Gregory Cherry is a Hydrologist with the South Atlantic Water Science Center in Norcross, Ga., with more than 30 years experience in groundwater related issues.
Greg grew up on the west coast in the Bay Area and became hooked on geology after the eruption of Mount St. Helens in May, 1980. A sailboat adventure with family in the U.S. Virgin Islands sparked interest in island hydrology and craving life in the tropics. After graduating with a BS in geology in 1986, an early assignment with Bechtel Corporation on a Superfund site in Vega Alta, Puerto Rico, eventually led him to begin his career with the U.S. Geological Survey in the Caribbean District (before offices were called Water Science Centers). Thus a twelve-year tenure began in Puerto Rico that led to a search for fresh groundwater resources in the outlying islands. During that period, Greg served as the chief of the St. Croix Field Office in the U.S. Virgin Islands, which focused on numerous monitoring projects. Fresh groundwater resources on the main island of Puerto Rico are critically important and led to groundwater modeling opportunities along the North Coast Province near the municipios of Manatí and Vega Baja. In 2002, Greg moved to Atlanta, Georgia, to gain an understanding of groundwater-flow patterns near the Savannah River Site and track potential contamination. I always feel fortunate that the majority of my work has remained focused on issues relating to groundwater and groundwater management.
Currently serving as Project Chief for the Brunswick/Glynn County Cooperative Water Program, which monitors saltwater contamination in the Upper Floridan aquifer (UFA). This ongoing work combines groundwater modeling with annual water-quality sampling to assess saltwater movement near the City of Brunswick. Utilized regional groundwater-flow model of coastal Georgia and parts of South Carolina and Florida to determine changes in the UFA caused by increased pumping at U.S. Army Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield, and for the cities of Pooler, Rincon, and Berwick located in Chatham County, Georgia. Part of a team of agencies led by South Carolina Department of Natural Resources using groundwater-modeling techniques to forecast future groundwater availability in the Edisto River basin.
Professional Experience
2002-present: Hydrologist, USGS South Atlantic Water Science Center, Norcross, Georgia
1994-2002: Hydrologist, USGS Caribbean Water Science Center, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
1992-1994: Hydrologist, St. Croix Field Office, U.S. Virgin Islands
1990-1992: Physical Scientist, USGS Caribbean Water Science Center, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
1984-1990: Geologist, Bechtel Corporation, San Francisco, California
Education and Certifications
California State University at Chico Bachelor of Science, Geology. (received, May 1986)
Science and Products
Simulation of groundwater flow in the Brunswick Area, Georgia, for 2004 and 2015, and selected groundwater-management scenarios
Simulated effects of Lower Floridan aquifer pumping on the Upper Floridan aquifer at Barbour Pointe, Chatham County, Georgia
Saltwater intrusion in the Floridan aquifer system near downtown Brunswick, Georgia, 1957–2015
Groundwater flow in the Brunswick/Glynn County area, Georgia, 2000-04
Simulated effects of Lower Floridan aquifer pumping on the Upper Floridan aquifer at Rincon, Effingham County, Georgia
Simulated effects of Lower Floridan aquifer pumping on the Upper Floridan aquifer at Pooler, Chatham County, Georgia
Groundwater conditions in the Brunswick-Glynn County area, Georgia, 2009
Hydrogeology and water quality of the Floridan aquifer system and effects of Lower Floridan aquifer pumping on the Upper Floridan aquifer at Fort Stewart, Georgia
Groundwater modeling to evaluate interaquifer leakage in the Floridan aquifer system near Hunter Army Airfield and Fort Stewart
Hydrogeology and water quality of the Floridan aquifer system and effect of Lower Floridan aquifer pumping on the Upper Floridan aquifer at Hunter Army Airfield, Chatham County, Georgia
Groundwater conditions and studies in the Brunswick–Glynn County area, Georgia, 2008
Ground-Water Conditions and Studies in the Brunswick-Glynn County Area, Georgia, 2007
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Groundwater Modelling of the Edisto River Basin, South Carolina
Groundwater Monitoring Program for the Brunswick-Glynn County Area, Georgia
MODFLOW-2000 and MODPATH used to evaluate groundwater-management scenarios in the Brunswick area, Georgia, 2004-2015
Science and Products
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 20
Simulation of groundwater flow in the Brunswick Area, Georgia, for 2004 and 2015, and selected groundwater-management scenarios
The Upper Floridan aquifer (UFA) is the principal water source for industrial and public supply in Glynn County, Georgia. Wells in active pumping centers that tap the UFA for industries near the city of Brunswick have created an upward hydraulic-head gradient in the Floridan aquifer system, which has allowed high chloride (saline) groundwater from the Fernandina permeable zone of the Lower FloridaAuthorsGregory S. CherrySimulated effects of Lower Floridan aquifer pumping on the Upper Floridan aquifer at Barbour Pointe, Chatham County, Georgia
Steady-state simulations using a revised regional groundwater-flow model based on MODFLOW were run to assess the potential long-term effects on the Upper Floridan aquifer (UFA) of pumping the Lower Floridan aquifer (LFA) at well 36Q398, located at Barbour Pointe in coastal Georgia near Savannah. Simulated pumping of well 36Q398 at a rate of 750 gallons per minute (gal/min; or 1.08 million gallonsAuthorsGregory S. Cherry, John S. ClarkeSaltwater intrusion in the Floridan aquifer system near downtown Brunswick, Georgia, 1957–2015
IntroductionThe Floridan aquifer system (FAS) consists of the Upper Floridan aquifer (UFA), an intervening confining unit of highly variable properties, and the Lower Floridan aquifer (LFA). The UFA and LFA are primarily composed of Paleocene- to Oligocene-age carbonate rocks that include, locally, Upper Cretaceous rocks. The FAS extends from coastal areas in southeastern South Carolina and continAuthorsGregory S. Cherry, Michael PeckGroundwater flow in the Brunswick/Glynn County area, Georgia, 2000-04
An existing regional steady-state model for coastal Georgia, and parts of South Carolina and Florida, was revised to evaluate the local effects of pumping on the migration of high chloride (saline) water in the Upper Floridan aquifer located in the Brunswick/Glynn County, Georgia (Ga.) area. Revisions were focused on enhancing the horizontal and vertical resolution of the regional model grid in thAuthorsGregory S. CherrySimulated effects of Lower Floridan aquifer pumping on the Upper Floridan aquifer at Rincon, Effingham County, Georgia
Steady-state simulations using a revised regional groundwater-flow model based on MODFLOW were run to assess the potential long-term effects on the Upper Floridan aquifer (UFA) of pumping the Lower Floridan aquifer (LFA) at well (36S048) near the City of Rincon in coastal Georgia near Savannah. Simulated pumping of well 36S048 at a rate of 1,000 gallons per minute (gal/min; or 1.44 million gallonsAuthorsGregory S. Cherry, John S. ClarkeSimulated effects of Lower Floridan aquifer pumping on the Upper Floridan aquifer at Pooler, Chatham County, Georgia
A revised regional groundwater-flow model was used to assess the potential effects on the Upper Floridan aquifer (UFA) of pumping the Lower Floridan aquifer (LFA) from a new well (35Q069) located at the City of Pooler in coastal Georgia near Savannah. The spatial resolution of the original regional, steady-state, groundwater-flow model was increased to incorporate detailed hydrogeologic informatioAuthorsGregory S. Cherry, John S. ClarkeGroundwater conditions in the Brunswick-Glynn County area, Georgia, 2009
The Upper Floridan aquifer is contaminated with saltwater in a 2-square-mile area of downtown Brunswick, Georgia. The presence of this saltwater has limited the development of the groundwater supply in the Glynn County area. Hydrologic, geologic, and water-quality data are needed to effectively manage water resources. Since 1959, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has conducted a cooperative waterAuthorsGregory S. Cherry, Michael F. Peck, Jaime A. Painter, Welby L. StaytonHydrogeology and water quality of the Floridan aquifer system and effects of Lower Floridan aquifer pumping on the Upper Floridan aquifer at Fort Stewart, Georgia
Test drilling, field investigations, and digital modeling were completed at Fort Stewart, GA, during 2009?2010, to assess the geologic, hydraulic, and water-quality characteristics of the Floridan aquifer system and evaluate the effect of Lower Floridan aquifer (LFA) pumping on the Upper Floridan aquifer (UFA). This work was performed pursuant to the Georgia Environmental Protection Division interAuthorsJohn S. Clarke, Gregory C. Cherry, Gerard GonthierGroundwater modeling to evaluate interaquifer leakage in the Floridan aquifer system near Hunter Army Airfield and Fort Stewart
Simulations using a modified regional groundwater- flow model were used to determine the amount of leakage from the Upper Floridan aquifer (UFA) through the Lower Floridan confining unit (LFC) into the Lower Floridan aquifer (LFA) resulting from pumping about 1 million gallons per day at newly constructed LFA production wells at Hunter Army Airfield and Fort Stewart in coastal Georgia. Simulated sAuthorsGregory S. CherryHydrogeology and water quality of the Floridan aquifer system and effect of Lower Floridan aquifer pumping on the Upper Floridan aquifer at Hunter Army Airfield, Chatham County, Georgia
Test drilling and field investigations, conducted at Hunter Army Airfield (HAAF), Chatham County, Georgia, during 2009, were used to determine the geologic, hydraulic, and water-quality characteristics of the Floridan aquifer system and to evaluate the effect of Lower Floridan aquifer (LFA) pumping on the Upper Floridan aquifer (UFA). Field investigation activities included (1) constructing a 1,16AuthorsJohn S. Clarke, Lester J. Williams, Gregory C. CherryGroundwater conditions and studies in the Brunswick–Glynn County area, Georgia, 2008
The Upper Floridan aquifer is contaminated with saltwater in a 2-square-mile area of downtown Brunswick, Georgia. This contamination has limited development of the groundwater supply in the Glynn County area. Hydrologic, geologic, and water-quality data are needed to effectively manage water resources. Since 1959, the U.S. Geological Survey has conducted a cooperative water program with the City oAuthorsGregory S. Cherry, Michael F. Peck, Jaime A. Painter, Welby L. StaytonGround-Water Conditions and Studies in the Brunswick-Glynn County Area, Georgia, 2007
The Upper Floridan aquifer is contaminated with saltwater in a 2-square-mile area of downtown Brunswick, Georgia. This contamination has limited the development of the ground-water supply in the Glynn County area. Hydrologic, geologic, and water-quality data are needed to effectively manage water resources. Since 1959, the U.S. Geological Survey has conducted a cooperative water-resources programAuthorsGregory S. Cherry, John S. ClarkeNon-USGS Publications**
Cherry, G.S., 2023, Water-management strategies to mitigate saltwater intrusion in the Floridan aquifer system in the Savannah/Hilton Head Island area, 2023, Georgia Association of Water Professionals Annual Conference, July 16-19, 2023: Savannah, Ga.Cherry, G.S., Petkewich, M.D., Hughes, A.H., and Campbell B.G., 2023, Simulation of groundwater availability for three scenarios and evaluation of water management strategies for South Carolina River Basins, in Proceedings of the 2023 Georgia Water Resources Conference, March 30 & 31, 2023: Athens, Ga., The University of Georgia, River Basin Center.Cherry, G.S., and Hamrick, M.D., 2023, Saltwater intrusion in the Floridan aquifer system near downtown Brunswick, Georgia, 2021, in Proceedings of the 2023 Georgia Water Resources Conference, March 30 & 31, 2023: Athens, Ga., The University of Georgia, River Basin Center.Cherry, G.S., and Hamrick, M.D., 2021, Saltwater intrusion in the Floridan aquifer system near downtown Brunswick, Georgia, 2020, in Proceedings of the 2021 Georgia Water Resources Conference, online March 22-23, 2021, The University of Georgia, River Basin Center.Cherry, G.S., 2019, Simulation of groundwater flow in the Brunswick area, Georgia, for 2015 Base Case and selected ground-water management scenario, in Proceedings of the 2019 Georgia Water Resources Conference, April 16 & 17, 2019: Athens, Ga., The University of Georgia, Institute of Ecology.Cherry, G.S., Hamrick, M.D., and Peck M.F., 2017, Saltwater intrusion in the Floridan aquifer system near downtown Brunswick, Georgia, 2016, in Proceedings of the 2017 Georgia Water Resources Conference, April 19-20, 2017: Athens, Ga., The University of Georgia, Institute of Ecology.Cherry, G.S., 2015, Saltwater intrusion in the Floridan aquifer system near downtown Brunswick, Georgia, in Proceedings of the 2015 Georgia Water Resources Conference, April 28-29, 2015: Athens, Ga., The University of Georgia, Institute of Ecology.Cherry, G.S., 2011, Groundwater modeling to evaluate interaquifer leakage in the Floridan aquifer system near Hunter Army Airfield and Fort Stewart, Georgia, in Proceedings of the 2011 NGWA Ground Water Summit and 2011 Ground Water Protection Council Spring Meeting, May 1-5, 2011: Baltimore, MD, Hyatt Regency Baltimore on the Inner HarborCherry, G.S., 2011, Groundwater modeling to evaluate interaquifer leakage in the Floridan aquifer system near Hunter Army Airfield and Fort Stewart, Georgia, in Proceedings of the 2011 Georgia Water Resources Conference, April 11-13, 2011: Athens, Ga., The University of Georgia, Institute of Ecology.Cherry, G.S., 2009, Ground-water modeling and monitoring to manage chloride plume expansion in the Upper Floridan aquifer near Brunswick, Georgia, in Proceedings of the 2009 Georgia Water Resources Conference, April 27-29, 2009: Athens, Ga., The University of Georgia, Institute of Ecology.Cherry, G.S., and Payne, D.F., 2007, Optimization of ground-water pumpage distribution to limit chloride plume expansion in the Upper Floridan aquifer near Brunswick, Georgia, in Proceedings of the 2007 Georgia Water Resources Conference, March 27-29, 2007: Athens, Ga., The University of Georgia, Institute of Ecology.Fanning, J.L., and Cherry, G.S., 2005, Development of water-use projections for groundwater flow models in the Coastal Plain of Georgia and South Carolina, in Hatcher, K.J., ed., Proceedings of the 2005 Georgia Water Resources Conference, April 25-27, 2005: Athens, Ga., The University of Georgia, Institute of Ecology.Cherry, G.S., 2005, Analysis of groundwater flowpaths and potential for Interstate migration in the vicinity of the Savannah River Site, Georgia and South Carolina, 2002-2020, in Hatcher, K.J., ed., Proceedings of the 2005 Georgia Water Resources Conference, April 25-27, 2005: Athens, Ga., The University of Georgia, Institute of Ecology.Cherry, G.S., 2004, Evaluation of an existing ground-water flow model under 2002 hydrologic conditions in the vicinity of the Savannah River Site, Georgia and South Carolina, in 2003 Annual Meeting and International Conference of the American Institute of Hydrology, “Achieving Sustainable Water Resources in Areas Experiencing Rapid Population Growth,” Atlanta, Georgia, October 19-22, 2003: American Institute of Hydrology, Hydrological Science and Technology, v. 20, no. 1-4, p. 27-38.Cherry, G.S., 2003, Precipitation, ground-water use, and ground-water levels in the vicinity of the Savannah River Site, Georgia and South Carolina, 1992-2002, in Hatcher, K.J., ed., Proceedings of the 2003 Georgia Water Resources Conference, April 23-24, 2003: Athens, Ga., The University of Georgia, Institute of Ecology.Cherry G.S., 2001, Hydrogeologic conditions in the Upper Aquifer of Puerto Rico, Manatí-Vega Baja area, as simulated by U.S. Geological Survey MODFLOW96: Proceedings, Sixth Caribbean Water Resources Congress, W.F. Silva-Araya, ed., Puerto Rico Water Resources and Environmental Research Institute, February 22-23, 2001.**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
- Science
Groundwater Modelling of the Edisto River Basin, South Carolina
The USGS SAWSC in cooperation with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) will use an existing, published groundwater-flow model of the South Carolina Coastal Plain aquifers and confining units to simulate current groundwater conditions and future water-use scenarios developed by SCDNR. The published groundwater-flow model was constructed using existing hydrogeologic and...Groundwater Monitoring Program for the Brunswick-Glynn County Area, Georgia
In the Brunswick, Georgia area, saltwater has contaminated the Upper Floridan aquifer for nearly 50 years. Saltwater contamination has constrained further development of the Upper Floridan aquifer in the Brunswick area, which has stimulated interest in the development of alternative sources of water supply, primarily from the shallower surficial and Brunswick aquifer systems. USGS is working... - Data
MODFLOW-2000 and MODPATH used to evaluate groundwater-management scenarios in the Brunswick area, Georgia, 2004-2015
A previously published groundwater flow model (https://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2005/5089/) was revised with refined grid spacing and updated hydrogeolgic framework and hydrologic properties (http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sir20155061) and used in this study to predict the effects of Upper Floridan aquifer (UFA) groundwater pumpage on horizontal hydraulic-head gradients in the upper-water-bearing zone of the