Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin Focus Area Study: Drought Impacts on Streams and Groundwater
During 2011 drought conditions in the ACF basin provided an opportunity to document streamflow and groundwater levels under these extreme conditions. Over 350 water levels were measured in wells and streamflow was measured at 212 streams or springs.
National Water Census • ACF Basin • Drought Impacts • Water Use • Estimating Streamflow • Groundwater/Surface-Water Interactions
During the first year of the study (2011), exceptional drought conditions prevailed in the lower Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint and adjacent Aucilla-Suwannee-Ochlockonee River basins during the summer months. Cumulative rainfall departures from 1981-2010 climate normals were in the range of 17 to 27 inches, providing an excellent opportunity to measure streamflow and groundwater levels under extreme dry conditions.
Measurements indicated that 12 of 43 surficial aquifer wells and 128 of 312 Upper Floridan aquifer wells had record-low water levels. Most streamflows measured were below normal (< 25th percentile), with 286 miles of streams losing flow in the downstream direction and 606 miles of streams were dry. These data are important for understanding how the system functions under low-flow conditions and were used to calibrate surface water and groundwater flow models. The results of the synoptic study are published in a USGS Scientific Investigation Report (Gordon and others, 2012).
Key Findings and Results
- Drought conditions in 2011 resulted in nearly half of normal rainfall (17-27 inches below normal).
- Twelve of 43 surficial aquifer and 128 of 312 Upper Floridan aquifer wells measured had record-low levels.
- Nearly 300 miles of measured streams were losing water (streamflow decreased downstream) and about 600 miles of streambed were dry.
- Read the report
National Water Census • ACF Basin • Drought Impacts • Water Use • Estimating Streamflow • Groundwater/Surface-Water Interactions
Below are other science components of the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin Focus Area Study.
Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin Focus Area Study
Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin Focus Area Study: Water Use
Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin Focus Area Study: Estimating Streamflow
Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin Focus Area Study: Groundwater/Surface-Water Interactions
During 2011 drought conditions in the ACF basin provided an opportunity to document streamflow and groundwater levels under these extreme conditions. Over 350 water levels were measured in wells and streamflow was measured at 212 streams or springs.
National Water Census • ACF Basin • Drought Impacts • Water Use • Estimating Streamflow • Groundwater/Surface-Water Interactions
During the first year of the study (2011), exceptional drought conditions prevailed in the lower Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint and adjacent Aucilla-Suwannee-Ochlockonee River basins during the summer months. Cumulative rainfall departures from 1981-2010 climate normals were in the range of 17 to 27 inches, providing an excellent opportunity to measure streamflow and groundwater levels under extreme dry conditions.
Measurements indicated that 12 of 43 surficial aquifer wells and 128 of 312 Upper Floridan aquifer wells had record-low water levels. Most streamflows measured were below normal (< 25th percentile), with 286 miles of streams losing flow in the downstream direction and 606 miles of streams were dry. These data are important for understanding how the system functions under low-flow conditions and were used to calibrate surface water and groundwater flow models. The results of the synoptic study are published in a USGS Scientific Investigation Report (Gordon and others, 2012).
Key Findings and Results
- Drought conditions in 2011 resulted in nearly half of normal rainfall (17-27 inches below normal).
- Twelve of 43 surficial aquifer and 128 of 312 Upper Floridan aquifer wells measured had record-low levels.
- Nearly 300 miles of measured streams were losing water (streamflow decreased downstream) and about 600 miles of streambed were dry.
- Read the report
National Water Census • ACF Basin • Drought Impacts • Water Use • Estimating Streamflow • Groundwater/Surface-Water Interactions
Below are other science components of the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin Focus Area Study.