Water— Essential Resource of the Southern Basin,

84°30' EXPLANATION Introduction Economic Activity Drainage subbasin boundary in the southern Flint River Basin— Water Quality Wildlife and Endangered Species What Is Being Done to Protect Water Resources? 32°30' Southern Flint River Basin encompasses approximately 5,800 square miles Abundant water resources of the Flint River Basin have played Georgia ranks Overall, there are few surface- or ground-water The swamps and wet- Scientific Studies and Monitoring Ground-water monitoring well 84° among the top a major role in the history and development of southwestern Continuous (48) quality issues in the area. Pesticide and nutrient lands of southwestern To ensure that adequate water supplies are available in south- Georgia. The Flint River—along with its tributaries, wetlands, and five states in concentrations in stream water within the Georgia provide unique Real-time (12)—Continuous recorder with satellite telemetry Real-time data at wells western Georgia, the GaEPD—in cooperation with the USGS— production of updated every 4 hours and displayed on the Web swamps—and the productive aquifers of the river basin are and gaging stations subbasins generally are below current drinking- plant and animal habi- has implemented scientific studies to better understand the Real-time streamflow data-collection gaging station (21) essential components of the area’s diverse ecosystems. These peanuts, pecans, can be accessed on water standards (Frick and others, 1998). tats. The Swamp of hydrologic system in the southern Flint River Basin. In these resources also are necessary for sustained agricultural, industrial, cotton, peaches, the World Wide Web at Nitrate concentrations in ground water rarely Toa—also referred to as studies, researchers are: and municipal activities. Increasing, and in some cases conflicting, rye, and toma- MACON http://waterdata.usgs. the Chickasawhatchee Buena gov/ga/nwis/rt exceed the drinking-water standard of 10 milli- • Collecting new hydraulic-property data for the Upper demand for water makes careful monitoring and wise planning and toes (Georgia Cotton field in the Kinchafoonee–Muckalee Creek 19 Swamp—is one of the subbasin. Photo by L. Elliott Jones, USGS Vista grams per liter (mg/L) (U.S. Environmental Floridan and surficial aquifers; management of southwestern Georgia’s water resources critical to Department of largest remaining, Protection Agency, 2000; Frick and others, 1998). • Obtaining accurate locations of pumping wells; the ecological and economic future of the area. This poster Agriculture, 2003). Irrigated agriculture provides Oglethorpe 26 Cypress trees in swamp. Photo by Nancy A. Norton, FRWPPC MARION SCHLEY relatively intact, fresh- presents the major issues associated with increasing competition much of the employment and income of the water swamps in the Southeastern United States. The swamp • Collecting and compiling ground-water-level, stream for water resources in the southern Flint River Basin. southern Flint River Basin as well as the tax base is a critical site for migratory birds, freshwater fish and mus- seepage, and offstream spring-discharge data; and that supports education, health care, and other F • Developing a transient finite-element model of ground-water l sels, and animal and plant communities. Many of these i n 2000 water use from Ellaville local community services. Abundant water t plant and animal species—such as the bald eagle, wood flow to simulate seasonal ground-water levels, stream- counties within the Southern Flint River Basin resources in the subbasins have been a factor in R stork, mussels (shinyrayed pocketbook, oval pigtoe, gulf aquifer interaction, and pumping-induced streamflow i APALACHICOLA– (Hutson and others, 2004) v DOOLY industry location decisions. e reduction. Computer simulations are used to help scien- CHATTAHOOCHEE–FLINT r moccasinshell), swamp buckthorn, and variable-leaved (ACF) RIVER BASIN Atlanta Water-quality sampling. Photo by Debbie Warner, USGS Indian plantain—are listed as feder- tifically predict future water availability. Surface Ground Hunting and fishing are important to the economy Americus 75 water water Kinchafoonee– ally or State threatened or endan- In addition to these scientific studies, the USGS—in coopera- 382 397 of the area. Reservoirs—such as Lakes Blackshear, Mgal/d Mgal/d Vienna F C l Muckalee Creek gered. “The Chickasawhatchee tion with the GaEPD—operates continuous streamflow and i h n Road 91 ALABAMA a t GEORGIA Chehaw, and Seminole—are widely used by t t 12L344 EXPLANATION a h subbasin Swamp purchase is our largest single ground-water-level monitoring networks in the southern Flint o Preston o 108 million gallons residents and visitors. Participation in noncon- ia c Flint Well and NO3 as N h

e 12L357 R per day (Mgal/d) land purchase in recent history,” said River Basin. Many of the sites are “real time” and are linked e Middle Flint River subbasin Wellfield i 41 concentration, v River 280 R e sumptive activities—such as canoeing, bird of surface water STEWART

r i

v in mg/L, e Basin were used by one site Old Pretor (http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ga/nwis/rt)

r David Waller, Director of the Wildlife by satellite telemetry . 12L277 12L350 in the ACF River Basin watching, SUMTER 12L061 November 2001 62 in Early County 12L339 WEBSTER M Lake Lonesome Road Resource Division of the Georgia These data provide water planners with information necessary 12L348 Less than 4 outdoor e 32 u ° Blackshear iv 12L373 c 4 to 6 Department of Natural Resources to manage the area’s water resources. Southern Flint k 12K175 photography, a 12K129 K l 6 to 10 River Basin e N (GaDNR) “… and will allow us to in e Cordele and hiking— 520 c Greater than 10

280 er Road h C anderbilt Dr 91 0 0.5 1 MILE a V 12K101 Agricultural Water Conservation r preserve an environmentally signif-

f Riv N is increasing. o e Georgia Veterans o e 0 0.5 1 KILOMETER Hard Up Road n k State Park F e icant piece of property for future Irrigation is costly, so farmers are LO e Base from U.S. Geological Survey 1:100,000-scale digital data RI C D re generations as well as provide many enhancing the efficiency of irrigation A ek Wood stork, an endangered species. G 19 Concentrations of nitrate greater than 10 mg/L have been detected in ulf Photo by George Gentry of CRISP water from the Upper Floridan aquifer near Albany. These nitrate levels opportunities for outdoor education water use by installing low-pressure Me U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service xico occur in a small area and are not indicative of a regional problem. The and recreational activities such Dam USGS is conducting a study—in cooperation with Albany Water, Gas, nozzles and endgun shutoffs, and

r and Light Commission—to monitor ground-water levels and water as hunting, fishing, bird watching, hiking and canoeing” improving uniformity and efficiency Bird watching is becoming increasingly e v quality in the Upper Floridan aquifer near the wellfield. popular. Photo above by Nancy A. Norton, i (accessed April 21, 2003, at http://nature.org/ 300 of their systems (Flint River Center-pivot irrigation Flint River Water Planning and Policy R TERRELL Photo by Mark Masters, FRWPPC Center (FRWPPC). Photo at right by RANDOLPH wherewework/northamerica/states/ Regional Water Council, 2001). Mark R. Welford, Georgia Southern EXPLANATION 82 t georgia/press/press438.html). Several organizations in the area work together to provide University. n i Land use in the southern Cuthbert l Dawson irrigation management and technology development research Flint River Basin LEE F A portion of the area was WORTH The Flint River is free to assist farmers in improving efficiency of agricultural water Urban and suburban Leesburg flowing (no impound- recently designated as the ments) for about 21 use and enhance net revenue. These organizations include: Agriculture Swamp of Toa Important Bird Albany miles between Lake Mercer Mill Blackshear Dam Area (IBA). The aim of the • Albany State University, Flint River Water Planning and Forest Spring TURNER (Crisp County Hydro- Shinyrayed pocketbook, an endangered mussel. Abrams National IBA program is to Photo by Sean Kelly and Stephen W. Golladay, Policy Center; Forested wetland Blue Hole electric Dam) and the subbasin Lake upper end of Lake identify and conserve key J.W. Jones Ecological Research Center, Newton, Georgia Water • Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission; Flint River Chehaw Chehaw. Down- breeding and feeding sites for birds. IBAs are considered by Urban and suburban data from stream to Lake • U.S. Department of Agriculture National Peanut Research U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1991; C 11L002 Seminole are approx- the North American Bird Conservation Initiative to be excep- h

Data for other categories from i Laboratory; and c imately 75 miles of U.S. Geological Survey, 1977–80 0 10 20 30 MILES CALHOUN k tionally important for bird conservation (accessed April 21, a free-flowing river.

s , just north of Albany, Georgia. a Albany • The University of Georgia, Stripling Irrigation Research Park. 0 10 20 30 KILOMETERS Morgan w 12L028 Photo by Nancy A. Norton, FRWPPC 2003, at http://www.audubon.org/bird/iba). h Blow Hole 82 a

t c h Radium Spring e e 31°30' C Swamp of Toa. Photo courtesy of Chip Evans, r

I Lenz Design and Communications, Inc. c DOUGHERTY

h

a Swamp of Toa w Ground-Water/Surface-Water Interactions Drought Protection Act —Influences agricultural water use Flood Tracking a Wilson Blue 62 Open-File Report 01-325 y U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY n Spring RECHARGE o The lower Flint River subbasin is characterized c EXPLANATION Hydrogeology of the Southern Flint River Basin h by karst topography in which sinkholes, The Flint River Drought Protection Flood-Tracking Chart for the Flint River Basin, Georgia a Wall Spring Sinkhole w r Direction of ground- caves, and underground drainage have formed Act of 2001 authorizes compensation This Flint River Basin Flood-Tracking Chart can be used by local citizens and emergency response personnel Flint River near Griffin (02344500) 1929, 1937–2000 a Vine Spring Spring to record the latest river stage and predicted flood-crest information along the Flint River and Kinchafoonee, C Add 711.44 to y Land water flow Muckalee, Ichawaynochaway, and Spring Creeks. By comparing the current stage (water-surface level above stage to convert because of dissolution of limestone comprising to farmers for removing agricultural Flood-Tracking Chart a datum) and predicted flood crest to the recorded peak stages of previous floods, emergency response 26 to elevation e Crystal Cove Spring above sea level 24.22 surface personnel and residents can make informed decisions concerning the threat to life and property. 24 e

THEM SERIES AQUIFER OR CONFINING UNIT LITHOLOGY REMARKS 1994 the Upper Floridan aquifer. Lack of tributaries acreage from irrigation during a This chart shows a map of the basin with the location 22 eet) h of selected real-time river stage stations, which are To convert Stage to Sea Level 20 ERA SYSTEM THICKNESS(f Punks Ramp Spring SURFICIAL AQUIFER listed by name and station number. For each site, 17.90 18.00 a EXAMPLE: Flint River near Culloden (02347500) 18 colored bars represent the five highest recorded peak If stage equals 33.30 feet, and sea level conversion factor (datum) equals 17.00 16.70 STAGE, IN FEET 16 1949 and little surface-water drainage between SYSTEM severe drought year. stages and the years in which they occurred. The 334.54 feet, elevation above sea level is 33.30 + 334.54 = 367.84 feet 1929

w 1942 y 1971 Stream white bar provides a scale on which to record the most NOTE: It's important to know your home's elevation. feet 14 Not a National Holocene Sand e Unconsolidated recently reported river stage from the U.S. Geological Weather Service 12 forecast point

nar e r Albany and Lake Seminole indicates under- Survey (USGS). The USGS Georgia District displays and Blakely l ve sediments available real-time river stage data on the World clay o Ri Wide Web at http://water.usgs.gov/ga/nwis/rt. Flint River near Culloden (02347500) 1913–31,1937–2000 ground drainage; most surface water either CONFINING UNIT For each of the selected stations that is a flood- Add 334.54 to o 45.73 Pleistocene forecast point, the predicted flood-crest information GEORGIA stage to convert 42 to elevation 1994 Quater C from the National Weather Service (NWS) can be above sea level Surficial aquifer/ WILL DROUGHT BE DECLARED ON MARCH 1? Each March 1st, 40 38.40 38.00 Not a primary source of flows into wetlands and then seeps into the recorded. USGS data are used by the NWS for their 38 34.70 EARLY flood forecasting models. The NWS routinely 36 34.39 Predicted 1929 20–80 34 1990 upper semiconfining unit broadcasts this forecast information to the news flood crest:

water, but has been used 32 1949 Pliocene Newton as long as this legislation is in effect, the Director of the GaEPD media and on National Oceanic and Atmospheric 1971 27 19 ground, or infiltrates directly into the ground. Solution Clay 30 for domestic purposes. Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio (NWR). 28 26

Current NWR broadcast frequencies can be STAGE, IN FEET BAKER cavity must announce whether or not drought conditions exist. accessed at http://www.srh.noaa.gov. 24 Predicted 22 date and time: Weathered 20 *18 Miocene limestone at Preston (02350600) 1943, 1948–78, 1987–2000 Add 337.7 to Gage Flint River at Montezuma (02349500) 1897, 1905–2000 house stage to convert to elevation Add 255.83 to above sea level 34.11 84 14 stage to convert ° Limestone to elevation 91 (A) October 1999 12.16 Predicted 32 1994 above sea level Oligocene 12 11.66 Information used to make drought decision: 11.40 flood crest: N 30 C and dolomite 10.0 1990 Predicted 9.70 1994 27.40 Flint River Basin, Georgia 10 1943 28 flood crest: 26.00 26.05 UPPER FLORIDAN AQUIFER 25.20 r 26 1948 1929 8 1978

151 STAGE, IN FEET e Predicted

t Camilla 1990 24 Upper water-bearing zone • Water levels in nine USGS monitoring wells open to the Upper Floridan aquifer, 1897

*7 date and time: 1949

e STAGE, IN FEET n 6 22 Predicted idan k i date and time: Major source of water l er *20 er v NOT TO SCALE Modified from Spechler and Schiffer, 1995 Sandy F i • Flow data from five USGS streamgaging stations in the lower Flint River Basin, and *National Weather Service flood stage 18 20–270 for irrigation and R Kinchafoonee Creek near Dawson Middle unit limestone Leesburg (02350900) 1943, 1948–66, 1973, 1985–2000 Flint River at Albany (02352500) 1893–2000

aquif t domestic use. • Precipitation forecast from The University of Georgia environmental Add 211.74 to Upper n stage to convert 43.00 Add 150.03 to i to elevation Civic Center parking stage to convert l 28 26.56 lot is inundated 149 above sea level 40 1994 to elevation Spring Creek subbasin F 26 37.80 above sea level Upper Flor monitoring network. 38 36.92 Lower water-bearing zone 1994 Predicted 24 23.00 36 34.40 34.72 21.59 flood crest: 34 1925 Predicted 22 1998 flood crest: 20.46 20.44 32 1966 1943 MITCHELL 1929 20

1998 30 1966 18 1990 28

Southern Flint River Basin STAGE, IN FEET 26 WORTH STAGE, IN FEET 16 Predicted y Glauconitic oic date and time: 24 Predicted 10–100 14 Lisbon confining unit 22 date and time: limestone LEE *13 12 *20 tiar 18 er Muckalee Creek at State Highway 195 near Leesburg Eocene T Cenoz Sand Colquitt NO—farmers are allowed to irrigate YES—an auction (02351890) 1943, 1948, 1980–2000 Flint River at Newton (02353000) 1925, 1929, 1938–2000 Wilson Blue Spring south of Albany. Water discharges Add 220.0 to 45.25 Add 110.2 to Middle stage to convert 41.30 Area around stage to convert Lower Flint River 29.10 to elevation Courthouse to elevation is held allowing all 22 40 1994 above sea level using streams that flow year-round. Prepared in cooperation with 1925 is inundated above sea level from the Upper Floridan aquifer into the Flint River. 38 36.54

Fossiliferous 1994 Pelham r 20 Flint River Basin 36 34.90 Predicted limestone 34 Predicted

C 1998 eligible farmers to flood crest: Real-time river 31.70 flood crest: 0–270 Major source of water 18 17.06 32 Photo by Debbie Warner, USGS subbasin e 126 stage station 1966 Claiborne aquifer Heli Hole e 30 16 28 1944 for public supply. MILLER l 1998 a *15 26

bid voluntarily on STAGE, IN FEET 14.66 13.91 k 13.48 0 10 20 30 MILES STAGE, IN FEET Sand DOOLY 14 Predicted *24 Predicted Cow c date and time: 22 date and time: 1985 u 1948 0 20 30 KILOMETERS Purple bankclimber mussel. 1991 10 New Hole 12 20

er a price per acre Glauconitic Pasture M Photo by Sean Kelly and 18 w Ichawaynochaway Creek at Milford k Albany limestone Spring DOUGHERTY Spring Creek near Iron City (02357000) 1938–78, 1983–2000 (02353500) 1906–07, 1916, 1925, 1940–2000 Flint River at Bainbridge (02356000) 1897, 1905–96, 1999–2000

Lo e Stephen W. Golladay, J.W. Jones basis for acreage SUMTER Add 85.7 to Add 150.3 to Add 58.06 to e stage to convert stage to convert stage to convert 24.40 Ecological Research Center, to elevation to elevation to elevation r 26 46 they are willing to 24 above sea level above sea level above sea level 44

(B) August 2000 1998 24 23.20 42 C Newton, Georgia 22 40.90 Sand 40 Predicted In some areas, sand and 19.90 19.95 22 38 37.70 37.20 19.43 1994 20 1925 flood crest: refrain from irri- 18.86 19.59 36 34.30 20 34 33.20 1929 1994 1994 18 1948 32 limestone layers in the 1975 18

17.20 1897 1998

45.1 1995

30 1912 16 16.20 STAGE, IN FEET STAGE, IN FEET STAGE, IN FEET 28 CRISP gating. Starting with lowest, bids are 16 15.08 26 1916 *25 Predicted Hatchetigbee Formation, 14 Not a National Not a National 24 14 1925 date and time: Weather Service Weather Service 22 GRADY 1978 Glauconitic r forecast point forecast point e TERRELL 12 12 20 Tuscahoma Formation, v accepted until target acres have 18 0–260 Wilcox confining unit sand Donalsonville i LEE Nanafalia Formation, and Leesburg R t been removed (Georgia Department For real-time streamflow data and other water-resources information, Flood-Tracking Chart prepared in cooperation with access the USGS Water Resources of Georgia Home Page at upper Clayton Formation Hog Parlor in TURNER l of Natural Resources, 2001). http://ga.water.usgs.gov provide ample supplies 27 36 F For NWS predicted peaks and other information, access the Southeast River Forecast Center Home Page at Clay for domestic use. DECATUR http://www.srh.noaa.gov/serfc 31° WORTH CALHOUN DOUGHERTY aleocene N P LEE WORTH AUCTION ACRES LESS THAN TARGET?

g Major source of water for r Floods have played an important role in Georgia’s history. n e 0–265 irrigation, industrial, and i EARLY v r i Clayton aquifer Limestone 84 R public-supply use. In the p YES—“non-voluntary irrigation acreage reduction” begins with the most recent SEMINOLE S Climax BAKER The USGS—in cooperation with other Federal, State, and local carbonate area, the aquifer Cr Bainbridge e t permit issued and continues with the next most “junior in time” permits (“last-in, Cave le 126 lin MITCHELL consists primarily of lime- a F k c COLQUITT first-out” or LIFO). These permit owners would be required, in LIFO order, to forgo agencies—operates a Flood Monitoring System in the Flint stone and provides ample u N MILLER C M water for municipal, agricul- h use of their water permit at a price per acre equal to the average price paid in the a 0–390 Providence aquifer Albany DOUGHERTY t Flood-Tracking Sand tural, and industrial supply. t River Basin. To receive a copy of the above a voluntary auction (Georgia Department of Natural Resources, 2001). h 0 1 2 3 MILES SEMINOLE Base modified from U.S. Geological Survey o 84 o 1:100,000-scale digital data c Chart—Flint River Basin, Georgia (Cochran and others, 2001), Where absent, the Providence Sand, h 0 1 2 3 KILOMETERS e 0–300 Silty sand Ripley Formation, and upper Cusseta e oic Providence–Ripley confining unit 0 10 20 MILES R Sand form a single aquifer Jim Woodruff Lock and Dam. DECATUR GRADY which includes flood emergency phone numbers and a chart Forms a single aquifer with the EXPLANATION 0 10 20 KILOMETERS The Flint River Drought Protection Act was enacted to better Mesoz 0–150 Cusseta aquifer Sand Providence Sand and Ripley Photo by Lynn J. Torak, USGS Cretaceous Stream seepage—Hachures indicate net Formation downdip and eastward Base from U.S. Geological Survey for recording current stage to compare to predicted flood crest, Upper Cretaceous Glauconitic sand loss in stream discharge between stations 1:100,000-scale digital files manage the water resources of Georgia during periods of 0–700 Blufftown aquifer The Jim Woodruff Lock and Dam impounds the Clay and marl Seminole Lake contact the USGS Georgia District Office at 770-903-9100 or Flint and Chattahoochee Rivers at their confluence, Seminole drought. A drought was declared on March 1, 2001, and 200–1,200 Eutaw and Tuscaloosa Formations Sand and clay creating Lake Seminole. The USGS is conducting a State Park 126 Surface-water monitoring station at http://ga2.er.usgs.gov/HydroWatch/FloodTracking.cfm. study on Lake Seminole, in cooperation with the and measured stream discharge— EXPLANATION an irrigated-acreage auction was held. The result was to Modified from Clarke and others, 1984 (lower Eocene and deeper); and Hicks and others, 1987 (middle Eocene and upper) Base modified from Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GaEPD), to: In cubic feet per second Simulated stream reach sensitivity to additional pumpage Real-time river-stage data can be accessed at U.S. Geological Survey voluntarily eliminate, for the balance of 2001, surface-water • develop a water budget for the lake; Ground water is the principal source of water for irrigation, 1:100,000-scale digital data Stream seepage along Muckalee Creek near Low Medium High http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ga/nwis/rt • compare 2001 and pre-Lake Seminole ground-water Climax Cave in the lower Flint River subbasin. irrigation on 33,101 acres at an average accepted bid of Leesburg, Georgia, (A) October 1999 and Site containing federally protected mussel species purple industry, and domestic uses in the southern Flint River Basin. and surface-water flows; Photo by Alan M. Cressler, USGS (B) August 2000. The Upper Floridan aquifer typi- bankclimber (Elliptoideus sloatianus) $135 per acre. A drought also was declared for the 2002 cally discharges water to stream channels, which Aquifers consist of layers of sand or limestone that are separated • evaluate possibility of a substantial amount of water 15 MILES Water from the Upper Floridan aquifer forms a 0 5 10 constitutes the majority of baseflow. Drought A ground-water model was used to simulate stream reach growing season, and 40,894 acres were voluntarily removed entering the ground-water system from the lake, pool in Climax Cave, Grady County. The crystal- Jim Woodruff conditions typically decrease both runoff and sensitivity to ground-water pumpage for sites containing by confining units of low permeability. Discharge of water from flowing beneath Jim Woodruff Lock and Dam, and clear pool is about 10 feet in diameter and 8 feet from irrigation. The average 2002 bid was $128 per acre Lock and Dam ground-water discharge to streams. These federally protected mussel species such as the purple References Cited entering Florida; and 0 5 10 15 KILOMETERS deep. Water levels fluctuate as much as 5 feet. the aquifers to wetlands, streams, and springs is vital to maintain decreases, from May 1998 through August 2000, bankclimber (Elliptoideus sloatianus) in the lower • assess the likelihood of increased dissolution in Caves are common in karst areas, such as the (Flint River Regional Water Council, Inc., 2002; McDowell, Albertson, P.N., and L.J. Torak, 2002, Simulated effects of ground-water pumpage on stream-aquifer flow in the vicinity of federally protected species resulted in record or near-record low streamflows Apalachicola–Chattahoochee–Flint River Basin of freshwater mussels in the lower Apalachicola–Chattahoochee–Flint River basin (Subarea 4), southeastern Alabama, northwestern Florida, and wildlife and plant species. the karst limestone of the lake bottom leading to lower Flint River subbasin, causing much of 2002). No drought was declared for 2003 or 2004. southwestern Georgia: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 02-4016, 23 p. sinkhole collapse and sudden lake drainage. occurred throughout the subbasins (Mosner, 2002). (Albertson and Torak, 2002). Barber, N.L., and T.C. Stamey, 2000, Droughts in Georgia: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 00-380, 2 p. the drainage to go underground. Clarke, J.S., R.E. Faye, and Rebekah Brooks, 1984, Hydrogeology of the Clayton aquifer of southwest Georgia: U.S. Geological Survey Hydrologic Atlas 13, 6 sheets. Cochran, B.L., B.E. McCallum, T.C. Stamey, and C.J. Wipperfurth, 2001, Flood-tracking chart—Flint River Basin, Georgia:. U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 01-325, 1 sheet. Flint River Regional Water Council, Inc., Winter 2001, Lower Flint Drought Protection Act: Water Stewards, p. 19. Flint River Regional Water Council, Inc., Spring 2002, State conducts second drought auction: Water Stewards, p. 9. Frick, E.A., D.J. Hippe, G.R. Buell, C.A. Couch, E.H. Hopkins, D.J. Wangsness, and J.W. Garrett, 1998, Water quality in the Apalachicola– Chattahoochee–Flint River basin, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida, 1992–95: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1164, 38 p. Currently, “the states… are battling over water sharing in federal courts in Washington, Georgia Department of Agriculture, 2003, Georgia agricultural facts: Georgia Agricultural Statistics Service, Edition, 91 p. 1985 USGS began 1988 Permit required 1993 USGS addressed DC, Gainesville, Ga., and Birmingham [, Alabama, and] many legal experts have Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division, 2001, Flint River Drought Protection Environmental Rule, chap. 391-3-28. Timeline of Scientific Studies, Water Management, and Major Events Affecting Water Resources Golden, H.G., and G.W. Hess, 1991, Georgia Floods and Droughts in Paulson, R.W., E.B. Chase, R.S. Roberts, and D.W. Moody, compilers, National water , Georgia

y cooperative study by GaEPD for Ground-Water Supply predicted the fight will end in the U.S. Supreme Court” (Shelton, 2004) summary 1988–89—hydrologic events and floods and droughts: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 2375, p. 239–246. Hicks, D.W., H.E. Gill, and S.A. Longsworth, 1987, Hydrogeology, chemical quality, and availability of ground water in the Upper Floridan aquifer, Albany with U.S. Army agricultural irrigation Element of area, Georgia: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 87-4145, 52 p.

, USGS 2003 Portion of Swamp of Toa designated as National Important Bird Area; Explanation for drought and flood maps , Alban Corps of Engineers Comprehensive Study Hutson, S.S., N.L. Barber, J.F. Kenny, K.S. Linsey, D.S. Lumia, and M.A. Maupin, 2004, Estimated use of water in the United States in 2000: passage of House Bill 579 requiring measurement of all agricultural water use; U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1268, 46 p. ylor McDowell, Robin, 2002, Going once, going twice . . . Georgia’s Flint River Drought Protection Irrigation Auction Program: Groundwater Management a

Recurrence interval, in years Drought Flood T Compact negotiations lapse Districts Association (GMDA) News, v. 2, no. 2, p. 2–3.

y 1984 U.S. Army Corps of Cressler Mosner, M.S., 2002, Stream-aquifer relations and the potentiometric surface of the Upper Floridan aquifer in the lower Apalachicola–Chattahoochee–Flint 1957 Construction 1970–80 Irrigation water use Engineers completed Apalachicola–Chattahoochee–Flint River Basin in parts of Georgia, Florida, and Alabama, 1999–2000: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 02-4244, 30 p. Insignificant 2002 State of Pierce, R.R, N.L. Barber, and H.R. Stiles, 1984, Georgia irrigation, 1970–80: A decade of growth: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations on Jim Woodruff in Georgia increased by a factor water assessment for River Basin Conflict Report 83-4177, 29 p.

y Alan M. 1997 Water supply concerns led Georgia purchases Shelton, Stacy, Reporter, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, January 19, 2004, accessed on March 15, 2004, at http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/ 10 to 25 (Between 1 in 10 chance and 1 in Lock and Dam of about 12 (Pierce and others, 1984) ACF River Basin Water Management Study 1990 Alabama sues 1991 Federal Alabama, Florida, and Georgia to metro/0104/19waterwars.html 25 chance of occurring in any given year) completed, creating y Dab and Cla a portion of Spechler, R.M., and D.M. Schiffer, 1995, Springs of Florida: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet FS-151-95. (U.S. Army Corps of U.S. Army Corps of lawsuit suspended sign a preliminary interstate water Stamey, T.C., 1996, Summary of data-collection activities and effects of flooding from Tropical Storm Alberto in parts of Georgia, Alabama, and Florida, Lake Seminole Photo b Swamp of Toa Greater than 50 (At least 1 in 50 1930 Construction on July 1994: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 96-228, 23 p. Engineers, 1984) Engineers over plan compact, intended to lay ground- in lieu of Compre- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1973, Survey report on Apalachicola, Chattahoochee, and Flint Rivers, Alabama, Florida, and Georgia: U.S. Army

chance of occurring in any given year) dam completed, creating Photo b for wildlife to increase surface- hensive Study work for the equitable use and Corps of Engineers, Atlanta, Georgia, 44 p. Lake Blackshear 1930–35 1950–57 management area U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1984, Ground water section in Apalachicola–Chattahoochee–Flint River Basin water management study: U.S. Army 1938–44 1977 USGS began cooperative water allocation availability of water resources in the Severe drought Severe 1968–71 1980–82 Corps of Engineers, and States of Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, variously paged. 1903–05 1910 Wells open to the Regional water-resources program 1985–89 region while protecting river ecology U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1991, Census of population and housing, 1990: Public Law 94-171 (Alabama, Florida, and Georgia): Washington, D.C., Regional to serve Atlanta Severe Clayton aquifer ceased throughout drought regional Drought, with Albany Water, Gas, Regional drought 1998–2002 U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, digital data series, CD–ROM. drought U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2000, Maximum contaminant levels (Subpart B of part 141, National Primary Drinking-water Regulations). drought flowing at Albany United States (Golden and drought variable and Light Commission (Golden and Hess, 1991) Regional drought U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, Title 40, parts 100–149, revised as of July 1, 2000, p. 334–560. Accessed January 15, 2003, at (Golden and http:/www.epa.gov/safewater/mcl.html (Clarke and others, 1984) (Golden and Hess, 1991) (Golden and severity (Barber and Stamey, 2000) Hess, 1991) U.S. Geological Survey, 1977–80, Land use and land cover digital data, 1972–78, Apalachicola, Atlanta, Athens, Dothan, Greenville, Macon, Phenix City, Hess, 1991) Hess, 1991) Rome, Tallahassee, and Waycross quadrangles: U.S. Geological Survey, scale 1:250,000. 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2004 By Debbie Warner, Hydrologist, U.S. Geological Survey, and For more information, please write to: & LIGHT W 20 S C W 5 Virgil Norton, Director, Flint River Water Planning and Policy Center A O District Chief G M M , Well 11L002 Well 12L028 I (FRWPPC), Albany State University (ASU) R S 10 U.S. Geological Survey E S

T 1916 Flood, 1948 Flood, I 60

1925 Flood, 1970s Rapid expansion 1972 Georgia General Assembly O 1994 Flood, more 1881 First flowing-artesian A 2000 Flint River 2001 Georgia 2004 House Bill 237

N Peachtree Business Center

W Design and layout by Caryl J. Wipperfurth, U.S. Geological Survey 8–21 inches 8–11 inches 1927 U.S. Congress authorized 6–13 inches 15 well in Georgia near Albany. of irrigation pumpage passed Ground-Water Use Act CE, IN FEET than 13 inches rainfall Drought Protection General Assembly enacted, creating A CE, IN FEET 3039 Amwiler Road, Suite 130 A 100 the Army Corps of Engineers L IA A Special thanks to Nancy A. Norton, Associate Professor, FRWPPC, ASU rainfall (Golden rainfall (Golden BA G Albany designated as Artesian rainfall (Golden requiring permitting of all non- NY OR 20 from Tropical Storm Act was enacted by created Joint Comprehensive to study the Apalachicola River , GE and Charles Irwin, President, Albany Audubon Society Atlanta, GA 30360-2824 City (accessed April 21, 2003, at and Hess, 1991) and Hess, 1991) and Hess, 1991) agricultural users withdrawing 140 Alberto during 24-hour 25 GaEPD to ensure Comprehensive Statewide Water Y MEAN DEPTH BELO

and its tributaries (U.S. Army Y MEAN DEPTH BELO Special funding contributed by The Flint River Regional Water Council, Inc. http://www.albanyga.com/cvb/hist1871.html) 100,000 gallons per day or more period (Stamey,1996) that Flint River Management LAND SURF

AIL Water Plan Study LAND SURF AIL

Corps of Engineers, 1973) D 180 30 D 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 flows are adequate Committee (SR142) Planning Act Flooding at Albany State U.S. Department of the Interior To request a copy call 770-903-9100 or 1980 1988 1978 1984 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 1982 1986 1974 1976 Hydrograph shows increased water levels to support fish and (accessed August 10, (accessed August 10, 2004, University after Tropical Storm Gale A. Norton, Secretary access at http://ga.water.usgs.gov/pubs/galist-gw.html Hydrograph showing steady Alberto (July 1994). Photo by in the Upper Floridan aquifer resulting wildlife during times 2004, at http://www. at http://www.legis.state. decline of Clayton aquifer Timothy W. Hale, USGS from Tropical Storm Alberto. Water levels cviog.uga.edu/water/ ga.us/legis/2003_04/ U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Geological Survey General Interest Publication 4 water levels in Albany area of severe drought remained high through early 1995. sr142.html) fulltext/hb237.htm) Charles G. Groat, Director Reston, Virgina: 2004