Streamflow, ground-water recharge and discharge, and characteristics of surficial deposits in Buzzards Bay basin, southeastern Massachusetts

Water-Resources Investigations Report 95-4234
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Abstract

Streamflows exceeded between 50 and 99 percent of the time during water years 1967-91 were estimated for 14 low-flow partial-record stations and two discontinued streamflow-gaging stations in Buzzards Bay Basin, Massachusetts. At low flows, stream discharge per unit area for subbasins underlain primarily by stratified-drift deposits was several times greater than for subbasins underlain primarily by till and bedrock deposits. Streamflow measured three times at the Paskamanset River showed that streamflows downstream of municipal pumping wells were affected by ground-water pumpage near the river. Mean ground-water recharge rates were estimated to be 19.7 to 22.6 and 23.8 to 25.2 inches per year for basins underlain primarily by till and bedrock deposits and stratified drift deposits, respectively. Annual ground-water recharge during drought years can be less than one-half of the mean ground-water recharge rate for water years 1967-91. Ground-water discharge rates generally were estimated to be 1 to 4 inches per year less than ground-water recharge rates. Thus, ground-water discharge rates could be used as a low estimate of ground-water recharge rates. From the 50 to 99 percent flow duration, ground-water discharges averaged 85.7 percent of the total streamflow at six nearby streamflow-gaging stations. Ground-water discharges were estimated at the 16 stations in the basin by multiplying estimated streamflows at the selected flow durations from 50- to 99-percent for water years 1967-91 by 85.7 percent. Based on new well-log and seismic-refraction survey data, a few minor corrections were determined in existing saturated thickness maps for stratified-drift deposits in basin.
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Streamflow, ground-water recharge and discharge, and characteristics of surficial deposits in Buzzards Bay basin, southeastern Massachusetts
Series title Water-Resources Investigations Report
Series number 95-4234
DOI 10.3133/wri954234
Edition -
Year Published 1995
Language ENGLISH
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey ; Earth Science Information Center, Open-File Reports Section [distributor],
Description v, 56 p. :ill., maps ;28 cm.
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