Skip Links

USGS - science for a changing world

Scientific Investigations Report 2009–5265

Hydrology, Water Quality, and Water-Supply Potential of Ponds at Hunter Army Airfield, Chatham County, Georgia, November 2008–July 2009

John S. Clarke and Jaime A. Painter

ABSTRACT

Thumbnail of and link to report PDF (4 MB)

The hydrology, water quality, and water-supply potential of four ponds constructed to capture stormwater runoff at Hunter Army Airfield, Chatham County, Georgia, were evaluated as potential sources of supplemental irrigation supply. The ponds are, Oglethorpe Lake, Halstrum Pond, Wilson Gate Pond, and golf course pond. During the dry season, when irrigation demand is highest, ponds maintain water levels primarily from groundwater seepage. The availability of water from ponds during dry periods is controlled by the permeability of surficial deposits, precipitation and evaporation, and the volume of water stored in the pond. Net groundwater seepage (Gnet) was estimated using a water-budget approach that used onsite and nearby climatic and hydrologic data collected during November–December 2008 including precipitation, evaporation, pond stage, and discharge.

Gnet was estimated at three of the four sites—Oglethorpe Lake, Halstrum Pond, and Wilson Gate Pond—during November–December 2008. Pond storage volume in the three ponds ranged from 5.34 to 12.8 million gallons. During November–December 2008, cumulative Gnet ranged from –5.74 gallons per minute (gal/min), indicating a net loss in pond volume, to 19 gal/min, indicating a net gain in pond volume. During several periods of stage recovery, daily Gnet rates were higher than the 2-month cumulative amount, with the highest rates of 178 to 424 gal/min following major rainfall events during limited periods. These high rates may include some contribution from stormwater runoff; more typical recovery rates were from 23 to 223 gal/min.

A conservative estimate of the volume of water available for irrigation supply from three of the ponds was provided by computing the rate of depletion of pond volume for a variety of withdrawal rates based on long-term average July precipitation and evaporation and the lowest estimated Gnet rate at each pond. Withdrawal rates of 1,000, 500, and 250 gal/min were applied during an 8-hour daily pumping period. At a withdrawal rate of 1,000 gal/min, available pond volume would be depleted in 13–29 days, at a rate of 500 gal/min in 24–60 days, and at a rate of 250 gal/min, in 44 to 130 days. In each case, Halstrum Pond had the largest amount of available pond volume.

The water-supply potential at the golf course pond was assessed by measuring flow downstream from the pond during February–July 2009, and examining historic stormflow measurements collected during 1979–87. Streamflow during both of these periods exceeded average daily (2005–2007) golf course water use. Assuming an 8-hour daily irrigation period, the average discharge rate required to meet Golf Course water demand during peak demand months of March–May and July–October exceeds 200 gal/min, with the greatest rate of 531 gal/min during July. During February–July 2009, daily average streamflow downstream of the golf course pond exceeded 238 gal/min 90 percent of the time.

Based on samples collected for chemical analysis during April 2009, water from all four ponds at Hunter Army Airfield is fresh and suitable for irrigation supply, with chloride concentrations below 12 milligrams per liter. With the exception of iron in Wilson Gate Pond, constituent concentrations are below U.S. Environmental Protection Agency primary and secondary drinking water maximum contaminant levels. Water in Wilson Gate Pond contained an iron concentration of 419 mg/L, which exceeds the secondary maximum contaminant level of 300 micrograms per liter. Although not a health hazard, when the iron concentration exceeds 300 micrograms per liter, iron staining of sidewalks and plumbing fixtures may occur. Levels of dissolved oxygen were below the Georgia Environmental Protection Divison standard of 4 milligrams per liter for waters supporting warm-water fishes at deeper depths in Oglethorpe Lake, Wilson Gate Pond, and Halstrum Pond, and in the composite sample at the golf course pond.

Revised February 2, 2010

First posted January 15, 2010

For additional information contact:
Director, Georgia Water Science Center
U.S. Geological Survey
3039 Amwiler Rd.
Suite 130
30360-2824
http://ga.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:

Clarke, J.S., and Painter, J.A., 2010, Hydrology, water quality, and water-supply potential of ponds at Hunter Army Airfield, Chatham County, Georgia, November 2008–July 2009: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2009–5265, 34 p.



Contents

Abstract

Introduction

Purpose and Scope

Previous Study

Description of Study Area

Acknowledgments

Approach

Determination of Pond Volume and Area

Estimation of Net Groundwater Seepage

Discharge Measurements

Determination of Pond Water Quality

Hydrology and Water Quality

Oglethorpe Lake

Bathymetry and Pond Volume

Water Budget

Water Quality

Halstrum Pond

Bathymetry and Pond Volume

Water Budget

Water Quality

Wilson Gate Pond

Bathymetry and Pond Volume

Water Budget

Water Quality

Golf Course Pond

Streamflow

Water Quality

Water-Supply Potential

Oglethorpe Lake

Halstrum Pond

Wilson Gate Pond

Golf Course Pond

Summary

Selected References


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/sir/2009/5265/index.html
Page Contact Information: USGS Publications Team
Page Last Modified: Thursday, 10-Jan-2013 19:43:12 EST