USGS Georgia Water Science Center

USGS Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5077

Simulated Effects of Impoundment of Lake Seminole on Ground-Water Flow in the Upper Floridan Aquifer in Southwestern Georgia and Adjacent Parts of Alabama and Florida

This report is available online in pdf format (4 MB): USGS SIR 2004-5077 (Opens the PDF file in a new window. )

L. Elliott Jones and Lynn J. Torak

U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5077; 18 pages (Published August 2004)

ABSTRACT

Hydrologic implications of the impoundment of Lake Seminole in southwest Georgia and its effect on components of the surface- and ground-water flow systems of the lower Apalachicola–Chattahoochee–Flint (ACF) River Basin were investigated using a ground-water model. Comparison of simulation results of postimpoundment drought conditions (October 1986) with results of hypothetical preimpoundment conditions (a similar drought prior to 1955) provides a qualitative measure of the changes in hydraulic head and ground-water flow to and from streams and Lake Seminole, and across State lines caused by the impoundment.

Based on the simulation results, the impoundment of Lake Seminole changed ground-water flow directions within about 20–30 miles of the lake, reducing the amount of ground water flowing from Florida to Georgia southeast of the lake. Ground-water storage was increased by the impoundment, as indicated by a simulated increase of as much as 26 feet in the water level in the Upper Floridan aquifer. The impoundment of Lake Seminole caused changes to simulated components of the ground-water budget, including reduced discharge from the Upper Floridan aquifer to streams (315 million gallons per day); reduced recharge from or increased discharge to regional ground-water flow at external model boundaries (totaling 183 million gallons per day); and reduced recharge from or increased discharge to the undifferentiated overburden (totaling 129 million gallons per day).

CONTENTS

Abstract

Introduction

Purpose and Scope

Study Area and Physiography

Geohydrology

Numerical Methods

Model Background and Assumptions

Vertical Hydraulic Conductance

Cauchy-Type Boundaries

State-Line Flow

Simulation Results

Uncertainty and Variability of Parameters

Summary

References Cited

 

REPORT AVAILABILITY

This report is available online in pdf format (4 MB): USGS SIR 2004-5077 (Opens the PDF file in a new window. )

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