Regional Chloride Distribution in the Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain Aquifer System from Long Island, New York, to North Carolina A
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Water Availability and Use Science Program Regional Chloride Distribution in the Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain Aquifer System From Long Island, New York, to North Carolina A B C D Scientific Investigations Report 2016–5034 E U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Cover photographs. A, Geophysical logging on Long Island, New York (photograph by Anthony Chu, U.S. Geological Survey). B, Sampling groundwater in New Jersey (photograph by U.S. Geological Survey personnel). C, Schematic of U.S. Atlantic Continental Shelf-scale interfaces of fresh-saline groundwater (from Bratton, 2010). D, Scientific drilling on eastern U.S. Continental Shelf (photograph by U.S. Geological Survey personnel). E, Testing ground water, Dare County Water Department, North Carolina (frame from YouTube video). Regional Chloride Distribution in the Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain Aquifer System From Long Island, New York, to North Carolina By Emmanuel G. Charles Water Availability and Use Science Program Scientific Investigations Report 2016–5034 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior SALLY JEWELL, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Suzette M. Kimball, Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2016 For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment—visit http://www.usgs.gov or call 1–888–ASK–USGS. For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, visit http://store.usgs.gov. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this information product, for the most part, is in the public domain, it also may contain copyrighted materials as noted in the text. Permission to reproduce copyrighted items must be secured from the copyright owner. Suggested citation: Charles, E.G., 2016, Regional chloride distribution in the Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain aquifer system from Long Island, New York, to North Carolina: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2016–5034, 37 p., appen- dixes, http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sir20165034. ISSN 2328-0328 (online) iii Contents Abstract ...........................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................2 Description of Study Area ...................................................................................................................2 Purpose and Scope ..............................................................................................................................2 Previous Investigations........................................................................................................................4 Hydrogeology.........................................................................................................................................6 Identification of Water-Quality Records and Sites..........................................................................8 Sources and Method for Isochlor Interpretations ...................................................................................8 Sources of Data and Information .......................................................................................................8 Method of Isochlor Interpretations ...................................................................................................9 Isochlor Interpretations by Regional Aquifer ..........................................................................................14 Potomac-Patuxent Aquifer ................................................................................................................14 Potomac-Patapsco Aquifer ...............................................................................................................17 Magothy Aquifer .................................................................................................................................18 Matawan Aquifer ................................................................................................................................18 Monmouth-Mount Laurel Aquifer ....................................................................................................21 Aquia Aquifer .......................................................................................................................................21 Piney Point Aquifer .............................................................................................................................24 Lower Chesapeake Aquifer ...............................................................................................................24 Upper Chesapeake Aquifer ...............................................................................................................27 Surficial Aquifer ..................................................................................................................................29 Limitations of the Study...............................................................................................................................29 Summary and Conclusions .........................................................................................................................30 Acknowledgments .......................................................................................................................................31 References Cited..........................................................................................................................................31 Appendix 1. Chloride concentrations from select offshore core data ................................................37 Appendix 2. Interpretive isochlors for 250 and 10,000 milligrams per liter, by aquifer layer ...........37 Figures 1. Map showing location of the Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain study area .........................3 2. Generalized section showing Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain regional aquifer system ...............................................................................................................................4 3. Chart showing regional aquifers and sub-regional aquifers in the Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain aquifer system .......................................................................................7 4. Map showing groundwater chloride concentrations, in milligrams per liter, at well locations, and as interpreted 250 and 10,000 isochlors, Potomac-Patuxent regional aquifer, Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain study area .............................................15 5. Map showing groundwater chloride concentrations, in milligrams per liter, at well and core locations, and as interpreted 250 and 10,000 isochlors, Potomac- Patapsco regional aquifer, Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain study area ...........................16 iv 6. Map showing groundwater chloride concentrations, in milligrams per liter, at well and core locations, and as interpreted 250 and 10,000 isochlors, Magothy regional aquifer, Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain study area .............................................19 7. Map showing groundwater chloride concentrations, in milligrams per liter, at well and core locations, and as interpreted 250 and 10,000 isochlors, Matawan regional aquifer, Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain study area .............................................20 8. Map showing groundwater chloride concentrations, in milligrams per liter, at well and core locations, and as interpreted 250 and 10,000 isochlors, Monmouth- Mount Laurel regional aquifer, Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain study area ....................22 9. Map showing groundwater chloride concentrations, in milligrams per liter, at well locations, and as interpreted 250 and 10,000 isochlors, Aquia regional aquifer, Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain study area ............................................................................23 10. Map showing groundwater chloride concentrations, in milligrams per liter, at well and core locations, and as interpreted 250 and 10,000 isochlors, Piney Point regional aquifer, Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain study area .............................................25 11. Map showing groundwater chloride concentrations, in milligrams per liter, at well and core locations, and as interpreted 250 and 10,000 isochlors, Lower Chesapeake regional aquifer, Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain study area ......................26 12. Map showing groundwater chloride concentrations, in milligrams per liter, at well and core locations, and as interpreted 250 and 10,000 isochlors, Upper Chesapeake regional aquifer, Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain study area ......................28 Table 1. Site information and selected pore water sample chloride concentrations, by regional aquifer, for the offshore (Continental Shelf) portion of the Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain study area .............................................................................................10 v Conversion Factors U.S. customary units to International System of Units Multiply By To obtain Length inch (in.) 2.54 centimeter (cm) foot (ft) 0.3048 meter (m) mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer (km) Area square mile (mi2) 2.590 square kilometer (km2) Volume gallon (gal)