Skip Links

USGS - science for a changing world

Professional Paper 1773

Groundwater Resources Program

Groundwater Availability in the Atlantic Coastal Plain of North and South Carolina

Edited by Bruce G. Campbell and Alissa L. Coes

Thumbnail of report cover

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Atlantic Coastal Plain aquifers and confining units of North and South Carolina are composed of crystalline carbonate rocks, sand, clay, silt, and gravel and contain large volumes of high-quality groundwater. The aquifers have a long history of use dating back to the earliest days of European settlement in the late 1600s. Although extensive areas of some of the aquifers have or currently (2009) are areas of groundwater level declines from large-scale, concentrated pumping centers, large areas of the Atlantic Coastal Plain contain substantial quantities of high-quality groundwater that currently (2009) are unused.

Groundwater use from the Atlantic Coastal Plain aquifers in North Carolina and South Carolina has increased during the past 60 years as the population has increased along with demands for municipal, industrial, and agricultural water needs. While North Carolina and South Carolina work to increase development of water supplies in response to the rapid growth in these coastal populations, both States recognize that they are facing a number of unanswered questions regarding availability of groundwater supplies and the best methods to manage these important supplies.

An in-depth assessment of groundwater availability of the Atlantic Coastal Plain aquifers of North and South Carolina has been completed by the U.S. Geological Survey Groundwater Resources Program. This assessment includes (1) a determination of the present status of the Atlantic Coastal Plain groundwater resources; (2) an explanation for how these resources have changed over time; and (3) development of tools to assess the system’s response to stresses from potential future climate variability. Results from numerous previous investigations of the Atlantic Coastal Plain by Federal and State agencies have been incorporated into this effort.

The primary products of this effort are (1) comprehensive hydrologic datasets such as groundwater levels, groundwater use, and aquifer properties; (2) a revised hydrogeologic framework; (3) simulated water budgets of the overall study area along with several subareas; and (4) construction and calibration of a numerical modeling tool that is used to forecast the potential effects of climate change on groundwater levels.

First posted November 8, 2010

The report is presented here in PDF format. The 7 plates (also listed separately at bottom of page) are PDF files zipped into one package.

For additional information contact:

Bruce G. Campbell, Groundwater Specialist
USGS South Carolina Water Science Center
Stephenson Center, Suite 129
720 Gracern Road
Columbia, SC 29210

http://sc.water.usgs.gov/

Part or all of this report is presented in Portable Document Format (PDF); the latest version of Adobe Reader or similar software is required to view it. Download the latest version of Adobe Reader, free of charge.


Suggested citation:

Campbell, B.G., and Coes, A.L., eds., 2010, Groundwater availability in the Atlantic Coastal Plain of North and South Carolina: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1773, 241 p., 7 pls.



Contents

Chapter A

Groundwater Availability in the Atlantic Coastal Plain of North and South Carolina

By Bruce G. Campbell, Jason M. Fine, Matthew D. Petkewich, Alissa L. Coes, and Silvia Terziotti

Chapter B

Hydrogeologic Framework of the Atlantic Coastal Plain, North and South Carolina

By Joseph A. Gellici and Jeff C. Lautier

Chapter C

Simulation of Groundwater Flow in the Atlantic Coastal Plain, North and South Carolina and Parts of Eastern Georgia and Southern Virginia, Predevelopment to 2004

By Alissa L. Coes, Bruce G. Campbell, Matthew D. Petkewich, and Jason M. Fine

Plates (Separate PDF files; to obtain all 7 plates as a compressed volume, see above, right)

1. Northwest to southeast hydrogeologic cross section A–A’ through the South Carolina Coastal Plain (2.9 MB)

2. Northwest to southeast hydrogeologic cross section B–B’ and west to east hydrogeologic cross section C–C’ through the South Carolina Coastal Plain (3.8 MB)

3. Northwest to southeast hydrogeologic cross section D–D’ and west to east hydrogeologic cross section E–E’ through the North Carolina Coastal Plain (2.3 MB)

4. West to east hydrogeoloic cross section F–F’ through the North Carolina Coastal Plain (820 KB)

5. Southwest to northeast hydrogeologic cross section G–G’ through the North Carolina Coastal Plain (1.5 MB)

6. Southwest to northeast hydrogeologic cross section D’–H through the North Carolina Coastal Plain (1.2 MB)

7. Southwest to northeast hydrogeologic cross sections I–I’ and A’–C’ through the South Carolina Coastal Plain (5.4 MB)


Accessibility FOIA Privacy Policies and Notices

Take Pride in America logo USA.gov logo U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http:// pubsdata.usgs.gov /pubs/pp/1773/index.html
Page Contact Information: USGS Publications Team
Page Last Modified: Thursday, 01-Dec-2016 16:20:30 EST