HYDROGEOLOGIC ASSESSMENT OF A PROPOSED RESERVOIR SITE, SMITH COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI By Jason Andrew McIlwain A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Mississippi State University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Geosciences in the Department of Geosciences Mississippi State, Mississippi May 2007 Copyright by Jason Andrew McIlwain 2007 HYDROGEOLOGIC ASSESSMENT OF A PROPOSED RESERVOIR SITE, SMITH COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI By Jason Andrew McIlwain Approved: ______________________________ ______________________________ Darrel W. Schmitz Brenda L. Kirkland Professor of Geology Assistant Professor of Geology (Head of Department of Geosciences (Committee Member) and Director of Thesis) ______________________________ ______________________________ James H. May Christopher P. Dewey Adjunct Professor of Geology Assistant Professor of Geology (Committee Member) (Graduate Coordinator) ______________________________ Phillip B. Oldham Dean of College of Arts and Sciences Name: Jason Andrew McIlwain Date of Degree: May 5, 2007 Institution: Mississippi State University Major Field: Geosciences Major Professor: Dr. Darrel W. Schmitz Title of Study: HYDROGEOLOGIC ASSESSMENT OF A PROPOSED RESERVOIR SITE, SMITH COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI Pages in Study: 140 Candidate for Degree of Master of Science The Oakohay Creek watershed in Smith County, Mississippi, has been proposed as a site for the development of a reservoir. The site has been assessed for hydrogeologic suitability. There were three components to the site assessment. The first component involved examining the hydrologic characteristics of the drainage basin. Discharge and stage were monitored at eight sites, providing data for the development of hydrographs. The second component of the study was based on studying the site’s geology. The geology was studied through field reconnaissance, surface mapping, interpretation of geophysical well log data, and development of cross sections. The third component of the study involved the assessment of water quality within the basin. Samples were taken for analysis by the Mississippi State Chemical Laboratory. The results of the site assessment indicate that the proposed site is not suitable based on the hydrology, geology, and water quality of the study area. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Completion of this thesis has been dependent on the guidance, wisdom and contributions of many individuals. I would like to thank the many people that have assisted me and allowed me to successfully complete this project. I would like to thank Dr. Darrel Schmitz (head of the thesis committee) for his guidance, help, and encouragement to finish this work. I would also like to thank Dr. James May (committee member) for his many hours of work in the field, his ideas, and his input on the thesis. I would like to thank Dr. Brenda Kirkland (committee member) for her assistance with writing the thesis and her input on the project. I extend thanks to Dr. John Mylroie for his input on the karst-related aspects of the project. I would like to thank Jonathan McMillin for his many hours of work and assistance in the field and for listening to my rambling in the office. I would also like to thank a number of people and organizations for data, including: Dr. Charlie Wax, Dr. Mary Tagert, Rita Jackson, Pickering Engineering, and The North American Coal Corporation. I would like to thank the United States Forest Service for funding this project. I would also like to extend gratitude to a number of people I’m sure I have neglected to mention here for their assistance with the completion of this project. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS............................................................................... ii LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................... v LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................ vi CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION..............................................................................1 II. SETTING..........................................................................................3 Location..........................................................................................3 Climate ...........................................................................................8 Topography ....................................................................................9 Geology..........................................................................................9 Stratigraphy ..................................................................................14 Structure .......................................................................................19 Soils..............................................................................................19 III. REVIEW OF LITERATURE ............................................................20 Regional Investigations.................................................................20 General Surface – Groundwater Interactions ...............................21 Groundwater – Surface Water ......................................................23 IV. STATEMENT OF PROBLEM.........................................................28 Hypothesis....................................................................................30 Objectives.....................................................................................30 V. METHODOLOGY...........................................................................32 Methods of Investigation...............................................................32 VI. RESULTS ......................................................................................37 Hydrology .....................................................................................37 iii Site A-1.........................................................................................37 Site A-2.........................................................................................38 Site A-3.........................................................................................39 Site A-4.........................................................................................41 Site A-5.........................................................................................42 Site A-6.........................................................................................44 Site A-7.........................................................................................46 Site A-8.........................................................................................46 Water Quality................................................................................51 Geology........................................................................................57 VII. DISCUSSION.................................................................................66 Hydrology .....................................................................................66 Water Quality................................................................................68 Geology........................................................................................71 VIII. CONCLUSIONS.............................................................................89 REFERENCES.............................................................................................92 BIBLIOGRAPHY OF WORKS CONSULTED ...............................................96 APPENDIX A Cross Sections....................................................................................97 B Stream Monitoring Locations ............................................................104 C Chemical Analysis Data....................................................................114 D Discharge Data .................................................................................128 iv LIST OF TABLES TABLE 1. Thirty year mean climate data..............................................................8 2. Stratigraphy of exposed Smith County strata. Modified from Luper, 1972, and May, 1974. Description of Marianna Formation from May, 1974..............................................................11 3. Stage/discharge data for sites A-1 – A-8...........................................50 4. Twenty-four hour rainfall totals for Raleigh, MS on the six dates discharge measurements were taken. Data from the National Weather Service.............................................................................51 5. High flow chemical analysis data for sites A-1 – A-8. Samples were taken 10/17/2006...................................................................52 6. High flow data for concentrations of metals for sites A-1 – A-8. Samples were taken 10/17/2006 ....................................................53 7. Base flow chemical analysis data for sites A-5, A-6, and A-8. Samples were taken 8/23/2006 ......................................................54 8. Field Measurement water quality data...............................................55 9. Maximum contaminant levels of select constituents along with samples taken exceeding MCL. Blanks indicate that levels did not exceed MCL........................................................................70 v LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE 1. Location, highways, and towns of Smith County, Mississippi ..................4 2. Proposed Smith County reservoir site .....................................................6 3. Proposed Smith County reservoir site .....................................................7