THE MIDWESTERN BASINS AND ARCHES REGIONAL AQUIFER SYSTEM IN PARTS OF INDIANA, OHIO, MICHIGAN, AND ILLINOIS SUMMARY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 1423-A uses dence for a changing world Availability of Publications of the U.S. Geological Survey Order U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) publications from the Documents. Check or money order must be payable to the offices listed below. Detailed ordering instructions, along with Superintendent of Documents. Order by mail from prices of the last offerings, are given in the current-year issues of the catalog "New Publications of the U.S. Geological Superintendent of Documents Survey." 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Minerals information is available electronically at http://minerals.er.usgs.gov/minerals/ Electronically Subscription to the catalog "New Publications of the U.S. Some USGS publications, including the catalog "New Publica­ Geological Survey" tions of the U.S. Geological Survey" are also available elec­ tronically on the USGS's World Wide Web home page at Those wishing to be placed on a free subscription list for the http://www.usgs.gov catalog "New Publications of the U.S. Geological Survey" should write to Preliminary Determination of Epicenters U.S. Geological Survey Subscriptions to the periodical "Preliminary Determination of 903 National Center Epicenters" can be obtained only from the Superintendent of Reston, VA 20192 The Midwestern Basins and Arches Regional Aquifer System in Parts of Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois Summary B)iE.F. BUGLIOSI REGIONAL AQUIFER-S\STEM ANALYSIS MIDWESTERN BASINS AND ARCHES U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 1423-A U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Charles G. Groat, Director 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. Reston, Virginia 1999 Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Buliosi, Edward F. The Midwestern basins and arches regional aquifer system in parts of Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois : summary / by E. F. Bugliosi. p. cm. (U.S. Geological Survey professional paper; 1423-A) Includes bibliographical references (p. ). ISBN 0-607-92591-4 1. Aquifers Middle West. 2. Groundwater flow-Middle West. I. National Regional Aquifer Systems Analysis Program (U.S.) II. Title. III. Series. GB1199.3.M54B84 1999 551.49'0977 dc21 99-33374 CIP For sale by U.S. Geological Survey, Branch of Information Services, Box 25286, Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225 FOREWORD THE REGIONAL AQUIFER-SYSTEM ANALYSIS PROGRAM The Regional Aquifer-System Analysis (RASA) Program represents a systematic effort to study a number of the Nation's most important aquifer systems, which, in aggregate, underlie much of the country and which repre­ sent an important component of the Nation's total water supply. In general, the boundaries of these studies are identified by the hydrologic extent of each system and, accordingly, transcend the political subdivisions to which investi­ gations have often arbitrarily been limited in the past. The broad objective for each study is to assemble geologic, hydrologic, and geochemical information; to analyze and develop an understanding of the system; and to develop predic­ tive capabilities that will contribute to the effective management of the system. The use of computer simulation is an important element of the RASA studies to develop an understanding of the natural, undisturbed hydrologic system and the changes brought about in it by human activities, and to pro­ vide a means of predicting the regional effects of future pumping or other stresses. The final interpretive results of the RASA Program are presented in a series of U.S. Geological Survey Professional Papers that describe the geology, hydrology, and geochemistry of each regional aquifer system. Each study within the RASA Program is assigned a single Professional Paper number beginning with Professional Paper 1400. Charles G. Groat Director CONTENTS Page Page Forward......................................................................................... Ill Middle and upper Devonian and Mississippian Abstract......................................................................................... Al rocks...................................................................... A13 Introduction................................................................................... A2 Surficial deposits....................................................................... A16 Regional analysis of the Midwestern Basins and Arches Hydrogeologic units................................................................... A16 aquifer system.................................................................. A2 Surficial aquifer..................................................................... A16 Objectives and approach................................................... A2 Carbonate-rock aquifer.......................................................... A19 Purpose and scope of Professional Papers 1423-A, B, Regional ground-water flow.......................................................... A19 and C................................................................................. A2 Hydrogeologic boundaries......................................................... A20 Summary of previous work..................................................... A3 Potentiometric surfaces............................................................ A21 Acknowledgements.................................................................. A3 Recharge and discharge............................................................ A21 Physical setting............................................................................. A4 Ground-water-flow simulations.................................................... A25 Extent of study area ............................................................... A4 Regional simulation.................................................................. A25 Physiography........................................................................... A5 Subregional simulations........................................................... A31 Climate.................................................................................... A5 Regional water chemistry............................................................. A34 Hydrogeology................................................................................. A5 Dissolved solids trends.............................................................. A34 Geologic setting....................................................................... A5 Hydrochemical facies................................................................ A37 Bedrock units.................................................................... A7 Relation of isotopic composition of ground water to Ordovician rocks ......................................................... A7 regional flow........................................................................