Unified Interior Regions
Georgia
World class scientists working in Southeast Region Science Centers help our partners understand and manage complex issues including competition for limited water resources, coastal hazards, mineral and energy resource extraction, degraded ecosystems, vector-borne diseases, rapidly changing land use, and response to climate change.
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Piedmont and Blue Ridge Project
The Piedmont and Blue Ridge Project is a geologic mapping project supported by the USGS National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program. The Piedmont Blue Ridge Project aims to understand the geologic framework and tectonic evolution of terranes and basins in the Appalachian Piedmont and Blue Ridge, and their significance for water, mineral and energy resources, natural hazards, and engineering/...
Coastal Basement Geology of the Southeastern U.S. Project
This project, centered on South Carolina and Georgia, extends coastal-basement geologic mapping and related research south of a geologic map in production for pre-Cretaceous rocks beneath the Atlantic Coastal Plain from Virginia to southern New Jersey, and adds detail to a national-scale basement domain map constructed to delineate mineral-resource...
Water Use in Georgia
To provide estimates of water withdrawal, water use, and return flows to surface water needed for water management, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division (GaEPD), developed the Georgia Water-Use Program in 1979. This ongoing program focuses on collecting, compiling, and disseminating water-use ...
Appalachian Basin Oil and Gas Assessments
The USGS has conducted numerous assessments of undiscovered oil and gas in the Appalachian Basin, including studies of the Marcellus Shale. The region extends from Alabama to Maine. The following is an overview of the assessments.
Flood-Inundation mapping in Georgia, North and South Carolina
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has created flood-inundation maps for selected streamgage sites in Georgia, North and South 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...
River WebCams of the South Atlantic Water Science Center (Georgia, North and South Carolina)
We have installed webcams at a number of locations in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina to allow you to view, in real time, the current river-stage conditions. The Georgia and South Carolina cameras allow users to temporarily control the tilt, pan, and zoom. During periods of flooding, the South Atlantic Water Science Center might take control of the camera.
Hurricane Matthew: Flood Resources and Tools
During and after Hurricane Matthew, the USGS made flood-flow measurements, maintained streamgages, deployed over 390 instruments, and developed geospatial products to measure and communicate the extent of coastal and inland flooding.
Bird Banding Laboratory
The Bird Banding Laboratory (BBL) is an integrated scientific program established in 1920 supporting the collection, archiving, management and dissemination of information from banded and marked birds in North America. This information is used to monitor the status and trends of resident and migratory bird populations. Because birds are good indicators of the health of the environment, the...
Georgia Statewide Water-quality Monitoring Program
The US Geological Survey (USGS) has cooperated with the State of Georgia to monitor water quality throughout the State since 1937. The current Statewide Water-quality Montoring Program is a network of 50 stations across Georgia operated in cooperation with the Environmental Protection Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GAEPD). Over the years, the temporal and spatial...
Heavy-Mineral Sand Resources in the Southeastern U.S.
We are assessing the extent of industrial mineral resources hosted by heavy-mineral sands in the coastal plain of the southeastern United States. “Heavy-mineral sands" (HMS) is a term commonly used in industry and geologic literature to describe layered sediments deposited in coastal environments that contain dense (“heavy") minerals of economic value. The heavy minerals extracted from these...
Brazilian Agencies Partner With USGS On Water Programs
The USGS International Programs Office has intermittentantly collaborated with Brazil's Geological Survey (CPRM) since the early 1970's. With the creation of the Brazilian National Water Agency (ANA), Brazil's hydrologic monitoring network has taken on a higher socioeconomic importance.
The collaboration agreements between USGS and ANA/CPRM have strengthened the Brazilian streamgaging...
Hurricane Matthew - Forecast and Documentation of Coastal Change
Hurricane Matthew coastal change forecast and pre- and post-storm photos documenting coastal change.
Real time precipitation data for Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina (NWISWeb)
Data from rain gages that provide real-time data are relayed to the USGS and are transmitted from each station at intervals of 1 to 8 hours. Real-time data available on these web pages are provisional data that have not been reviewed or edited.
Georgia || ...
Lake and reservoir levels, South Atlantic Water Science Center (NWISWeb)
Real-time water levels and long-term statistics for lakes and reservoirs in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Lake data are collected and stored as continuous time-series data from automated recorders.
>> Georgia || ...
Water use data for the South Atlantic Water Science Center (NWISWeb)
Water-use data are collected by area type (state, county, watershed, or aquifer) and source (rivers or groundwater), and category (such as public supply or irrigation). Water-use data has been reported every five years since 1950. The USGS works with local, State, and Federal agencies as well as other organizations to collect and report withdrawals.
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WaterWatch - View streamflow data using maps, graphs, and tables.
WaterWatch is a U.S. Geological Survey Web site that displays maps, graphs, and tables describing real-time, recent, and past streamflow conditions for the United States. The real-time information generally is updated on an hourly basis.
Real time streamflow: Georgia ||...
Groundwater Watch - Below Normal Groundwater Levels (GA/NC/SC)
The U.S. Geological Survey has a database/archive of about 850,000 wells across the Nation. A well with below normal groundwater levels is identified when the most recent water-level measurement is in the 24th percentile or lower in the month of measurement over the period of record for the well.
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GroundWater Watch - View groundwater data using maps, graphs, and tables.
WaterWatch is a U.S. Geological Survey Web site that displays maps, graphs, and tables describing real-time, recent, and past streamflow conditions for the United States. The real-time information generally is updated on an hourly basis.
Real time streamflow: Georgia || North Carolina || South Carolina || United States
Other WaterWatch streamflow data
Real-Time Precipitation Network Mapper
Real-time precipitation data is available in our map-driven application for Georgia and North Carolina. You can use a map to select a precipitation-monitoring site and view precipitation amounts for the previous hours and days. A data table shows precipitation at all sites within the state.
Go to the mapper: Georgia || ...
Rainfall data, maps and resources for Georgia, North and South Carolina
Precipitation data and related rainfall information, for the South Atlantic Water Science Center geographical region (Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina).
Shift Adjusted Ratings for Georgia, North and South Carolina Stream Gages
Geographical Information Systems (GIS) Resources for Georgia, North and South Carolina
Spatial/GIS data sets
Data Organized by River Basin, in Georgia, North and South Carolina
Flood Inundation Mapping
USGS Flood Inundation Maps, along with Internet information regarding current stage from the USGS streamgage, provide emergency management personnel and residents with information that is critical for flood-response activities, such as evacuations and road closures, as well as for post-flood recovery efforts.
Flood-inundation maps for South Fork Peachtree Creek from the Brockett Road bridge to the Willivee Drive bridge, DeKalb County, Georgia
Digital flood-inundation maps for a 5.3-mile reach of South Fork Peachtree Creek that extends from about 500 feet above the Brockett Road bridge to the Willivee Drive bridge were developed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with DeKalb County, Georgia. The flood-inundation maps, which can be accessed through the USGS Flood...
Musser, Jonathan W.
Flood-inundation maps for Big Creek from the McGinnis Ferry Road bridge to the confluence of Hog Wallow Creek, Alpharetta and Roswell, Georgia
Digital flood-inundation maps for a 12.4-mile reach of Big Creek that extends from 260 feet above the McGinnis Ferry Road bridge to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) streamgage at Big Creek below Hog Wallow Creek at Roswell, Georgia (02335757), were developed by the USGS in cooperation with the cities of Alpharetta and Roswell, Georgia. The...
Musser, Jonathan W.
Groundwater 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...
Cherry, Gregory S.
Return to normal streamflows and water levels: summary of hydrologic conditions in Georgia, 2013
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC) Georgia office, in cooperation with local, State, and other Federal agencies, maintains a long-term hydrologic monitoring network of more than 340 real-time continuous-record streamflow-gaging stations (streamgages), including 10 real-time lake-level monitoring stations...
Knaak, Andrew E.; Caslow, Kerry; Peck, Michael F.
Optimally managing water resources in large river basins for an uncertain future
Managers of large river basins face conflicting needs for water resources such as wildlife habitat, water supply, wastewater assimilative capacity, flood control, hydroelectricity, and recreation. The Savannah River Basin for example, has experienced three major droughts since 2000 that resulted in record low water levels in its reservoirs,...
Roehl, Edwin A.; Conrads, Paul
Assessment of groundwater, soil-gas, and soil contamination at the Vietnam Armor Training Facility, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2009-2011
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of the Army Environmental and Natural Resources Management Office of the U.S. Army Signal Center and Fort Gordon, Georgia, assessed the groundwater, soil gas, and soil for contaminants at the Vietnam Armor Training Facility (VATF) at Fort Gordon, from October 2009 to September...
Guimaraes, Wladmir B.; Falls, W. Fred; Caldwell, Andral W.; Ratliff, W. Hagan; Wellborn, John B.; Landmeyer, James E.
Flood-inundation maps for Sweetwater Creek from above the confluence of Powder Springs Creek to the Interstate 20 bridge, Cobb and Douglas Counties, Georgia
Digital flood-inundation maps for a 10.5-mile reach of Sweetwater Creek, from about 1,800 feet above the confluence of Powder Springs Creek to about 160 feet below the Interstate 20 bridge, were developed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with Cobb County, Georgia. The inundation maps, which can be accessed through the USGS Flood...
Musser, Jonathan W.
Escherichia coli bacteria density in relation to turbidity, streamflow characteristics, and season in the Chattahoochee River near Atlanta, Georgia, October 2000 through September 2008—Description, statistical analysis, and predictive modeling
Water-based recreation—such as rafting, canoeing, and fishing—is popular among visitors to the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (CRNRA) in north Georgia. The CRNRA is a 48-mile reach of the Chattahoochee River upstream from Atlanta, Georgia, managed by the National Park Service (NPS). Historically, high densities of fecal-...
Lawrence, Stephen J.
Characterization of major-ion chemistry and nutrients in headwater streams along the Appalachian National Scenic Trail and within adjacent watersheds, Maine to Georgia
An inventory of water-quality data on field parameters, major ions, and nutrients provided a summary of water quality in headwater (first- and second-order) streams within watersheds along the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (Appalachian Trail). Data from 1,817 sampling sites in 831 catchments were used for the water-quality summary. Catchment...
Argue, Denise M.; Pope, Jason P.; Dieffenbach, Fred
Water withdrawals, wastewater discharge, and water consumption in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin, 2005, and water-use trends, 1970-2005
The Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF) River Basin covers about 20,500 square miles that drains parts of Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. The basin extends from its headwaters northern Georgia to the Gulf of Mexico. Population in the basin was estimated to be 3.7 million in 2005, an increase of about 41 percent from the 1990 population of 2.6...
Marella, Richard L.; Fanning, Julia L.
2010 update—Streamflow characteristics at selected sites in southwestern Georgia, southeastern Alabama, and northwestern Florida, near Lake Seminole
Since the first edition of this report was published in 1996, continuous streamflow data have been recorded in the tri-state area of Alabama, Georgia, and Florida, near Lake Seminole. Several notable floods and severe droughts have occurred during this additional 16-year period that have sparked the need to include these additional recorded data...
Stamey, Timothy C.
Assessment of Hyporheic Zone, Flood-Plain, Soil-Gas, Soil, and Surface-Water Contamination at the McCoys Creek Chemical Training Area, Fort Gordon, Georgia, 2009-2010
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of the Army Environmental and Natural Resources Management Office of the U.S. Army Signal Center and Fort Gordon, Georgia, assessed the hyporheic zone, flood plain, soil gas, soil, and surface water for contaminants at the McCoys Creek Chemical Training Area (MCTA) at Fort Gordon...
Guimaraes, Wladmir B.; Falls, W. Fred; Caldwell, Andral W.; Ratliff, W. Hagan; Wellborn, John B.; Landmeyer, James E.
Thermoelectric power plant Bowen owned by Georgia Power Company
Thermoelectric power plant Bowen owned by Georgia Power Company, from Highway 113, Euharlee, Bartow County, Georgia. Plant Bowen is one of the largest coal-fired power plants in the United States. Plant Bowen uses recirculating cooling, decreasing the amount of water that must be withdrawn.
Power-generating plants use evaporation to cool their hot water.
Cooling towers at a power-production facility
Power-generation plants, including Plant Bowen in Georgia, produce power by using heat (in this case, from burning coal) to convert water into steam. The steam, very hot and under a great deal of pressure, is pumped through pipes to turn the blades of a turbine, which is connected by a shaft to a
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Radium Springs, GA, flowing under normal rainfall conditions.
Radium Springs, Georgia, under normal flow conditions.
Sediment-laden water from a tributary can harm water quality of rivers
Sediment-laden water from a tributary, where development is probably taking place, entering the clearer Chattahoochee River near Atlanta, Georgia. If preventative measures are not taken on construction sites where runoff flows into a nearby stream or creek, results like this can happen. The large amount of suspended sediment can harm water quality of not only the tributary
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Source and use of freshwater, Georgia, 2010
This diagram uses a "cylinder and pipe" layout to show the source (surface water or groundwater) of the North Carolina's freshwater and for what purposes the water was used in 2010. The data are broken out for each category of use by surface water and groundwater as the source. The top row of cylinders represents where America's freshwater came from (source) in 2010,
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Drought causes groundwater levels to drop-drying up Radium Springs, GA
Radium Springs, Georgia, during drought conditions.
Industrial water use: Brunswick Cellulose paper plant, Brunswick, GA
Industrial Water Use
Georgia Pacific Brunswick Cellulose paper plant, Brunswick, Georgia, USA
The industries that produce metals, wood and paper products, chemicals, gasoline and oils, and those invaluable grabber utensils you use to get your ring out of the garbage disposal are major users of water. Probably every manufactured product uses
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Water quality sampling, Sope Creek near Atlanta, Georgia.
Water quality sampling in a creek, Atlanta, Georgia
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Scientists from the USGS South Atlantic Water Science Center are sampling Sope Creek, Cobb County, west of Atlanta, Georgia.
Chemical and physical consituents can vary from bank to bank even in a small creek like this. Just taking a single sample from a chosen horizontal and
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Peachtree Creek WaterWatch, Atlanta, Ga. water monitoring site
Peachtree Creek at Atlanta (USGS 02336300) Water Monitoring Site
There are many pieces of equipment, both mechanical and electronic, that are installed at the Peachtree Creek monitoring site to measure, record, and transmit both water-quantity and water-quality information. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) monitors "real-time" streamflow and water-
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Peachtree Creek, Atlanta, Ga. Sept 2009 - Epic flooding event
Epic flooding conditions at Peachtree Creek, Atlanta, Ga., September 2009.
The picture was taken during the epic September 2009 flooding event, which caused the creek to peak at a 23 foot stage. In this flood, the high water did not happen becuase of the usual circumstances - rain falling upstream of the site accumulating and flowing downstream to this site. Here,
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USGS scientists measuring Sept. 2009 flooding, Powder Springs Cr, GA
Epic Flooding in Georgia, 2009
Metropolitan Atlanta—September 2009 Floods
- The epic floods experienced in the Atlanta area in September 2009 were extremely rare. Eighteen streamgages in the Metropolitan Atlanta area had flood magnitudes much greater than the estimated 0.2-percent (500-year) annual exceedance probability.
- The
Our volunteers are truly amazing with 550 edits coming in for this challenge since it was launched!
This challenge is coming along nicely with almost 60 points added since it was launched!
As we continue to prepare states for US Topo map production, we have another challenge for schools in Georgia and South Carolina! Features participating in this challenge include General Schools, Elementary Schools, Middle Schools, and High Schools.
TNMCorps mapping challenges continue in the southeast with another challenge for city/town halls in Georgia and South Carolina!
Budget Focuses on Bringing Science, Facilities, and Infrastructure into the 21st Century
Editor’s Note: This story was revised Sept. 10, 2019 to include the later phases of USGS’ response to Hurricane Dorian.
To learn more about USGS’ role providing science to decision makers before, during and after Hurricane Dorian, visit the USGS Hurricane Dorian page at www.usgs.gov/dorian.
To learn more about USGS’ role providing science to decision makers before, during and after Hurricane Dorian, visit the USGS Hurricane Dorian page at www.usgs.gov/dorian.
Editor’s Note: This story was originally published Aug. 29 and was updated Aug. 30 and Aug. 31 to reflect changes in the number and locations of sensor deployments as Hurricane Dorian's forecast track changed.
To learn more about USGS’ role providing science to decision makers before, during and after Hurricane Dorian, visit the USGS Hurricane Dorian page at www.usgs.gov/dorian.
Estimated 2015 water-use data is now available in a variety of formats.
USGS News Release | USGS Publications (Circular , Fact Sheet)
USGS ScienceBase-Catalog | National Water Information System (NWIS)
Maps: Freshwater Use 1950 - 2015 | Water Use by Category/State/County
No one has a crystal ball to foresee what will happen during the 2018 hurricane season that begins June 1, but NOAA forecasters say there’s a 75 percent chance this hurricane season will be at least as busy as a normal year, or busier.
Christina Kellogg (SPCMSC Research Microbiologist) will present a poster titled "Metagenomic Analysis of the Microbial Community Associated with the Deep-Sea Coral Lophelia pertusa" and give a 10-min talk about it in a session highlighting key posters at the 2018 American Society for Microbiology MICROBE conference, June 6–11, 2018, in Atlanta, GA.
Fayette County Georgia, Water System Director, Lee Pope, discusses water management efforts to alleviate issues downstream.
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Locations
South Atlantic Water Science Center - Norcross, GA Office
Phone: (678) 924-6700
Fax: (678) 924-6710
South Atlantic Water Science Center - Tifton, GA Field Office
webmaster-ga@usgs.gov
Phone: 229-382-6353
South Atlantic Water Science Center - Georgia: Savannah Field Office
Phone: (843) 784-5005