Recharge Rates and Aquifer Hydraulic Characteristics for Selected Drainage Basins in Middle and East Tennessee
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Water-Resources Investigations Report 90-4015 RECHARGE RATES AND AQUIFER HYDRAULIC CHARACTERISTICS FOR SELECTED DRAINAGE BASINS IN MIDDLE AND EAST TENNESSEE Prepared by the U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY in cooperation with the TENNESSEE STATE PLANNING OFFICE and the TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT RECHARGE RATES AND AQUIFER HYDRAULIC CHARACTERISTICS FOR SELECTED DRAINAGE BASINS IN MIDDLE AND EAST TENNESSEE By Anne B. Hoos U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Water-Resources Investigations Report 90-4015 Prepared in cooperation with the TENNESSEE STATE PLANNING OFFICE and the TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT Nashville, Tennessee 1990 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR MANUEL LU JAN, JR., Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Dallas L. Peck, Director For additional information write to: Copies of this repoti can bepurchasedfiom: District Chief U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Geological Survey Books and Open-File Reports Section A-413 Federal Building Federal Center, Building 810 U.S. Courthouse Box 25425 Nashville, Tennessee37203 Denver, Colorado 80225 CONTENTS Abstract 1 Introduction 2 Purpose and scope 2 Acknowledgment 6 Geohydrologic characteristics of major aquifers 6 Selection and classification of drainage basins 7 Recharge rates 7 Procedure 7 Results 10 Aquifer hydraulic characteristics 11 Storage coefficient 19 Procedure 19 Results 20 Diffusivity and drainage density 22 Procedure 22 Results 23 Transmissivity 25 Procedure 25 Results 26 Summary 32 References cited 34 ILLUSTRATIONS Figure 1. Map showing location of the study area 3 2. Map showing location of drainage area boundaries and streamflow-gaging stations for study basins and major aquifers in the study area 4 3-5. Graphs showing: 3. Annual mean streamflow for Lick Creek at Mohawk, Tenn. (03467000), with selected representative “high,” “average,” and “low” flow years 9 4. Analysis of the streamflow hydrograph of Lick Creek at Mohawk, Tenn. (03467000) for water year 1950 12 5. Relation between recharge during the major rise period and net annual recharge 14 6. Hydrograph showing streamflow at Lick Creek at Mohawk, Tenn. (03467000) and water levels in well GR:J-2 at Bulls Gap, Tenn., water year 1965 21 7. Map showing location of test wells 31 . 111 TABLES Table 1. Net annual recharge rates estimated by hydrograph analysis 11 2. Net annual recharge rates estimated by hydrograph analysis and regression relation 15 3. Statistical summary of recharge rates during an average flow year by major aquifer 19 4. Basin-specific estimates of storage coefficient 20 5. Summary of storage coefficient by major aquifer 22 6. B&in-specific estimates of drainage density, hydraulic diffusivity, and transmissivity 24 7. Statistical summary of drainage density and hydraulic diffusivity by major aquifer 26 8. Statistical summary of transmissivity by major aquifer 27 9. Specific-capacity tests and site-specific estimates of transmissivity 28 FACTORS FOR CONVERTING THE INCH-POUND UNITS TO METRIC UNITS Multiply inch-pound unit bY To obtain metric unit inch (in.) 25.4 millimeter (mm) foot (ft) 0.3048 meter (m) foot squared per day (ft2/d) 0.09290 meter squared per day (m2/d) inch per pear (in/yr) 2.54 centimeter per year (cm/yr) mile (mi ) 1.609 kilometer (km) square mile (mi2) 2.590 square kilometer (km2) gallon per minute (gal/min) 0.06308 liter per second (Us) gallon per minute per foot 0.2070 liter per second per meter [ (gal/min)/ft] cubic foot per second (ft3/s) 0.02832 cubic meter per second (m3/s) Sea level: In this report “sea level” refers to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD of 1929)--a geodetic datum derived from a general adjustment of the first-order level nets of both the United States and Canada, formerly called Sea Level Datum of 1929. RECHARGE RATES AND AQUIFER HYDRAULIC CHARACTERISTICS FOR SELECTED DRAINAGE BASINS IN MIDDLE AND EAST TENNESSEE By Anne B. Hoos ABSTRACT 11.7 in&) and lowest for basins underlain by the Central Basin aquifer (mean value 5.6 in&). Mean Quantitative information concerning aquifer recharge values for the Cumberland Plateau, High- hydrologii and hydraulic characteristics is needed land Rim, and Valley and Ridge aquifers are 6.5, to manage the development of ground-water 7.4, and 6.6 inlyr, respectively. resources. These characteristics are poorly defined for the bedrock aquifers in Middle and East Ten- Gravity drainage characterizes ground-water nessee where demand for water is increasing. This flow in most sulficial bedrock aquifer in Tennessee. report presents estimates of recharge rate, storage Accordingly, a gravity yield analysis, which com- coefficient, diffusivity, and transmissivity for repre- pares concurrent water-level and streamflow sentative drainage basins in Middle and East Ten- hydrographs, was used to estimate aquifer storage nessee, as determined from analyses of stream- coeflcient for nine study basins. The basin esti- aquifer interactions. The drainage basins have mates range from 0.002 to 0.140; however, most been grouped according to the underlying major estimates are within a narrow range of values, from aquifer, then statistical descriptions applied to each 0.01 to 0.025. Accordingly, storage coeficient is group, in order to define area1 distribution of these estimated to be 0.01 for all aquifers in Middle and characteristics. East Tennessee,with the exception of the aquifer in the innerpart of the Central Basin, for which storage Aquifer recharge rates are estimated for rep- coeflcient is estimated to be 0.002. resentative “low, ” “average,” and “high” flow years for 63 drainage basins using hydrograph analysis Estimates of aquifer hydraulic diffusivity are techniques. Net annual recharge during average derived from estimates of the streamflow recession flow years for all basins ranges from 4.1 to 16.8 inlyr index and drainage density for 75 drainag basins; $ (inches per year), with a mean value of 7.3 in&. In values range from 3,300 to 130,000 ft Id Cfeet general, recharge rates are highest for basins under- squared per day). Basin-specific and site-specific lain by the Blue Ridge aquifer (mean value estimates of transmissivity are computed from 1 estimates of hydraulic diffusivity and specific- acteristics of the State’s aquifers is essential for capacity test data, respectively. Basin-specific, or wise development of the ground-water areal, estimates of transmissivity range from 22 to resources. For example, a process that can 1,300 ft21d, with a mean of 240 ft21d In general, benefit from additional knowledge of aquifer amal transmkGvity is highestfor basins underlain properties is the planning and management of by the Cumberland Plateau aquifer (mean value suburban development. In order to determine 480 ft21d) and lowest for basins un&rlain by the the maximum population density that can be sup- Central Basin aquifer (mean value 79fr2/d). Mean plied water by a well or group of wells, the plan- transmissivity values for the Highland Rim, Valley ner needs to estimate the yield that each well can and Ridge, and Blue Ridge aquifer are 320,140, provide without drawing from storage. This and 120 ft21d respectively. Site-specific estimates yield is approximately equal to the recharge that of transmkGvity, computed from specific-capacity can be captured in the source area supplying data from 118 test wells in Middle and East Ten- water to a pumped well, so that knowledge of the nesseerange from 2 to 93,000ft21d with a mean of recharge rate and of the aquifer hydraulic char- 2,600 ft2/d Mean transmissivity values for the acteristics that influence the size and shape of Cumberland Plateau, Highland Rim, Central the source area will permit estimation of yield. Basin, Valley and Ridge, and Blue Ridge aquifers are 2,800,1,200, 7,800, 390, and 65Oft Id, respec- In response to the expected increase in tively. ground-water use, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Tennessee State Planning Office and the Tennessee Department of Health INTRODUCTION and Environment, began a study in 1985 to assess recharge and aquifer hydraulic characteristics of Growth of population and industry in Ten- shallow, unconfined aquifers in the eastern nessee has resulted in an increased demand for three-quarters of the State (fig. 1). As part of this water. Ground water has commonly been ig- study, aquifer properties have been estimated for nored as a potential water-supply source because selected drainage basins and well sites using of the uncertainty of obtaining adequate yields streamflow and specific-capacity test data. The from many of Tennessee’s aquifers. This situa- study area is subdivided into five broadly defined tion is particularly evident in Middle and East physiographic provinces, with differing charac- Tennessee, where recharge and flow systems in teristics. These areas, which have been the carbonate, sandstone, and crystalline rock delineated and described in previous investiga- aquifers are poorly understood. Local ground- tions, are shown in figure 2. Mean and median water availability studies that have been con- values of the aquifer properties are calculated ducted in several parts of these regions have and compared for these physiographic provinces, shown a great range of aquifer properties. Large which correspond to five major aquifer units. parts of these regions have not been included in any of the local studies. Purpose and Scope Most communities in Middle and East Ten- nessee rely on streams for their water supply. The purpose of this investigation is to Optimal development and management of water assess recharge and aquifer hydraulic charac- resources in these areas may require conjunctive teristics of shallow, unconfined aquifers in Mid- use of surface water and ground water, especially dle and East Tennessee. This report presents the during periods of low stream flow. Additional results of the investigation and describes the knowledge of the hydrologic and hydraulic char- methods used to estimate recharge and aquifer 2 357- 0 50 100 MILES 0 50 100 KILOMETERS Figure 1 .--Location of the study area in Tennessee.