Hydrogeologic Setting, Ground-Water Flow, and Ground-Water Quality at the Lake Wheeler Road Research Station, 2001–03
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Prepared in cooperation with the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Water Quality Hydrogeologic Setting, Ground-Water Flow, and Ground-Water Quality at the Lake Wheeler Road Research Station, 2001–03 North Carolina Piedmont and Mountains Resource Evaluation Program Scientific Investigations Report 2005–5166 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Front cover. Bedrock core sample from the Lake Wheeler Road research station, North Carolina (photograph by Richard E. Bolich, North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Water Quality, Aquifer Protection Section). Back cover. A. Sampling activities, B. drilling (photographs by Charles C. Daniel III, U.S. Geological Survey, retired), and C. monitoring-well cluster 1 and data-collection platform (photograph by Brad A. Huffman, B U.S. Geological Survey) at the Lake Wheeler Road research station, North Carolina. A C Hydrogeologic Setting, Ground-Water Flow, and Ground-Water Quality at the Lake Wheeler Road Research Station, 2001–03 North Carolina Piedmont and Mountains Resource Evaluation Program By Melinda J. Chapman, Richard E. Bolich, and Brad A. Huffman Prepared in cooperation with the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Water Quality Scientific Investigations Report 2005–5166 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior Gale A. Norton, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey P. Patrick Leahy, Acting Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2005 For sale by U.S. Geological Survey, Information Services Box 25286, Denver Federal Center Denver, CO 80225 For more information about the USGS and its products: Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov/ Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication 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: Chapman, M.J., Bolich, R.E., and Huffman, B.A., 2005, Hydrogeologic setting, ground-water flow, and ground-water quality at the Lake Wheeler Road research station, 2001–03, North Carolina Piedmont and Mountains Resource Evaluation Program: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2005–5166, 85 p. iii Contents Abstract ...........................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................1 Background............................................................................................................................................2 Program Objectives ..............................................................................................................................4 Purpose and Scope ..............................................................................................................................5 Description of the Study Area ............................................................................................................5 Previous Studies ...................................................................................................................................5 Acknowledgments ................................................................................................................................7 Methods of Investigation ..............................................................................................................................7 Research Station Design and Monitoring ........................................................................................7 Geologic Coring ............................................................................................................................8 Well-Cluster Transects and Aquifer-Test Wells ......................................................................8 Well Construction ...............................................................................................................8 Shallow and Intermediate-Zone Regolith Wells ...................................................8 Transition-Zone Well .................................................................................................8 Bedrock Wells ..........................................................................................................11 Aquifer-Test Wells ...................................................................................................11 Borehole Geophysical Logging ......................................................................................11 Continuous Monitoring ....................................................................................................11 Ground-Water Levels ..............................................................................................11 Surface-Water Stage and Discharge ...................................................................12 Water Quality ............................................................................................................12 Periodic Water-Level Measurements ...........................................................................13 Slug Tests ...........................................................................................................................13 Aquifer Tests ......................................................................................................................13 Water-Quality Sampling ...................................................................................................13 Well and Surface-Water Station Numbering System .................................................14 Geologic Setting ...........................................................................................................................................14 Local Geologic Setting .......................................................................................................................15 Ground-Water System Characteristics ....................................................................................................15 Regolith .................................................................................................................................................15 Residuum/Alluvium ....................................................................................................................15 Saprolite ......................................................................................................................................16 Transition Zone ....................................................................................................................................16 Packer Zone MW-1DUZ ............................................................................................................16 Well MW-2T ................................................................................................................................17 Bedrock ................................................................................................................................................17 Well MW-1D ...............................................................................................................................19 Well MW-2D ...............................................................................................................................26 Well MW-3D ...............................................................................................................................26 Well PW-1 ...................................................................................................................................26 Ground-Water Levels .........................................................................................................................27 Seasonal Trends and Water Year Comparisons ...................................................................27 iv Regional Comparison ................................................................................................................27 Response to Rainfall .................................................................................................................27 Daily Fluctuations.......................................................................................................................31 Evapotranspiration ...........................................................................................................32 Surface-Water Fluctuations ..............................................................................................................33 Ground-Water Flow .....................................................................................................................................34 Flow in the Shallow Regolith .............................................................................................................34 Flow in the Intermediate Zone of the Regolith ...............................................................................34 Flow in the Bedrock ............................................................................................................................34 Depth to Ground Water and Vertical