Using hydrogeomorphic patterns to predict groundwater discharge in a karst basin: Lower Flint River Basin, southwestern Georgia, USA
Study region: The Lower Flint River Basin (LFRB): a karst catchment in southwestern Georgia, USA. Study focus: Using the U.S. EPA Reach File 3 data set, we generated stream reach azimuths for all tributaries of the Lower Flint River Basin (LFRB) in southwestern Georgia, USA, then compared these resu...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2019-06-01
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| Series: | Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581818302829 |
| _version_ | 1811210422030696448 |
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| author | Kathleen Rugel Stephen W. Golladay C. Rhett Jackson Robin J. McDowell John F. Dowd Todd C. Rasmussen |
| author_facet | Kathleen Rugel Stephen W. Golladay C. Rhett Jackson Robin J. McDowell John F. Dowd Todd C. Rasmussen |
| author_sort | Kathleen Rugel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Study region: The Lower Flint River Basin (LFRB): a karst catchment in southwestern Georgia, USA. Study focus: Using the U.S. EPA Reach File 3 data set, we generated stream reach azimuths for all tributaries of the Lower Flint River Basin (LFRB) in southwestern Georgia, USA, then compared these results to regional bedrock jointing orientations and stream chemistry (indicating incoming groundwater discharge) in one tributary of the LFRB, Ichawaynochaway Creek. Our objective was to determine if stream bearing might be a useful predictor of increased groundwater discharge in streams of the LFRB where groundwater development has significantly impacted baseflows. New hydrological insights for the region: We identified a dominant N-S trend in 44% of reaches in tributaries of the LFRB with lesser E-W, NNW, NW and NE trends. Bedrock joints and stream reaches in Ichawaynochaway Creek (a tributary of the Flint River) shared similar azimuth trends. When we compared stream reach orientation with known locations of enhanced groundwater inputs (previously detected by Rugel and others) we found that 55% of the time reaches in Ichawaynochaway Creek with increased groundwater discharge followed NW or NNW bearings (mean N49W). Further investigation to replicate these results in other tributaries of the LFRB is warranted and may help inform management strategies which could protect both ecological and economic interests in this region. Keywords: Grondwater discharge, Karst, Water resources, Groundwater-surface water interaction |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T04:55:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-014a60543919497c93f1682d6b88e1b2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2214-5818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T04:55:20Z |
| publishDate | 2019-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies |
| spelling | doaj.art-014a60543919497c93f1682d6b88e1b22022-12-22T03:47:09ZengElsevierJournal of Hydrology: Regional Studies2214-58182019-06-0123Using hydrogeomorphic patterns to predict groundwater discharge in a karst basin: Lower Flint River Basin, southwestern Georgia, USAKathleen Rugel0Stephen W. Golladay1C. Rhett Jackson2Robin J. McDowell3John F. Dowd4Todd C. Rasmussen5Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA; Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center at Ichauway, Newton, Georgia, USA; Corresponding author at: Joseph W. Jones Center at Ichauway, 3988 Jones Center Drive, Newton, GA, 39870, USA.Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center at Ichauway, Newton, Georgia, USA; Corresponding author.Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USACarl Vinson Institute of Government, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USAFranklin College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Geology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USAWarnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USAStudy region: The Lower Flint River Basin (LFRB): a karst catchment in southwestern Georgia, USA. Study focus: Using the U.S. EPA Reach File 3 data set, we generated stream reach azimuths for all tributaries of the Lower Flint River Basin (LFRB) in southwestern Georgia, USA, then compared these results to regional bedrock jointing orientations and stream chemistry (indicating incoming groundwater discharge) in one tributary of the LFRB, Ichawaynochaway Creek. Our objective was to determine if stream bearing might be a useful predictor of increased groundwater discharge in streams of the LFRB where groundwater development has significantly impacted baseflows. New hydrological insights for the region: We identified a dominant N-S trend in 44% of reaches in tributaries of the LFRB with lesser E-W, NNW, NW and NE trends. Bedrock joints and stream reaches in Ichawaynochaway Creek (a tributary of the Flint River) shared similar azimuth trends. When we compared stream reach orientation with known locations of enhanced groundwater inputs (previously detected by Rugel and others) we found that 55% of the time reaches in Ichawaynochaway Creek with increased groundwater discharge followed NW or NNW bearings (mean N49W). Further investigation to replicate these results in other tributaries of the LFRB is warranted and may help inform management strategies which could protect both ecological and economic interests in this region. Keywords: Grondwater discharge, Karst, Water resources, Groundwater-surface water interactionhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581818302829 |
| spellingShingle | Kathleen Rugel Stephen W. Golladay C. Rhett Jackson Robin J. McDowell John F. Dowd Todd C. Rasmussen Using hydrogeomorphic patterns to predict groundwater discharge in a karst basin: Lower Flint River Basin, southwestern Georgia, USA Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies |
| title | Using hydrogeomorphic patterns to predict groundwater discharge in a karst basin: Lower Flint River Basin, southwestern Georgia, USA |
| title_full | Using hydrogeomorphic patterns to predict groundwater discharge in a karst basin: Lower Flint River Basin, southwestern Georgia, USA |
| title_fullStr | Using hydrogeomorphic patterns to predict groundwater discharge in a karst basin: Lower Flint River Basin, southwestern Georgia, USA |
| title_full_unstemmed | Using hydrogeomorphic patterns to predict groundwater discharge in a karst basin: Lower Flint River Basin, southwestern Georgia, USA |
| title_short | Using hydrogeomorphic patterns to predict groundwater discharge in a karst basin: Lower Flint River Basin, southwestern Georgia, USA |
| title_sort | using hydrogeomorphic patterns to predict groundwater discharge in a karst basin lower flint river basin southwestern georgia usa |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581818302829 |
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