Extreme Drought: Summary of Hydrologic Conditions in , 2012 The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Streamflow and Groundwater Data WYs 1999–2012 can be accessed online at Georgia Water Science Center (GaWSC) http://ga.water.usgs.gov/publications/pubswdr. maintains a long-term hydrologic monitoring Daily, monthly, and yearly streamflow html. A digital map at http://maps.waterdata. network of more than 330 real-time stream-­­ statistics from the 2012 USGS annual data usgs.gov allows the user to search for current gages, including 10 real-time lake-level report (ADR; U.S. Geological Survey, 2012a) and historical data and graphics collected as monitoring stations, 63 real-time water-quality were used to develop this summary. Data for part of the USGS monitoring network. monitors, and 48 water-quality sampling stations. Additionally, the GaWSC operates more than 180 groundwater monitoring wells, Quarterly Hydrologic Conditions in Georgia for 2012 WY, Based on Drainage Basin Runoff 42 of which are real-time. One of the many D. 07/01/12– EXPLANATION benefits from this monitoring network is that A. 10/01/11– B. 01/01/12– C. 04/01/12– 09/30/12 Percentile classes the data analyses provide a well distributed 12/31/11 03/30/12 06/30/12 Highest overview of the hydrologic conditions of creeks, Much above normal, >90 rivers, reservoirs, and aquifers in Georgia. Above normal, 76 to 90 Streamflow and groundwater data are GEORGIA Normal, 25 to 75 verified throughout the year by USGS hydro­ Below normal, 10 to 24 graphers, and this information is available to Much below normal <10 water-resource managers, recreationalists, and Lowest Federal, State, and local agencies. Hydrologic conditions are determined by comparing the results of statistical analyses of the data These maps represent hydrologic conditions during the 2012 WY EXPLANATION (1) collected during the current water year comparedFigure to available 1 historical data. Runoff was calculated Percentile classes (WY) to historical data collected over the for each basin and presented as uniform over the entire basin Highest period of record. Changing hydrologic condi- area. Only streamflow stations with a complete daily-flow Much above normal, >90 tions emphasize the need for accurate, timely dataset for the 2012 WY were used (U.S. Geological Survey, Above normal, 76 to 90 data to help Federal, State and local officials 2012b). For the first quarter of the 2012 WY (A), the southern Normal, 25 to 75 make informed decisions regarding the part of the State was observing “much below normal” and Below normal, 10 to 24 management and conservation of Georgia’s “lowest” runoff conditions, while the northern portion of the Much below normal <10 water resources for agricultural, recreational, State was observing “normal” to “above normal” runoff. During Lowest ecological, and water-supply needs and for the third quarter of the 2012 WY (C), the majority of the State use in protecting life and property. received below normal precipitation and observed record high temperatures and runoff was Persistent drought conditions continued some of the lowest on record; however, the southeastern corner of the State received above in the 2012 WY. By January 2012, over normal precipitation because of Tropical Storm Beryl in May, and Tropical Storm Debby in June 50 percent of Georgia was experiencing D3 (Dunkley, 2012). During the fourth quarter (D), runoff in portions of the State was still “much below normal” or “lowest” on record and the southeastern part received additional rainfall (extreme) drought conditions. The 9-month from Tropical Storm Isaac. period of January–September ranked as the 6th warmest on record for Georgia (Dunkley, 2012). Some drought relief was experienced in the far southern part of the State because of tropical storm activity, New Minimum Streamflows New monthly New 7-day including Hurricane Isaac in August 2012; EXPLANATION In 2012, new record- minimum 2012 minimum 2012 however, the majority of the State experi- low monthly discharge Percentage of normal enced 50 to 75 percent of normal precipi­ occurred at 79 of precipitation during tation for the year. Several streamgages 113 streamgages that 2012 (NOAA, 2012) with 20 or more years of record experienced 90 percent and greater have 20 or more years 75 to 89 percent record low flows, including record low annual of data. The 2012 WY 50 to 74 percent mean discharges at USGS stations 02210500 was similar to other Streamgage near Jackson (58 years of recent drought years New monthly minimum record), 02223500 at Dublin in which a number of New 7-day average minimum (60 years of record), and 02226000 Altamaha new record-lows were River at Doctortown (81 years of record). recorded at monthly discharge stations, including 2007 (80), 2008 (75), and 2011 (52). Most of the central and southwestern part of the State received 50 to 75Figure percent 2 of normal precipitation. Normal is defined as a 30-year average for 1971–2000 (NOAA,reduce 2012). to 50% 1Water year is the period October 1 through New record-low 7-day average discharge occurred at 9 of 113 streamgages in 2012 that have September 30 and is designated by the year 20 or more years of data. The majority of these streamgages are located in areas that received in which it ends. For example, the 2012 water 50 to 74 percent of normal precipitation. year began on October 1, 2011, and ended on September 30, 2012.

U.S. Department of the Interior Fact Sheet 2014 –3028 U.S. Geological Survey April 2014 Daily Discharge and 7-Day Average Streamflow Conditions, 2011 Water Year

VALLEY R EXPLANATION a 02398000 g AND SOUTH o 02337000 Sweetwater Creek o RIDGE t [Map] t CAROLINA Chattooga River at Summerville, Ga. 02398000 at Summerville, Georgia a Sweetwater Creek near Austell, Ga. 02337000 h near Austell, Georgia C 02398000 River basin boundary 6,000 Physiographic boundary 10,000 The Chattooga River flows from BLUE Coosa– Sweetwater Creek is a major RIDGE Tallapoosa– 02213000 Streamgage and number the northwestern corner of Weiss tributary of the Chattahoochee Lake Sweetwater 1,000 Georgia into Alabama where Creek River (U.S. Geological Survey, 1,000 PIEDMONT Savannah–Ogeechee Sa it flows into Weiss Lake (U.S. Atlanta va 1975). The 7-day average 02337000 n n Jackson a 100 Geological Survey, 1975). For h streamflow fluctuated between r Lake e R v i i v “much below normal” and the first half of the 2012 WY, e R GEORGIA r 7-day average streamflow “normal” from October through 10 100 Ocmulgee–Altamaha O in cubic feet per second in cubic feet per second 7-day average discharge, conditions were “normal” to c March, and new 7-day average 7-day average discharge, 02213000 Oconee– o n 2 40 e e O minimum record flows were “much above normal,” followed ge ec h by “below normal” and “much e recorded during latter part 100,000 e 100,000 R R iv below normal” streamflow e i of the water year, in April, e r v e O e c r 10,000 h m 10,000 for the latter part of the water c COASTAL PLAIN May, and July. New minimum o u l o g Altam year. Daily discharge in most h e r ah daily mean discharges were a e a t e v 1,000 1,000 t i R Ri of the first part of the 2012 WY a ve observed during the months of

h r

C n a April and May. was in the “maximum” range 100 e 100 Satilla–Suwannee– c O compared to historical data r St Marys–Ochlockonee Chattahoochee–Flinte c v i Daily discharge, Daily discharge, i R t 10 n 10 until February, when median t e a n e l i t ALABAMA l h in cubic feet per second in cubic feet per second c A daily mean streamflows were F o r o e 1 c v 1 la i h R

observed for most of the rest of FLORIDA t i OND JFMAMJJAS OND JFMAMJJAS 02318500 the 2012 WY. 2011 2012 W 2011 2012 N 0 30 60 MILES

0 30 60 KILOMETERS Base modified from U.S. Geological Survey 1:2,000,000-scale digital data

02213000 Ocmulgee River 02318500 Withlacoochee River Ocmulgee River at Macon, Ga. 02213000 at Macon, Georgia 7-Day Average Discharge Withlacoochee River at US 84 near Quitman, Ga. 02318500at US 84, near Quitman, Georgia 50,000 Hydrographs show the 7-day average for 2012 as compared to 50,000 The Ocmulgee River flows The Withlacoochee River flows historical 7-day averages. Data are categorized in percentile out of and joins in the Basin 10,000 10,000 ranges from “much above normal” (greater than the 90th percentile) the Oconee River to form the in the southern coastal plain of to “much below normal” (less than the 10th percentile) (U.S. (U.S. Geological Georgia (U.S. Geological Survey, 1,000 Geological Survey, 2012d). Survey, 1975). During the EXPLANATION 1975). For much of the 2012 1,000 majority of the 2012 WY, the [Graphs] WY, 7-day average streamflow 100 7-day average discharge was Historical (percentile) conditions were “below normal” in cubic feet per second

“below normal” to “much below 7-day average discharge, in cubic feet per second Much above normal (≥90) to “much below normal,” and 7-day average discharge, 10 normal.” New record-low 7-day 100 Above normal (76 to 89) record-low 7-day average Normal (25 to 75) average streamflow conditions EXPLANATION streamflows were observed 100,000 100,000 Below normal (11 to 24) were observed in 2012 for the [Graphs] during the months of January Much below normal (≤10) months of April, May, June, July, 10,000 Historical (percentile) and February. New minimum 10,000 2011 2012 2012 water year and September. New minimum Much above normal (≥90) daily-mean discharges were 1,000 1,000 daily-mean discharges were Above normal (76 to 89) recorded during the months of Daily Discharge HistoricalNormal daily (25 to flow 75) observed during the months of 100 October, January, and February. 100 MaximumBelow normal (11 to 24) April, May, and September. Hydrographs show 2012 daily-mean streamflow, in cubic feet per Normal flows were observed

Much below normal (≤10) Daily discharge, Daily discharge, 10 Median towards the end of the 2012 10 second,2011 as compared 2012 to historical minimum2012Minimum waterand medianyear streamflow in cubic feet per second in cubic feet per second WY as much needed relief was 1 for the entire period of record (U.S. Geological Survey, 2012a). 1 OND JFMAMJJAS 2012 daily mean provided during multiple tropical OND JFMAMJJAS Historical daily flow 2011 2012 2011 2012 2011 2012 storm events. Maximum Median Minimum

2012 daily mean

2011 2012

2 3 Climate Response Network Well 03PP01, Walker County 730 6,000 The USGS maintains a network of groundwater wells to monitor the effects of droughts and other climate variability on 0 groundwater levels. These wells are part of the Climate Response Network, which is designed to measure the effects of climate on 03PP01 5,000 725 5 Well 03PP01 is in Walker County in northwestern Georgia and groundwater levels in unconfined aquifers or near-surface confined aquifers where pumping or other human influences on groundwater 4,000 is completed in the Paleozoic-Rock aquifer in the Chickamauga levels are minimal (U.S. Geological Survey, 2007, 2012c). The national network consists of about 130 wells, of which 15 are located 720 10 limestone. Water storage is in the regolith, primary openings, in Georgia. These wells are monitored as part of the USGS Groundwater Resources and Cooperative Water Programs. Current 3,000 715 15 and secondary fractures and solution openings in rock conditions of groundwater wells in the Climate Response Network can be accessed online at http://groundwaterwatch.usgs.gov/. 2,000 (Peck and others, 2013). Water levels are influenced mainly The hydrographs presented here are for selected wells in Georgia having at least 5 years of continuous data. 710 20 Depth to water level 03568933 1,000 by precipitation and local pumping (Cressler, 1964). The water Daily mean discharge, in cubic feet per second below land surface, in feet level in well 03PP01 responds to seasonal change similarly to 705 25 0 03568933 Elevation above NGVD 29, in feet streamflow at the nearby streamgage on Lookout Creek near 8 02384500 16MM03 EXPLANATION New England, Ga. (03568933), which indicates atmospheric, 03PP01 02330450 [Map] 6 02384500 surface-water, and groundwater interactions. The water level 02333500 16MM03 Monitoring well 4 in well 03PP01 was near the historical daily median for much and identifier of the first half of the 2012 WY and above the historical daily

in inches 2 S 02330450 median from June through September. a Streamgage and Precipitation, va nn 11FF04 a number 0 h Atlanta R O ND J F M A M JJ A S iv e r 2011 2012 r GEORGIA 21BB04 e v i R 11AA01 Aquifers in Georgia O O c c m o [Surficial system (brown) n u e 12Z001 l g e present throughout State] Well 16MM03, White County e R O e i g v ee R e c CAROLINASOUTH 1,550 0 1,000 r h SC i e v e e R r i 02223500 ve Bl r Crystalline-rock Dublin a 16MM03 800 ck GA C 1,548 2 21T001 r e Upper e 02224500 Well 16MM03 is in White County in northeastern Georgia and AL h 600 Floridan c o A 02202600 37P116 is completed in the crystalline-rock aquifer. Water is stored in FL o ltam ah 1,546 4 h a 35P094 a r 02203559 t e the regolith and fractures, and the water level is affected by t v 400

a i

h R 13M007

t R C precipitation and evapotranspiration (Cressler and others, 1983). n i i v l e 1,544 6 r n 200 F 02330450

a Depth to water level Precipitation can cause a rapid water-level rise in wells tapping 02353500 e c Daily mean discharge, 13J004 in cubic feet per second 07H002 O

below land surface, in feet aquifers overlain by thin regolith (Peck and others, 2013). The c 07H003 i t 1,542 8 0 ALABAMA n 10G313 Elevation above NGVD 29, in feet a water level in well 16MM03 responds to seasonal change similarly l EXPLANATION 02356000 t FLORIDA A [Top graphs] Bainbridge 10 to streamflow at the nearby streamgage on Chattahoochee 8 River at Helen, Ga. (02330450), which indicates atmospheric, Groundwater levels N 02330450 Range of historical daily Base modified from 6 surface-water, and groundwater interactions. The water level in minimum and maximum 0 30 60 MILES U.S. Geological Survey 4 well 16MM03 remained below the historical daily median during Historical median 1:2,000,000-scale digital data 0 30 60 KILOMETERS

2012 daily mean in inches 2 much of the 2012 WY. Precipitation, Daily mean stream discharge 0 2011 2012 O ND J F M A M JJ A S [NGVD 29, National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929] 2011 2012

Well 07H003, Miller County Well 37P116, Chatham County 157 –10 1,200 4 6 160 Well 07H003 is in Miller County in southwestern Georgia and 1,000 02203599 is completed in the surficial aquifer, which is an unconfined 167 0 07H003 3 7 120 800 aquifer in this area (Peck and others, 2013). The water level in Well 37P116 is in Chatham County in southeastern Georgia and 37P116 this well generally rises rapidly during wet periods and declines 177 10 600 2 8 80 is completed in the surficial aquifer. Water levels in this well slowly during dry periods. The water level in well 07H003 400 generally rise rapidly during wet periods and decline slowly during responds to seasonal change similarly to streamflow at the 187 20 1 9 40 dry periods. The water level in well 37P116 responds to seasonal Depth to water level Depth to water level

200 Daily mean discharge, nearby streamgage on at Milford, Ga. Daily mean discharge, change similarly to streamflow at the nearby streamgage on in cubic feet per second 02353500 in cubic feet per second below land surface, in feet (02353500), which indicates atmospheric, surface-water, and below land surface, in feet 197 30 0 0 10 0 Peacock Creek at McIntosh, Ga. (02203559), which indicates Elevation above NGVD 29, in feet groundwater interactions. In the 2012 WY, water levels in well Elevation above NGVD 29, in feet atmospheric, surface-water, and groundwater interactions. 8 07H003 were below the historical daily median from October The water level in well 37P116 fluctuated above and below the 02353500 12 through February. In March the area received more than 6 inches 6 02203559 historical daily median during most of the 2012 WY. 8 of precipitation and the water level in well 07H003 was greater 4 than the historical median. Water levels were also above the

in inches 4 2 in inches

historical median during the months of June, July, and August. Precipitation, Precipitation, 0 0 O ND J F M A M JJ A S O ND J F M A M JJ A S 2011 2012 2011 2012

4 5 Water-Quality Conditions in Georgia 02177000 Chattooga River near Clayton, GA 3,500 Water-quantity and quality information are both Chattooga River station 02177000, located in northeastern Georgia in 3,000 EXPLANATION important for ensuring adequate water availability for the Savannah-Upper Ogeechee water planning region, which has a 2,500 Daily mean discharge 2012 human consumption, industrial uses, and aquatic eco­ drainage area of 207 square miles (mi2). A number of pH measurements Median discharge for period of record 2,000 7.3 systems. Precipitation and streamflow conditions are were collected at this station during the 2012 WY; pH is a measure Discrete water-quality sample with pH value 1,500 primary agents of delivery and transport of both point- of how acidic or basic the water is and can influence the biological 6.5 7.3 6.6 and nonpoint-source-contaminants (Hirsch and others, integrity of streams. For example, the reproduction of some fish can be 1,000 7.4 2006). The USGS provides the GaEPD and the public affected in water having a pH below 5 (U.S. Geological Survey, 2012c). 500 7.0 7.3 6.4 7.1 6.9 7.4 6.6 7.0 5.9 6.0 6.8 7.1 7.4 7.7 with a relevant, nationally consistent database of long- 0 7.3 7.2 6.9 term water-quality data, which assists the GaEPD in meeting its responsibilities under the Clean Water Act, at Newton station 02353000, located in southwestern Georgia 02353000 Flint River at Newton, GA including (1) identifying the beneficial uses of surface in the Lower Flint-Ochlockonee water planning region, has a drainage 12,000 waters within the State, (2) establishing water-quality area of 5,740 mi2. A number of specific conductance (SC) measurements 10,000 EXPLANATION standards to maintain the full beneficial uses of surface were collected at this station during the 2012 WY. SC is a measure of Daily mean discharge 2012 8,000 Median discharge for period of record waters, and (3) identifying water bodies where stream dissolved ionic constituents, such as salts in water. Throughout the 142 6,000 93 Discrete water-quality sample with specific standards are not met and beneficial uses are impaired 2012 WY, SC was typically lower during higher flows because dissolved conductance, in microsiemens per centimeter 110 109 (Grams, 2011). The USGS-GaEPD discrete water- constituents in streams can be diluted during rainfall runoff, as 4,000 111 quality sampling program is designed to collect data 124 126 139 compared to lower flows. 142 131 2,000 115 150 systematically, regardless of hydrologic conditions. 122 129 160 196 151 140 143 147 170 Water-quality data for Georgia streams are available to 0 the public at http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ga/nwis/qw/. Conasauga River station 02387000, located in northwestern Georgia in the Coosa- water planning region, has a drainage area of Discharge, in cubic feet per second 02387000 Conasauga River at Tilton, GA 12,000 687 mi2. During the 2012 WY, a number of total suspended solids (TSS) 10,000 EXPLANATION 02387000 02177000 samples were collected and turbidity measurements made. Turbidity is Daily mean discharge 2012 a measure of water clarity and light reflected off particles in streamflow 8,000 Median discharge for period of record 02397530 caused by clay, silt, and fine suspended inorganic and organic matter; (32)(15) 6,000 Discrete water-quality sample—(Total therefore, TSS and turbidity react similarly during changing streamflow (140)(120) (18)(11) suspended solids, in milligrams per liter) Atlanta (4.2)(5.1) conditions. Chronic levels of suspended materials in streams are often the 4,000 (turbidity, in Formazin Nephelometric Units) 02337170 (3.4)(38) cause of designated use impairment. TSS concentrations and turbidity 2,000 (12)(5.5) (32)(15) levels were typically greater during higher flows compared to lower (4.6)(5.4) (24)(14) (46)(40) (24)(13) (37)(14) (11)(12) flows because these constituents are washed from the land into streams 0 10/1/11 11/20/11 1/9/12 2/28/12 4/18/12 6/7/12 7/27/12 9/15/12 during periods of rainfall runoff and suspended in the water column, demonstrating a relation between water quality and water quantity.

02337170 near Fairburn, GA Chattahoochee River station 02337170, located just south of Atlanta in the Metro 12,000 02353000 12 EXPLANATION North Georgia Water Planning District planning region, has a drainage area 10,000 10 Dissolved oxygen (DO) 2012 of 2,060 mi2. Water use for this stream reach is classified as “fishing” under Discharge 2012 8,000 Georgia Code 391-3-6-.03, which requires the daily mean dissolved oxygen (DO) 8 GaEPD daily mean DO 6,000 concentrations in the stream be equal to or greater than 5.0 milligrams per liter 6 minimum threshold (5 mg/L)

EXPLANATION (mg/L; Georgia Department of Natural Resource, 2012). No daily mean DO levels 4 4,,000 Discharge, in Water planning region name fell below the “minimum DO” criteria at station 02337170 during the 2012 WY. 2 2000 Altamaha cubic feet per second 0 0 Figure Coastal6. Georgia station 02397530, located on the border of Georgia and Alabama Coosa–North Georgia and is in the Coosa-North Georgia planning region, has a drainage area of 02397530 Coosa River at State Line, AL/GA 4,362 mi2. Water use for this stream reach is classified as “fishing” under the 40 Lower Flint–Ochlockonee 14 Metro North Georgia Georgia Code 391-3-6-.03, which requires that the daily mean dissolved oxygen 35 Water Planning District 12 (DO) concentrations in the stream be equal to or greater than 5.0 milligrams 30 Middle Chattahoochee per liter. This figure shows daily mean DO and water temperature WT for the 10 25 Middle Ocmulgee 2012 WY and median values for the period of record (1975 –2011) for this site. 8 20 Savannah–Upper Ogeechee Typically, DO and WT are inversely related, as indicated by data for the period 6 15 in degrees Celsius

of record at this site. From March through August of the 2012 WY, however, temperature, Water Suwannee–Satilla DO increases as WT increases. The DO increase may have been caused by 4 GaEPD daily mean DO minimum threshold (5 mg/L) 10 Upper Flint Dissolved oxygen concentration, in milligrams per liter (mg/L) phytoplankton growth, which can lead to algal blooms. Water-quality at this 2 Upper Oconee station is influenced by fluctuations in water level and water velocity because of 10/1/11 11/20/11 1/9/12 2/28/12 4/18/12 6/7/12 7/27/12 9/15/12 EXPLANATION 2012 USGS-GA EPD water-quality station regulation at Weiss Lake and resulting backwater conditions; inflows of municipal Dissolved oxygen 2012 Discrete Continuous and industrial wastewater from upstream facilities; and hot-water releases from power generation plants. During the 2012 WY, no daily mean DO levels fell below Dissolved oxygen median for period of record Water temperature 2012 the “minimum DO” criteria at station 02397530. Water temperature median for period of record Figure 6.

6 7 Figure 6. Lakes and Reservoirs top of conservation EXPLANATION Alatoona Lake pool until March 60,000 845 Inflow Inflow and outflow data Major lakes and reservoirs throughout when the lake 50,000 840 Georgia are managed primarily by the U.S. from U.S. Army Corps level was lowered Outflow of Engineers (2012b) 40,000 835 Army Corps of Engineers and Georgia Power nearly 6 ft during Lake water level 30,000 830 Company to provide water for public and the remainder of industrial use, flood protection, power gener­ the WY. West Point Top of conservation pool 20,000 825 ation, wildlife management, and recreation. Dam provides 10,000 820 To manage lakes and reservoirs, tools such as flood protection and hydroelectric­ power 0 815 computer models that rely on USGS data help to to Troup County, and its construction was predict changes in climate and water demands. Hartwell Lake authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1962 4,000 662 Lake Sidney Lanier on the Chattahoochee­ (Troup County Georgia, 2012). River is the primary drinking-water source Hartwell Lake is on the border between 3,000 658 for Atlanta. Lake Sidney Lanier is the farthest Georgia and South Carolina on the Savannah upstream reservoir in a series of reservoirs that and Tugaloo Rivers. Hartwell Lake is the most 2,000 654 include , Walter F. George upstream major reservoir on the Savannah Lake, and . outflow River. Water is released to the downstream 1,000 650 and inflow were nearly equal during the 2012 reservoirs, Richard B. Russell and J. Strom WY, and the lake elevation peak for the year Thurmond. These three lakes on the Savannah 0 646 was nearly 4 feet (ft) below the top of conser- River are managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Lake Sidney Lanier vation elevation. The water-level elevation Engineers for water supply, power generation, 80,000 1,075 of West Point Lake was managed to near the and water-quality needs of the from below Thurmond Dam to Savannah, 60,000 1,070 Lake SC Georgia, and the Atlantic Ocean (U.S. Army Sidney Hartwell Lake 40,000 1,065 Lanier Corps of Engineers, 2012a). Hartwell Lake Richard B water elevation for the 2012 WY peaked at Weiss Allatoona Russell Lake 20,000 1,060 Lake 653.02 ft. and was nearly 7 ft lower than in cubic feet per second Inflow and outflow, Lake J Strom Atlanta the top of conservation elevation of 660 ft. Thurmond 0 1,055 Lake Lake elevation was lowered nearly West Sinclair 5 ft as outflow was 25 percent greater than West Point Lake Point 160,000 636 Lake inflow from April through September. GEORGIA Allatoona Lake is on the 120,000 632 Savannah and is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Datum of 1929 elevation, in feet above National Geodetic Vertical Water-level

n Walter F a Engineers. During the 2012 WY, Allatoona e 80,000 628 George c Lake remained above or just below the top of O Lake c i AL t conservation pool from October through June. 40,000 624 n

a l By the end of the 2012 WY, the lake level was FL t A nearly 7 ft below the top of conservation pool, 0 620 Lake Seminole OND JFMAM JJAS (Jim Woodruff) as outflow was 2.1 times greater than inflow from July through September. 2011 2012 EXPLANATION Inflow Inflow and outflow data National Integrated Drought Information System U.S. Geological Survey, 2007,from U.S. U.S. Army Geological Corps References Cited Outflow of Engineers (2012b) (NIDIS), 2012, U.S. Drought Portal: Accessed Survey Ground-Water Climate Response Cressler, C.W., 1964, Geology and groundwater July 1, 2012, at http://drought.gov/drought/content/ Network: U.S. GeologicalLake water levelSurvey Fact Sheet resources of Walker County, Georgia: Georgia understanding-drought-printable-version#p3_8. 2007–3003, 4 p., accessed July 1, 2009, at Geologic Survey Information Circular 63, 144 p. Top of conservation pool National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2007/3003/. Cressler, C.W., Thurmond, C.J., and Hester, W.G., (NOAA), 2012, 2012 precipitation maps for U.S. Geological Survey, 2012a, U.S. Geological 1983, Groundwater in the greater Atlanta region, Georgia: National Weather Service advanced Survey annual data report for Georgia, water Georgia: Georgia Geological Survey Information hydrologic prediction service, accessed year 2012: Accessed July 1, 2012, at http:// Circular 63, 15p. June 1, 2012, at http://water.weather.gov/. ga.water.usgs.gov/publications/pubswdr.html. Dunkley, N., 2012, 2012 Climate summaries: Peck, M.F., Gordon, D.W., and Painter, J.A., 2013, U.S. Geological Survey, 2012b, U.S. Geological Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Groundwater conditions in Georgia 2010 –2011: Survey water science school: Accessed Environmental Protection Division, accessed U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations July 1, 2011, at http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/ August 14, 2013, at http://www.gaepd.org/ Report 2013–5084, 63 p. (Also available at phdiagram.html. Documents/Climatesummaries_2012.html. http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2013/5084/.) U.S. Geological Survey, 2012c, U.S. Geological Georgia Department of Natural Resource, Environ- Troup County Georgia, 2012, Troup County Survey groundwater watch, Climate Response mental Protection Division, 2012, Existing rules Attractions, Government Services Online, Network: Accessed July 1, 2012, at http:// and corresponding laws, 391-3-6 Water quality accessed June 1, 2012, at http://www. groundwaterwatch.usgs.gov/. control: Accessed July 16, 2012, at http://www. troupcountyga.org/localattractions.html. U.S. Geological Survey, 2012d, WaterWatch— gaepd.org/Documents/rules_exist.html. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 2012a, Hartwell Dam Current water resources in Georgia: Accessed Grams, S.C., 2011, Benefits of long-term water- & Lake: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah July 1, 2011, at http://waterwatch.usgs.gov/. quality monitoring in Georgia [abs.], in Carroll, District, accessed June 1, 2012, at http://www. G.D., ed., Proceedings of the 2011 Georgia Water sas.usace.army.mil/About/DivisionsandOffices/ Resources Conference, April 11–13, 2011, Athens, By Andrew E. Knaak and Michael F. Peck OperationsDivision/HartwellDamandLake.aspx. Georgia: Georgia Water Resources Institute, 6. For more information contact: Water informatics, 6.1 Watershed data, 1 p. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 2012b, Lake Director, USGS Georgia Water Science Center elevations, inflows and outflows: Accessed Hirsch, R.M., Hamilton, P.A., and Miller, T.L., 1770 Corporate Drive June 1, 2012, at http://www.sas.usace.army.mil/. 2006, U.S. Geological Survey perspective Norcross, Georgia 30093 on water-quality monitoring and assessment: U.S. Geological Survey, 1975, Hydrologic unit (770) 624-6700 Journal of Environmental Monitoring, v. 8, map –1974, State of Georgia: U.S. Geological http://ga.water.usgs.gov/ p. 512–518. Survey, scale 1:500,000, 1 sheet.

8 ISSN 2327-6932 (online) http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/fs20143028