Intro:
Laura Gurley is a Hydrologist at the South Atlantic Water Science Center studying water quality and availabilty.
Science and Products
Raleigh Bank Erosion Project
The City of Raleigh partnered with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to assist in assessing streambank erosion hotspots along the City of Raleigh’s stream network to support the City’s efforts of prioritizing future stream mitigation projects. Streambank erosion potential will be assessed using remotely sensed light detection and ranging (lidar) data, field assessments of streambank conditions...
SPARROW Modeling for North Carolina Watersheds
In North Carolina, excessive nutrient and sediment loadings have contributed to the degradation of surface-water quality across the state as a result of agricultural activities and population growth increases. To further understand the influences of human activities and natural processes on surface-water quality, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) developed the SPARROW (SPAtially Referenced...
Geospatial (GIS) and Map Resources for the South Atlantic Region
Map and Geographical Information System (GIS) resources
Datasets for Rapid Assessment of Streambank Erosion Potential for Selected Streams throughout the Greater Raleigh Area, North Carolina, 2022
As part of a collaborative study with the City of Raleigh, North Carolina, the U.S. Geological Survey is assessing streambank erosion potential in selected stream reaches throughout the Greater Raleigh metropolitan area. Rapid field measurement techniques were used to assess streambank stability at 124 stream segments between January and March 2022. Field data were collected using the Bank Erosion
SPARROW Model Simulated Nutrient and Suspended Sediment Loads in Streams when All Forests are Urbanized Across the Southeastern United States
The U.S. Geological Survey's SPAtially Referenced Regression On Watershed attributes (SPARROW) for the Southeastern United States was used to simulate changes in total nitrogen, total phosphorus and suspended sediment load in streams under two scenarios: (1) where all forests are urbanized and (2) where all forests are urbanized and runoff is adjusted based on a non-forested landscape. This data r
Groundwater Well Yield in Wake County, North Carolina
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with Wake County Environmental Services, initiated a comprehensive groundwater resource investigation to better understand the quantity and quality of groundwater in Wake County, North Carolina. In 2020, as part of the investigation, groundwater records were compiled electronically from 7,689 wells in and within five miles of Wake County and groundwater y
Land Cover Basin Characteristics Rasters for South Carolina StreamStats 2021
In cooperation with the South Carolina Department of Transportation, the U.S. Geological Survey calculated four land cover basin characteristics rasters as part of preparing the South Carolina StreamStats 2021 application. These datasets are raster representations of impervious surface, developed, forested, and storage land cover attributes within the South Carolina StreamStats 2021 study area, an
SPARROW model dataset for total suspended solids in North Carolina, including simulated stream loads
To better understand the influence of human activities and natural processes on surface-water quality, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) developed the SPARROW (SPAtially Referenced Regressions On Watershed attributes) (Schwarz and others, 2006; Alexander and others, 2008) model. The framework is used to relate water-quality monitoring data to sources and watershed characteristics that affect the f
Assessment of well yield, dominant fractures, and groundwater recharge in Wake County, North Carolina
A cooperative study led by the U.S. Geological Survey and Wake County Environmental Services was initiated to characterize the fractured-rock aquifer system and assess the sustainability of groundwater resources in and around Wake County. This report contributes to the development of a comprehensive groundwater budget for the study area, thereby helping to enable resource managers to make sound an
Five hydrologic and landscape databases for selected National Wildlife Refuges in the Southeastern United States
This report serves as metadata and a user guide for five out of six hydrologic and landscape databases developed by the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, to describe data-collection, data-reduction, and data-analysis methods used to construct the databases and provides statistical and graphical descriptions of the databases. Six hydrologic and landscap
Water quality and bed sediment quality in the Albemarle Sound, North Carolina, 2012–14
The Albemarle Sound region was selected in 2012 as one of two demonstration sites in the Nation to test and improve the design of the National Water Quality Monitoring Council’s National Monitoring Network (NMN) for U.S. Coastal Waters and Tributaries. The goal of the NMN for U.S. Coastal Waters and Tributaries is to provide information about the health of our oceans, coastal ecosystems, and inlan
Effect of land-applied biosolids on surface-water nutrient yields and groundwater quality in Orange County, North Carolina
Land application of municipal wastewater biosolids is the most common method of biosolids management used in North Carolina and the United States. Biosolids have characteristics that may be beneficial to soil and plants. Land application can take advantage of these beneficial qualities, whereas disposal in landfills or incineration poses no beneficial use of the waste. Some independent studies and
Baseline well inventory and groundwater-quality data from a potential shale gas resource area in parts of Lee and Chatham Counties, North Carolina, October 2011-August 2012
Records were obtained for 305 wells and 1 spring in northwestern Lee and southeastern Chatham counties, North Carolina. Well depths ranged from 26 to 720 feet and yields ranged from 0.25 to 100 gallons per minute. A subset of 56 wells and 1 spring were sampled for baseline groundwaterquality constituents including the following: major ions; dissolved metals; nutrients; dissolved gases (including m
Science and Products
- Science
Raleigh Bank Erosion Project
The City of Raleigh partnered with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to assist in assessing streambank erosion hotspots along the City of Raleigh’s stream network to support the City’s efforts of prioritizing future stream mitigation projects. Streambank erosion potential will be assessed using remotely sensed light detection and ranging (lidar) data, field assessments of streambank conditions...SPARROW Modeling for North Carolina Watersheds
In North Carolina, excessive nutrient and sediment loadings have contributed to the degradation of surface-water quality across the state as a result of agricultural activities and population growth increases. To further understand the influences of human activities and natural processes on surface-water quality, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) developed the SPARROW (SPAtially Referenced...Geospatial (GIS) and Map Resources for the South Atlantic Region
Map and Geographical Information System (GIS) resources - Data
Datasets for Rapid Assessment of Streambank Erosion Potential for Selected Streams throughout the Greater Raleigh Area, North Carolina, 2022
As part of a collaborative study with the City of Raleigh, North Carolina, the U.S. Geological Survey is assessing streambank erosion potential in selected stream reaches throughout the Greater Raleigh metropolitan area. Rapid field measurement techniques were used to assess streambank stability at 124 stream segments between January and March 2022. Field data were collected using the Bank ErosionSPARROW Model Simulated Nutrient and Suspended Sediment Loads in Streams when All Forests are Urbanized Across the Southeastern United States
The U.S. Geological Survey's SPAtially Referenced Regression On Watershed attributes (SPARROW) for the Southeastern United States was used to simulate changes in total nitrogen, total phosphorus and suspended sediment load in streams under two scenarios: (1) where all forests are urbanized and (2) where all forests are urbanized and runoff is adjusted based on a non-forested landscape. This data rGroundwater Well Yield in Wake County, North Carolina
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with Wake County Environmental Services, initiated a comprehensive groundwater resource investigation to better understand the quantity and quality of groundwater in Wake County, North Carolina. In 2020, as part of the investigation, groundwater records were compiled electronically from 7,689 wells in and within five miles of Wake County and groundwater yLand Cover Basin Characteristics Rasters for South Carolina StreamStats 2021
In cooperation with the South Carolina Department of Transportation, the U.S. Geological Survey calculated four land cover basin characteristics rasters as part of preparing the South Carolina StreamStats 2021 application. These datasets are raster representations of impervious surface, developed, forested, and storage land cover attributes within the South Carolina StreamStats 2021 study area, anSPARROW model dataset for total suspended solids in North Carolina, including simulated stream loads
To better understand the influence of human activities and natural processes on surface-water quality, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) developed the SPARROW (SPAtially Referenced Regressions On Watershed attributes) (Schwarz and others, 2006; Alexander and others, 2008) model. The framework is used to relate water-quality monitoring data to sources and watershed characteristics that affect the f - Publications
Assessment of well yield, dominant fractures, and groundwater recharge in Wake County, North Carolina
A cooperative study led by the U.S. Geological Survey and Wake County Environmental Services was initiated to characterize the fractured-rock aquifer system and assess the sustainability of groundwater resources in and around Wake County. This report contributes to the development of a comprehensive groundwater budget for the study area, thereby helping to enable resource managers to make sound anFive hydrologic and landscape databases for selected National Wildlife Refuges in the Southeastern United States
This report serves as metadata and a user guide for five out of six hydrologic and landscape databases developed by the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, to describe data-collection, data-reduction, and data-analysis methods used to construct the databases and provides statistical and graphical descriptions of the databases. Six hydrologic and landscapWater quality and bed sediment quality in the Albemarle Sound, North Carolina, 2012–14
The Albemarle Sound region was selected in 2012 as one of two demonstration sites in the Nation to test and improve the design of the National Water Quality Monitoring Council’s National Monitoring Network (NMN) for U.S. Coastal Waters and Tributaries. The goal of the NMN for U.S. Coastal Waters and Tributaries is to provide information about the health of our oceans, coastal ecosystems, and inlanEffect of land-applied biosolids on surface-water nutrient yields and groundwater quality in Orange County, North Carolina
Land application of municipal wastewater biosolids is the most common method of biosolids management used in North Carolina and the United States. Biosolids have characteristics that may be beneficial to soil and plants. Land application can take advantage of these beneficial qualities, whereas disposal in landfills or incineration poses no beneficial use of the waste. Some independent studies andBaseline well inventory and groundwater-quality data from a potential shale gas resource area in parts of Lee and Chatham Counties, North Carolina, October 2011-August 2012
Records were obtained for 305 wells and 1 spring in northwestern Lee and southeastern Chatham counties, North Carolina. Well depths ranged from 26 to 720 feet and yields ranged from 0.25 to 100 gallons per minute. A subset of 56 wells and 1 spring were sampled for baseline groundwaterquality constituents including the following: major ions; dissolved metals; nutrients; dissolved gases (including m