Hydrologic Conditions That Influence Streamflow Losses in a Karst Region of the Upper Peace River, Polk County, Florida
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Hydrologic Conditions that Influence Streamflow Losses in a Karst Region of the Upper Peace River, Polk County, Florida By P.A. Metz and B.R. Lewelling Prepared in cooperation with the Southwest Florida Water Management District Scientific Investigations Report 2009–5140 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior KEN SALAZAR, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Suzette M. Kimball, Acting Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2009 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://www.usgs.gov/pubprod To order this and other USGS information products, visit http://store.usgs.gov Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report. Suggested citation: Metz, P.A., and Lewelling, B.R., 2009, Hydrologic Conditions that Influence Streamflow Losses in a Karst Region of the Upper Peace River, Polk County, Florida: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2009-5140, 82 p. 978 1 4113 2545 6 iii iii Contents Acknowledgments ........................................................................................................................................ix Abstract ...........................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................2 Purpose and Scope ..............................................................................................................................4 Methods of Investigation .....................................................................................................................4 Previous Investigations........................................................................................................................6 Upper Peace River Basin Characteristics .................................................................................................6 Climate ....................................................................................................................................................8 Hydrography ........................................................................................................................................10 Land Use ...............................................................................................................................................10 Soils .......................................................................................................................................................15 Groundwater Use ................................................................................................................................15 Geologic Framework ...................................................................................................................................19 Geologic Cores ....................................................................................................................................21 Karst Development .............................................................................................................................23 Hydrogeology................................................................................................................................................24 Surficial Aquifer ..................................................................................................................................24 Intermediate Aquifer System ............................................................................................................24 Upper Floridan Aquifer .......................................................................................................................25 Potentiometric Surface .............................................................................................................29 Long-Term Trends in Groundwater Levels .............................................................................30 Streamflow ....................................................................................................................................................31 River Channel Characteristics Affecting Upper Peace River Flows ..........................................31 Streamflow Conditions (2002-2007 Water Years) ..................................................................35 Discharge-Duration Hydrographs and Curves .....................................................................44 Effects of Karst Development on Streamflow Losses ..................................................................49 Seepage Investigations ............................................................................................................49 Karst Features along the Upper Peace River ........................................................................53 Streamflow Losses to Karst Features ....................................................................................53 Effects of Groundwater Conditions on Streamflow Losses .........................................................67 Groundwater Flow Patterns Surrounding the Upper Peace River ....................................68 Flow Patterns Derived from Chemical Constituents and Isotopic Tracers ......................71 Influence of Large Karst Features on Flow Patterns and Streamflow Losses ................75 Summary and Conclusions .........................................................................................................................77 References Cited..........................................................................................................................................79 iv Figures 1. Map showing location of the upper Peace River basin and the localized study areas along the upper Peace River, Polk County, Florida ...............................................3 2. Map showing physiographic subdivisions and location of sinkholes in the upper Peace River basin .................................................................................................................7 3. Graphs showing annual rainfall at Bartow, Florida (1900-2007), and rainfall departure, 5-year moving average of this departure, and changes in the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation ..................................................................................................9 4. Graph showing Palmer Drought Severity Index for the study area for the 2001 to 2007 water years.............................................................................................................................10 5-8. Maps showing: 5. Historical hydrography (1850-1855) of the upper Peace River basin ...........................12 6. Historical (1850-1855) and current (1985) hydrography of the upper Peace River basin ...................................................................................................................13 7. Land use in the upper Peace River basin, 2005 ................................................................14 8. Generalized soil types in the upper Peace River basin ...................................................16 9. Graph showing location of the Southern West-Central Florida Groundwater Basin, estimated groundwater use in the Southern West-Central Florida Groundwater Basin and in the upper Peace River basin, and estimated groundwater use by category in the upper Peace River basin, 1992 through 2005 .................................................17 10. Map showing major water-use categories and pumpage distribution for groundwater withdrawn from the Upper Floridan aquifer in the upper Peace River basin, 2005 ............18 11. Graph showing relation of stratigraphic and hydrogeologic units .........................................19 12. Geologic cross-section along the upper Peace River and water levels for study wells that indicate recharging conditions (June 1, 2007) ........................................................20 13. Map showing location of stream gaging stations, geologic cores, sinks, and groundwater monitoring and water-quality sampling sites ....................................................22 14. Photograph showing secondary porosity of the Arcadia Formation within the intermediate aquifer system (Gator Sink) ..................................................................................25 15-17. Graphs showing: 15. Geophysical logs for well site LW1P .................................................................................. 26 16. Geophysical logs for well site LW3P .................................................................................. 27 17. Geophysical logs for well site LW4P .................................................................................. 28 18. Map showing predevelopment and May 2007 potentiometric-surface levels and regional groundwater flow patterns of the Upper Floridan aquifer within the upper Peace River basin ...............................................................................................................29