South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)
Welcome to USGS South Atlantic Water Science Center's (SAWSC) Website. We offer water information for Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
Hydrologic Data at SAWSC
Hydrologic Data at SAWSC
We provide current and historical surface-water, groundwater, water quality, water use, and ecological data in various formats (map, graphical, tabular).
Science at SAWSC
Science at SAWSC
The South Atlantic Water Science Center collects high-quality hydrologic data and conducts unbiased, scientifically sound research on Georgia's, North Carolina's, and South Carolina's water resources.
News
Wildfires continue to burn in Georgia, North and South Carolina
Wildfires continue to burn in Georgia, North and South Carolina
USGS experts responding simultaneously to two major natural hazards
USGS experts responding simultaneously to two major natural hazards
Hurricane Helene Weakens to Tropical Storm, Brings Flooding to Georgia and Western Carolinas
Hurricane Helene Weakens to Tropical Storm, Brings Flooding to Georgia and Western Carolinas
Publications
Assessing streams in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed to guide conservation and restoration activities Assessing streams in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed to guide conservation and restoration activities
Freshwater streams in the Chesapeake Bay watershed are home to numerous aquatic organisms (like fish, amphibians, mussels, and insects) and provide drinking water and recreational opportunities to people living in or visiting the watershed. Land-use changes, such as urban development and increased activities in certain agricultural sectors, have degraded water quality and altered...
Simulation of groundwater flow in Wake County, North Carolina, 2000 through 2070 Simulation of groundwater flow in Wake County, North Carolina, 2000 through 2070
In 2019, the U.S. Geological Survey and Wake County Environmental Services began a collaborative study to evaluate groundwater resources and long-term groundwater availability in the county’s fractured-rock groundwater system. Wake County, in central North Carolina, is experiencing rapid population growth, associated land development, and changing water use. Hydrogeologic data including
Tapwater-contaminant mixtures and risk in a biofuel-facility impacted private-well community Tapwater-contaminant mixtures and risk in a biofuel-facility impacted private-well community
We assessed private-well drinking water (DW) at the point of use (i.e., tapwater, TW) within a rural Nebraska community around a state-closed biofuel facility, which used pesticide-treated corn seed as feedstock for ethanol production. Organic (485), inorganic (34), and microbial (13) analytes were assessed at 15 locations in June 2022, to evaluate the relative contribution of facility...
Science
Monitoring water-quality and geomorphology in the French Broad River during I-26 construction
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has partnered with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to assess the water-quality and geomorphologic impacts resulting from the I-26 construction projects in western North Carolina. Streamflow, precipitation, and water-quality monitoring data, coupled with periodic assessments of geomorphology, will support the NCDOT construction-site...
Floods and the South Atlantic Water Science Center
Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina flood related information.
Flood-inundation mapping in Tar River Basin, North Carolina
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has created flood-inundation maps for selected streamgage sites in North Carolina. These maps depict the approximate area that would be inundated at selected water levels, ranging from approximately top-of-bank to the maximum observed water level. The inundated areas depicted on these maps are approximate, and accuracy of the maps is a function of the accuracy of...