Southern Coastal Plain Ground-Water Monitoring

Background

Since the early 1900s, ground-water-level declines have been documented throughout the Coastal Plain of North Carolina. Ground-water use has outpaced the rate of recharge, particularly to the Cretaceous aquifers. Ground-water supplies are being developed in and around Bladen, Columbus, Hoke, Robeson, Sampson, and Scotland Counties. These counties cover an area of approximately 4,400 square miles in the Coastal Plain of North Carolina. As revealed in previous USGS/LRCOG ground-water studies, water levels in the Black Creek and upper Cape Fear aquifers have declined steadily in some areas as the amount of water pumped from these aquifers has increased with economic and agricultural growth. Between 1992 and 1998, water-level declines of 117 feet were observed in the upper Cape Fear aquifer in Bladen County.

Objectives

To continue monitoring water-level fluctuations in the Black Creek and upper Cape Fear aquifers in Bladen, Hoke, Robeson, and Scotland Counties; and to extend monitoring into Columbus and Sampson Counties for ground-water-level fluctuations in the Peedee, Black Creek, and upper Cape Fear aquifers.

Approach

A network of 30 wells was selected in the multicounty area. Eleven wells are equipped with water-level recorders, and 19 wells are measured on a periodic basis to monitor water-level fluctuations in the various aquifers.

Progress (October 2003)

Data collection was completed for the project in September 2003.

Well Network Map