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Prepared in cooperation with the Power Plant Assessment Program of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the
Maryland Geological Survey

Potentiometric Surface and Water-Level Difference Maps of Selected Confined Aquifers in Southern Maryland and Maryland’s Eastern Shore, 1975–2011

By Stephen E. Curtin, David C. Andreasen, and Andrew W. Staley

Abstract Groundwater is the principal source of freshwater supply in most of Southern Maryland and Maryland’s Eastern Shore. It is also the source of freshwater supply used in the operation of the Calvert Cliffs, Chalk Point, and Morgantown power plants. Increased groundwater withdrawals over the last several decades have caused groundwater levels to decline. This report presents potentiometric surface maps of the Aquia, Magothy, upper Patapsco, lower Patapsco, and Patuxent aquifers using water levels measured during September 2011. Water-level difference maps also are presented for the first four of these aquifers. The water-level differences in the Aquia aquifer are shown using groundwater-level data from 1982 and 2011, whereas the water-level differences in the Magothy aquifer are presented using data from 1975 and 2011. Water-level difference maps in both the upper Patapsco and lower Patapsco aquifers are presented using data from 1990 and 2011. These maps show cones of depression ranging from 25 to 198 feet (ft) below sea level centered on areas of major withdrawals. Water levels have declined by as much as 112 ft in the Aquia aquifer since 1982, 85 ft in the Magothy aquifer since 1975, and 47 and 71 ft in the upper Patapsco and lower Patapsco aquifers, respectively, since 1990.

First posted August 23, 2012 Report PDF (7.63 MB) For additional information contact: Director, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center U.S. Geological Survey 5522 Research Park Drive Baltimore, MD 21228 (443) 498–5500 http://md.water.usgs.gov/index.html 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:

Curtin, S.E., Andreasen, D.C., and Staley, A.W., 2012, Potentiometric surface and water-level difference maps of selected confined aquifers of Southern Maryland and Maryland’s Eastern Shore, 1975–2011: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2012–5165, 36 p.

Contents

Abstract

Introduction

Method of Analysis

Potentiometric Surface and Water-Level Difference Maps

Summary and Conclusions

Acknowledgments

References Cited

Appendix 1: Chronology of reports on potentiometric surface and water-level difference mapping by aquifer for Southern Maryland and Maryland’s Eastern Shore

Appendix 2a. Water-level data for Southern Maryland and Maryland’s Eastern Shore wells used in this report (Aquia aquifer)

Appendix 2b. Water-level data for Southern Maryland and Maryland’s Eastern Shore wells used in this report (Magothy aquifer)

Appendix 2c. Water-level data for Southern Maryland and Maryland’s Eastern Shore wells used in this report (upper Patapsco aquifer)

Appendix 2d. Water-level data for Southern Maryland and Maryland’s Eastern Shore wells used in this report (lower Patapsco aquifer)

Appendix 2e. Water-level data for Southern Maryland and Maryland’s Eastern Shore wells used in this report (Patuxent aquifer)