS Georgia Water Science Center3039 Amwiler Road, Suite 130Atlanta, Georgia 30360770–903–9100http://ga.water.usgs.gov/
Allatoona Lake is on the Etowah River and is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. During the 2010 WY, Allatoona Lake remained above the top of the conservation-pool level from October 2009 to July 2010. In August and September 2010, water levels dropped below the top of the conservation-pool level as a result of more than twice the amount of outflow than inflow.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) Georgia Water Science Center (GaWSC) maintains a long-term hydrologic monitoring network of more than 320 real-time streamgages, including 10 real-time lake-level monitoring stations and 63 real-time water-quality monitors. Additionally, the GaWSC operates more than 180 groundwater wells, 41 of which are real-time. One of the many benefits from this monitoring network is that the data analysis provides an overview of the hydrologic conditions of rivers, creeks, reservoirs, and aquifers in Georgia.
Streamflow data are verified throughout the year by USGS hydrog-raphers, and this information is available to water-resource managers, recreationalists, and Federal, State, and local agencies. Hydrologic conditions are determined by comparing the results of statistical analyses of the data collected during the current water year1 (WY) to historical data collected over the long term. Changing hydrologic conditions emphasizes the need for accurate, timely data to help State and local officials make informed decisions regarding the management and conservation of Georgia’s water resources for agricultural, recreational, and water-supply needs and for use in protecting life and property.
Streamflow and Groundwater DataDaily, monthly, and yearly stream-
flow and groundwater statistics from the 2010 USGS annual data report (ADR; U.S. Geological Survey, 2011a) were used to develop this summary. Data for WYs 1999–2010 can be accessed online at http://ga.water.usgs.gov/publications/pubswdr.html. At this website, a digital map allows the user to search for current and historical data and graphics collected as part of the USGS monitoring network.
Quarterly Hydrologic Conditions in Georgia for 2010 WY, Based on Drainage Basin Runoff
Hydrologic Conditions in Georgia, 2010
Torak, L.J., Painter, J.A., and Peck, M.F., 2010, Geohydrology of the Aucilla–Suwannee–Ochlockonee River Basin, south-central Georgia and adjacent parts of Florida: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2010–5072, 78 p.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 2009a, Hartwell Dam & Lake: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, accessed May 1, 2010, at http://www.sas.usace.army.mil/lakes/hartwell/intro.htm#funfacts.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 2009b, Lake elevations, inflows and outflows, accessed May 1, 2010, at http://www.sas.usace.army.mil/.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 2009c, West Point Lake: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District, accessed May 1, 2010, at http://westpt.sam.usace.army.mil/.
U.S. Geological Survey, 1975, Hydrologic unit map 1974, State of Georgia: U.S. Geological Survey, scale 1:500,000, 1 sheet.
U.S. Geological Survey, 2007, U.S. Geological Survey Ground-Water Climate Response Network: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2007–3003, 4 p., accessed July 1, 2009, at http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2007/3003/.
U.S. Geological Survey, 2010a, Historic Flooding in Northern Georgia, September 16–22, 2009: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2010–3061,
ReferencesCressler, C.W., Thurmond, C.J., and Hester, W.G.,
1983, Ground water in the greater Atlanta region, Georgia: Georgia Geological Survey Information Circular 63, 144 p.
Georgia Automated Environmental Monitoring Network, 2010, Record high air temperatures, accessed on November 1, 2010 at http://www.georgiaweather.net/.
Grams, S.C., 2011, Benefits of long-term water-quality monitoring in Georgia [abs.]: University of Georgia, Athens, Proceedings of the 2011 Georgia Water Resources Conference, April 11–13, 2011, 1 p. Proceedings of the Georgia Water Resources Conference, 6.1 Watershed Data, April 2011.
Hirsch, R.M., Hamilton, P.A., and Miller, T.L., 2006, U.S. Geological Survey perspective on water-quality monitoring and assessment: Journal of Environmental Monitoring, v. 8, p. 512–518.
Peck, M.F., Leeth, D.C., and Painter, J.A., 2011, Ground-water conditions and studies in Georgia, 2008–2009: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2011–5048, 83 p.; at http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2011/5048/.
National Climatic Data Center, 2009, National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, accessed November 1, 2010, at http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/.
2 p., accessed August 10, 2010, at http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2010/3061/.
U.S. Geological Survey, 2010b, U.S. Geological Survey Groundwater Watch, Climate Response Network, accessed August 1, 2011, at http://groundwaterwatch.usgs.gov/.
U.S. Geological Survey, 2010c, Water Quality Watch—Continuous real-time water quality in the United States, accessed August 1, 2011, at http://waterwatch.usgs.gov/wqwatch/.
U.S. Geological Survey, 2011a, U.S. Geological Survey annual data report for Georgia, water year 2010, accessed August 1, 2011, at http://ga.water.usgs.gov/publications/pubswdr.html.
U.S. Geological Survey, 2011b, WaterWatch—Current water resources conditions, accessed May 1, 2011, at http://waterwatch.usgs.gov/.
to normal (maps B, C ) . Extreme summer temperatures combined with little precipitation resulted in decreased runoff, and by the fourth quarter, runoff throughout most of the State was below normal (map D ) . The northwestern corner of the State had some of the lowest runoff conditions on record.
Water-quantity and water-quality infor-mation are equally important for insuring adequate water availability for human con-sumption, industrial uses, and aquatic eco-systems. Streamflow conditions are a primary driver of nonpoint-source-related water quality and the most important component affecting water quality in streams (Hirsch and others, 2006). Real-time streamflow and
USGS Water-Quality Network in Georgia
The USGS in cooperation with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division (GaEPD) collected discrete water-quality samples at 49 long-term monitoring stations and 3 continuous water-quality monitoring stations. Data have been collected to determine trends at some of the 49 long-term monitoring stations since 1968. Data from the network assist the GaEPD in meeting responsibilities under the Clean Water Act, including (1) identifying the beneficial uses of surface waters within the State, (2) establishing water-quality standards to maintain the full beneficial uses of those waters, and (3) identifying water bodies where stream standards are not met and beneficial uses are impaired (Grams, 2011). Water-quality data for Georgia streams are available on a publicly accessible website at: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ga/nwis/qw/.
O N J
(Data from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 2009a)
F M A M JJ A SD2009 2010
Infl
ow a
nd o
utfl
ow, i
n cu
bic
feet
per
sec
ond
Wat
er le
vel e
leva
tion
, in
feet
abo
ve N
atio
nal G
eode
tic
Vert
ical
Dat
um o
f 19
29
655
657
659
661
663
0
100,000
200,000
300,000
400,000
0 20,000
60,000
100,000
140,000
180,000
1,068
1,069
1,070
1,071
1,072
1,073
1,074
Alatoona Lake
Hartwell Lake
Lake Sidney Lanier
West Point Lake
628 629 630 631 632 633 634 635 636 637
0
100,000
200,000
300,000
400,000
500,000
InflowOutflow
Waterlevel
840
Top of conservation
pool
0
50,000
100,000
150,000
200,000
250,000
820
825
830
835
845
850
855
water-quality monitors can be used to improve estimated real-time concentrations and loads of many constituents including sediment, nutrients, and trace elements.
Current water-quality conditions at real-time water-quality monitors maintained in the GaWSC network (see map on left) can be accessed online at http://waterwatch.usgs.gov/wqwatch/ (U.S. Geological Survey, 2010c). Current real-time data, which are useful for understanding aquatic ecosystem health, include water temperature, dissolved oxygen, and pH. Specific conductance and turbidity help aid in identifying timing of pollutants. Several real-time water-quality monitors are located in urban watersheds near the Atlanta metropolitan area, including Gwinnett County (17), Fulton County (10), Dekalb County (4), and Douglas County (1).
The hydrographs (see graph on right) show the relation between water quantity (discharge) and water quality over the dura-tion of a storm at USGS streamgage 02208150 on the Alcovy River near Grayson, Georgia. During the storm on October 9, 2009, turbidity initially increased prior to the peak of stormwater runoff from sediment washing from impervious surfaces and then decreased with increasing discharge. Specific conductance and water temperature decreased with increasing discharge because of the lower amount of dissolved constituents
in rainfall and lower temperatures. As streamflow returned to baseflow following the storm, conductance and temperature returned to pre-storm conditions. Storm runoff response such as this is site specific.
2 43
2010 water year
Much above normal, ≥ 90
Much below normal ≤ 10
Above normal, 76 to 89Normal, 25 to 75Below normal, 11 to 24
Historical (percentile)EXPLANATION
Historical daily flow
2010 daily mean
EXPLANATION
MinimumMedianMaximum Pr
ecip
itatio
n,in
inch
es
O N J F M A M JJ A SD20102009
Daily
mea
n w
ater
leve
lbe
low
land
sur
face
, in
feet
Daily
mea
n di
scha
rge,
in c
ubic
feet
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sec
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35P094
0
2
4
6
8
10 0
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
0 2 4 6 8
10
2202600
2202600
Well 35P094, Chatham County
8
14
12
10
18
16
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n ab
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sur
face
, in
feet 0
2
4
6
8
10
12
Daily
mea
n w
ater
leve
lbe
low
land
sur
face
, in
feet
Daily
mea
n di
scha
rge,
in c
ubic
feet
per
sec
ond
Prec
ipita
tion,
in in
ches
0 O N J F M A M JJ A SD
20102009
0
10
20
30
40
21T001
0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
2223500
2 4 6 8
10 12 14
2224500
Well 21T001, Laurens County
25
40
35
45
30
20
220
215
230
225
235
Elev
atio
n ab
ove
Nat
iona
lGe
odet
ic V
ertic
al D
atum
of 1
929,
in fe
et
Daily
mea
n w
ater
leve
lbe
low
land
sur
face
, in
feet
16MM03
Daily
mea
n w
ater
leve
lbe
low
land
sur
face
, in
feet
Elev
atio
n ab
ove
Nat
iona
lGe
odet
ic V
ertic
al D
atum
of 1
929,
in fe
et
Daily
mea
n w
ater
leve
lbe
low
land
sur
face
, in
feet
Daily
mea
n di
scha
rge,
in c
ubic
feet
per
sec
ond
Prec
ipita
tion,
in in
ches
O N J F M A M JJ A SD20102009
0 2 4 6 8
10
2333500
02330450
0
1
2
3
4
5
6 0
200
400
600
800
Well 16MM03, White County 1,550
1,548
1,542
1,544
1,546
0
2
4
6
8
1
10
100
1,000
10,000
100,000
J F M A M J J A SO
1
10
100
1,000
10,000
100,000
N D2009 2010
Daily
dis
char
ge,
in c
ubic
feet
per
sec
ond
7-da
y av
erag
e di
scha
rge,
in
cub
ic fe
et p
er s
econ
d
02337000 Sweetwater Creek near Austell, Georgia
02398000 Chattooga River at Summerville, Georgia7-
day
aver
age
disc
harg
e,
in c
ubic
feet
per
sec
ond
10
1
100
1,000
10,000
100,000
Daily
dis
char
ge,
in c
ubic
feet
per
sec
ond
10
1
100
1,000
10,000
100,000
J F M A M J J A SO N D2009 2010
7-da
y av
erag
e di
scha
rge,
in
cub
ic fe
et p
er s
econ
dDa
ily d
isch
arge
,in
cub
ic fe
et p
er s
econ
d
100
1,000
10,000
100,000
02213000 Ocmulgee River at Macon, Georgia
J F M A M J J A SO N D2009 2010
10,000
1,000
100
100,000
Daily
dis
char
ge,
in c
ubic
feet
per
sec
ond
10
1
100
1,000
10,000
100,000
J F M A M J J A SO N D2009 2010
10
1
100
1,000
10,000
100,000
02318500 Withlacoochee River at US 84, near Quitman, Georgia
7-da
y av
erag
e di
scha
rge,
in
cub
ic fe
et p
er s
econ
d
C O A S T A L P L A I N
PIEDMONT
BLUERIDGE
VALLEYAND
RIDGE
Satilla–Suwannee–St Marys–Ochlockonee
Oconee–
Ocm
ulgee–Altam
ahaSavannah–Ogeechee
Chatta
hooc
hee–
Flin
t
Coosa–
Tallapoosa–
Tennessee
Base modified from U.S. Geological Survey1:2,000,000-scale digital data
N
0 30 60 MILES
0 30 60 KILOMETERS
Streamgage and number
EXPLANATION
Atlanta
GEORGIA
ALABAMA
SOUTH
CAROLINA
FLORIDA
02213000
Cha
ttaho
oche
e
Altamaha River
Ogeechee River
Atla
ntic
Oce
an
Savannah River
Flin
t Rive
r
Oconee
River
Rive
r
River
Ocmulge e
With
lacooche
e
Chat
toog
a R
Sweetwater
JacksonLake
WeissLake
River
Creek
02213000
02318500
02337000
02398000
2009 2010
2009 2010
Range of historical daily minimum and maximum
Daily mean water levelDaily mean
Historical median
2010 groundwater level
EXPLANATION
Stream discharge
Groundwater level
EXPLANATION
2009 2010 2009 2010
10,000
0
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
02356000
02356000
0
5
10
15
20
25
07H002
0
2
4
6
8
Well 07H002, Miller County
160
150
140
130 Elev
atio
n ab
ove
Nat
iona
lGe
odet
ic V
ertic
al D
atum
of 1
929,
in fe
et
Daily
mea
n w
ater
leve
lbe
low
land
sur
face
, in
feet
0
10
20
30
40
Prec
ipita
tion,
in in
ches
O N J F M A M JJ A SD20102009
Daily
mea
n w
ater
leve
lbe
low
land
sur
face
, in
feet
Daily
mea
n di
scha
rge,
in
cub
ic fe
et p
er s
econ
d
Streamgage and number
Monitoring well and identifier
EXPLANATION
02333500
16MM02
16MM03
21T001
35P094
07H002
02330450
02356000
02202600
02223500
02224500
02333500
Cha
ttaho
oche
e
Ocmulgee River
Ogeechee River
Oconee River
Savannah River
Black CrRiver
Altamaha
Rive
r
Atla
ntic
Oce
anFlin
t Rive
r
Base modified fromU.S. Geological Survey
1:2,000,000-scale digital data
N
0 30 60 MILES
0 30 60 KILOMETERS
Atlanta
ALABAMA
GEORGIA
SOUTH
CAROLINA
FLORIDA
Helen
DublinBlichton
Bainbridge
Ocmulgee River at Macon 02213000
The Ocmulgee River flows out of Jackson Lake and joins the Oconee River to form the Altamaha River (U.S. Geological Survey, 1975). In 2010, new record daily maximum streamflows were observed for the months of October, November, and December. The 7-day average streamflows were “normal” to “much above normal” throughout much of the year with the exception of a short period in April when 7-day average streamflow was “below normal.”
Sweetwater Creek near Austell 02337000
Sweetwater Creek is a major tributary of the Chattahoochee River (U.S. Geological Survey, 1975). The 7-day average streamflow in October and November was “much above normal,” and historic maximum daily values were recorded as a result of persistent precipitation that followed the September 2009 flooding event (U.S. Geological Survey, 2010a). The 7-day average streamflow remained “normal” for most of the year before it gradually declined. By August and September, streamflow declined to “much below normal” due to extreme summer temperatures and little precipitation.
Withlacoochee River at U.S. 84 near Quitman 02318500
The Withlacoochee River flows in the Ochlockonee River basin in the southern coastal plain of Georgia (U.S. Geological Survey, 1975). Historic flooding events in the 2009 WY brought much needed drought relief to southern Georgia, and this had a positive effect on discharge in Withlacoochee River that persisted into the 2010 WY. For most of the 2010 WY, 7-day average streamflow conditions were “normal.” Daily discharges during October through December were in the maximum historical daily discharge range.
Chattooga River at Summerville 02398000
The Chattooga River flows in the northwestern corner of Georgia and into Alabama where it flows into Weiss Lake (U.S. Geological Survey, 1975). The 7-day average streamflow was “much above normal,” in October and November and historical maximum daily values were recorded in response to persistent precipitation throughout Fall of 2009. The 7-day average streamflow was “normal” beginning in January 2010 before gradually declining to “below normal” towards the end of the water year.
Daily Discharge
Hydrographs show the 7-day average for 2010 as compared to historical 7-day averages. Data are categorized in percentile ranges from “much above normal” (greater than the 90th percentile) to “much below normal” (less than the 10th percentile; U.S. Geological Survey, 2011b).
7-Day Average Discharge
Hydrographs show 2010 daily-mean streamflow, in cubic feet per second, as compared to historical minimum and median streamflow for the entire period of record (U.S. Geological Survey, 2011a).
Daily Discharge and 7-Day Average Streamflow Conditions, 2010 Water Year
Well 07H002 is in Miller County in southwestern Georgia and is completed in the Upper Floridan aquifer, which is a semiconfined aquifer in this area (Torak and others, 2010). The water level in this well generally rises rapidly during wet periods and declines slowly during dry periods. The water level in well 07H002 responds to seasonal change similarly to streamflow at the nearby streamgage on the Flint River at Bainbridge (02356000), which indicates atmospheric, surface-water, and groundwater interactions. In the 2010 WY, water levels in well 07H002 were above the historical median for much of the year except during April and August through September when water levels fell below historical daily medians in response to increased air temperature and low monthly precipitation.
Well 16MM03 is in White County in northeastern Georgia and is completed in the crystalline-rock aquifer. Water is stored in the regolith and fractures, and the water level is affected by precipitation and evapotranspiration (Cressler and others, 1983). Precipitation can cause a rapid water-level rise in wells tapping aquifers overlain by thin regolith (Peck and others, 2011). The water level in well 16MM03 responds to seasonal change similarly to streamflow at the nearby streamgage on the Chattahoochee River at Helen (02330450), which indicates atmospheric, surface-water, and groundwater interactions. The water level in well 16MM03 remained above the historical daily median for the first several months of the 2010 WY. The highest water level below land surface for the 2010 WY occurred in December 2009 when the area received nearly 10 inches of precipitation during the month.
Well 35P094 is in Chatham County in southeastern Georgia and is completed in the surficial aquifer. Water levels in this well generally rise rapidly during wet periods and decline slowly during dry periods. The water level in well 35P094 responds to seasonal change similarly to streamflow at the nearby streamgage on Black Creek near Blitchton (02202600), which indicates atmospheric, surface-water, and groundwater interactions. The water level in well 35P094 remained above the historical daily median during October through early June then fell below the historical median for the remainder of the 2010 WY. The highest water level below land surface for the year occurred in February 2010.
Well 21T001 is in Laurens County in east-central Georgia and is completed in a semiconfined part of the Upper Floridan aquifer. Water levels in semiconfined parts of the aquifer fluctuate seasonally in response to variations in precipitation, evapotranspiration, and natural drainage or discharge (Peck and others, 2011). The water level in well 21T001 responds to seasonal change similarly to streamflow at the nearby streamgage on the Oconee River near Dublin (02223500), which indicates atmospheric, surface-water, and groundwater interactions. At the beginning of 2010 WY, water levels in well 21T001 were well above the historical daily median. During June 2010 water levels dropped below the daily median and by the end of the water year were near an all-time historic low in response to low monthly precipitation in the area after March 2010.
Georgia’s Climate Response NetworkThe hydrographs presented are for selected wells
in Georgia with at least five years of continuous data.
Climate Response Network The USGS maintains a network of groundwater
wells to monitor the effects of droughts and other climate variability on groundwater levels. These wells are part of the Climate Response Network, which is designed to measure the effects of climate on groundwater levels in unconfined aquifers or near-surface confined aquifers where pumping or other human influences on ground-water levels are minimal (U.S. Geological Survey, 2007, 2010b). The national network consists of about 130 wells, of which 15 are located in Georgia. Information obtained for the 2010 WY from 4 of these wells is summarized in this section. These wells are monitored as part of the USGS Groundwater Resources and Cooperative Water Programs. Current conditions of groundwater wells in the Climate Response Network can be accessed online at http://groundwaterwatch.usgs.gov/.
Groundwater WatchClimate Response Network
