Surface Water Supply of the United States 1910
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY GEORGE OTIS SMITH, DIRECTOR WATER- SUPPLY PAPER 282 SURFACE WATER SUPPLY OF THE UNITED STATES 1910 PART II. SOUTH ATLANTIC COAST AND EASTERN GULF OF MEXICO PREPARED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF M. 0. LEIGHTON BY M. R. HALL AND J. G. MATHEKS WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1912 CONTENTS. Page. Introduction.............................................................. 5 Authority for investigations............................................. 5 Scope of investigations.................................................. 6 Publications.......................................................... 7 Definition of terms...................................................... 10 Explanation of data.................................................... 12 Accuracy and reliability of field data and comparative results............. 13 Use of the data....................................................... 15 Cooperative data...................................................... 15 Cooperation and acknowledgments....................................... 16 Division of work...................................................... 16 Gaging stations maintained in south Atlantic coast and eastern Gulf of Mexico drainage basins ..................... .................................... 16 South Atlantic States drainage basins ....................................... 20 James River basin .................................................... 20 Description........................................................ 20 James River at Buchanan, Va....................................... 21 James River at Holcomb Rock, Va.................................. 24 James River at Cartersville, Va........-..-....-.....-...-.-...-....- 24 Ronoake River basin ................................................... 27 Description........................................................ 27 Roanoke River at Roanoke, Va...................................... 28 Yadkin or Pedee River basin .......................................... 31 Description............................................ ^........... 31 Yadkin River near Pedee, N. C.................................... 32 Pedee River at Cheraw, S. C....................................... 33 Santee River basin.................................................... 34 Description....................................................... 34 Wateree River near Camden, S. C.................................. 35 Savannah River basin ................................................ 38 Description........................................................ 38 Tugaloo River near Madison, S. C................................... 38 Savannah River at Woodlawn, S. C................................. 40 Tallulah River at Tallulah Falls, Ga................................. 42 .Broad River (of Georgia) near Carlton, Ga............................ 44 Altamaha River basin ................................................. 46 Description........................................................ 46 Ocmulgee River near Jackson, Ga.................................. 47 Ocmulgee River at Macon, Ga....................................... 50 Oconee River near Greensboro, Ga.................................. 52 Oconee River at Fraleys Ferry, near Milledgeville, Ga............. r. 54 Oconee River at Dublin, Ga....................................... 56 3 4 CONTENTS. Page. Eastern Gulf of Mexico drainage basins ..................................... 58 Apalachicola River basin .............................................. 58 Description........................................................ 58 Chattahoochee River near Norcross, Ga.............................. 59 Chattahoochee River at West Point, Ga............................. 62 Chattahoochee River at Alaga, Ala................................. " 64 Flint River near Woodbury, Ga.................................... 65 Flint River near Montezuma, Ga.................................... 67 Flint River at Albany, G ......................................... 67 Flint River at Bainbridge, Ga...................................... 70 Ghoctawhatchee River basin ............................................ 72 Description........................................................ 72 Pea River at Pera, Ala............................................. 72 Escambia River basin ................................................. 75 Description........................................................ 75 Conecuh River at Beck, Ala....................................... 75 Mobile River basin ................................................... 77 Description........................................................ 77 Oostanaula River at Resaca, Ga.................................... 79 Coosa River at Riverside, Ala....................................... 81 Alabama River at Selma, Ala....................................... 83 Etowah River near Ball Ground, Ga................................ 85 Etowah River near Rome, Ga....................................... 88 Amicalola Creek near Potts Mountain, Ga........................... 90 Tallapoosa River at Sturdevant, Ala................................ 90 Tombigbee River at Columbus, Miss................................. 93 Tombigbee River at Epes, Ala...................................... 95 Black Warrior River near Cordova, Ala.............................. 96 Black Warrior River near Coal, Ala.................................. 98 Village Creek near Mulga, Ala...................................... 99 Camp Branch near Ensley, Ala..................................... 100 Pearl River basin....................................................... 101 Description........................................................ 101 Pearl River at Jackson, Miss........................................ 101 Summaries of discharge per square mile...................................... 103 Index.................................................................... 105 ILLUSTRATIONS. Page. PLATE I. Typical gaging stations: A, For bridge measurement; B, For wading measurement................................................... 12 II. Small Price current meters........................................ 12 III. Discharge, area, and mean velocity curves for Pea River at Pera, Ala.. 72 SURFACE WATER SUPPLY OF THE SOUTH ATLANTIC COAST AND EASTERN GULF OF MEXICO, 1910. By M. R. HALL and J. G. MATHERS. INTRODUCTION. AUTHORITY FOR INVESTIGATIONS. This volume contains results of measurements qf the flow of certain streams in the United States. The work was performed by the water- resources branch of the United States Geological Survey, either independently or in cooperation with private or State organizations. The organic law of the Geological Survey (20 Stat. L., p. 394) con tains the following paragraph: Provided, That this officer [the Director] shall have the direction of the geological survey and the classification of public lands and examination of the geological structure, mineral resources, and products of the national domain. As water is the most abundant and most valuable of the minerals, the investigation of water resources is authorized under the provision for examining mineral resources. The work has been supported since the fiscal year ending June 30, 1895, by appropriations in suc cessive sundry civil bills passed by Congress under the following item: For gaging the streams and determining the water supply of the United States, and for the investigation of underground currents and artesian wells, and for the prepara tion of reports upon the best methods of utilizing the water resources. The various appropriations that have been made for this purpose are as follows: Annual appropriations for the fiscal year ending June 30 1895............................................................... $12, 500 1896............................................................... 20,000 1897 to 1900, inclusive............................................... 50,000 1901 to 1902,inclusive............................................... 100,000 1903 to 1906,inclusive............................................... 200,000 1907............................................................... 150,000 1908 to 1910, inclusive............................................. 100,000 1911............................................................... 150,000 5 6 SUEFACE WATEE SUPPLY, 1910, PART II. SCOPE OF INVESTIGATIONS. These investigations are not complete nor are they inclusive of all the streams that might purposefully be studied. The scope of the work is limited by the appropriations available. The field covered is the widest and the character of the work is believed to be the best possible under the controlling conditions. The work would un doubtedly have greater scientific importance and ultimately be of more practical value if the money now expended for wide areas were concentrated on a few small drainage basins; but such a course is impossible, because general appropriations made by Congress are applicable to all parts of the country. Each part demands its pro portionate share of the benefits. It is essential that records of stream flow shall be kept during a period of years long enough to determine within reasonable limits the entire range of flow from the absolute maximum to the absolute minimum. The length of such a period manifestly differs for different streams. Experience has shown that the records for some streams should cover five to ten years, and those for other streams 20 years