Regional ground-water discharge to large streams in the upper coastal plain of South Carolina and parts of North Carolina and Georgia

Water-Resources Investigations Report 86-4332
By: , and 

Links

Abstract

Base flow was computed to estimate discharge from regional aquifers for six large streams in the upper Coastal Plain of South Carolina and parts of North Carolina and Georgia. Aquifers that sustain the base flow of both large and small streams are stratified into shallow and deep flow systems. Base-flow during dry conditions on main stems of large streams was assumed to be the discharge from the deep groundwater flow system. Six streams were analyzed: the Savannah, South and North Fork Edisto, Lynches, Pee Dee, and the Luber Rivers. Stream reaches in the Upper Coastal Plain were studied because of the relatively large aquifer discharge in these areas in comparison to the lower Coastal Plain. Estimates of discharge from the deep groundwater flow system to the six large streams averaged 1.8 cu ft/sec/mi of stream and 0.11 cu ft/sec/sq mi of surface drainage area. The estimates were made by subtracting all tributary inflows from the discharge gain between two gaging stations on a large stream during an extreme low-flow period. These estimates pertain only to flow in the deep groundwater flow system. Shallow flow systems and total base flow are > flow in the deep system. (USGS)

Study Area

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Regional ground-water discharge to large streams in the upper coastal plain of South Carolina and parts of North Carolina and Georgia
Series title Water-Resources Investigations Report
Series number 86-4332
DOI 10.3133/wri864332
Edition -
Year Published 1987
Language ENGLISH
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey,
Contributing office(s) South Atlantic Water Science Center
Description iv, 28 p. :ill., maps ;28 cm.
Country United States
State Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details