Shallow ground-water flow and drainage characteristics of the Brown ditch basin near the East Unit, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Indiana, 1982

Shedlock, R. J.; Harkness, W. E.

Abstract:

Brown ditch drains wetlands between three parallel ridges of sand dunes near the East Unit of Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore in Poter County, Indiana. Dune and lacustrine sands form a surficial aquifer that is the source of base flow to the ditch. Profiles established in July and August 1982 show that the average streambed slope of the ditch in the Lakeshore (0.19 percent) is six times that of the upstream east reach in the adjacent town, The Pines (0.03 percent). Although the ditch contains debris and vegetation, the reach in the Lakeshore seems to convey all the base flow it receives. In contrast, the upstream east arm contains several ponded sections where flow is sluggish. Digital model simulations show that dredging to form a uniformly graded streambed and eliminate ponding in the upstream east arm of the ditch south of The Pines could lower the water table 0.2 to 2.0 feet in The Pines. Lowering the ditch stage in the Lakeshore by 0.5 to 1.0 foot would cause additional water-table decline of less than 0.5 foot in The Pines. Lowering the ditch stage both in the Lakeshore and in The Pines could lower the water-table in the Lakeshore by nearly 1.0 foot. (USGS)

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USGS Numbered Series

ProdID:

29690

Citation Author:

Shedlock, R. J.; Harkness, W. E.

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ENGLISH

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iv, 37 p. :ill., maps ;28 cm.

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U.S. Geological Survey,

Citation Series:

Water-Resources Investigations Report

Citation Series Code:

WRI

Citation Series Number:

83-4271

Citation Search Results Text:

Shallow ground-water flow and drainage characteristics of the Brown ditch basin near the East Unit, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Indiana, 1982; 1984; WRI; 83-4271; Shedlock, R. J.; Harkness, W. E.