Geohydrology of the lower Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River basin, southwestern Georgia, northwestern Florida, and southeastern Alabama

Torak, Lynn J.; Painter, Jaime A.

doi:10.3133/sir20065070

Cited by 16 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Direction and extent of water movement depends on regional hydraulic gradients, differences in saturation of stratigraphic units, and water usage. The Upper Floridan is recharged mainly by winter precipitation (December–March) when evapotranspiration rates are low (Torak and Painter, 2006). The lower confining unit of the Upper Floridan is formed by the mostly impervious Lisbon Formation.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of irrigation withdrawals on streamflows in a karst environment: lower Flint River Basin, Georgia, USA

Rugel

Jackson

Romeis

et al. 2011

Hydrological Processes

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Abstract:Extensive implementation of centre pivot irrigation systems occurred between 1970 and 1980 in the lower Flint River Basin (FRB) of southwestern Georgia, USA. Groundwater within this karstic system is in direct hydraulic connection with regional streams, many of which are incised through the overburden into underlying limestone. We used long-term U.S. Geological Survey gaging station data to evaluate multiple flow metrics of two tributaries (Ichawaynochaway Creek and Spring Creek) in the lower FRB to determine the extent of changes in stream behaviour since irrigation practices intensified. We compared pre-and post-irrigation flow duration curves, 1-, 7-, and 14-day minimum flows, and 8-day (seasonal) and annual baseflow recession slopes, in addition to evaluating regional climate data to determine whether significant differences existed between the pre-and post-irrigation periods. Our results showed significant changes in low-flow durations in the post-irrigation record for both gages, including a decrease by an order of magnitude for 98% exceedance flows at Spring Creek. Both gages indicated significant reductions in 1-, 7-, and 14-day low flows. Eight-day baseflow recession curves (within early summer months) and annual baseflow recession curves became significantly steeper during the post-irrigation period for Ichawaynochaway Creek. We also found that a significant relationship existed between winter and summer minimum flows in both streams in the pre-irrigation period which was disrupted in post-irrigation years. Regional climate data for the study period revealed no significant changes in rainfall totals or frequency of drought; however, there was evidence for a shift in seasonal rainfall patterns.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of irrigation withdrawals on streamflows in a karst environment: lower Flint River Basin, Georgia, USA

Rugel

Jackson

Romeis

et al. 2011

Hydrological Processes

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“…The resulting clusters represented by red, blue, and green colours in Figure 6 indicate high, moderate, and low sensitive stream zones, respectively. groundwater levels in the UFA vary accordingly throughout the study area including those of the Spring Creek (Mitra et al, 2014;Torak & Painter, 2006). Groundwater levels reach a yearly maximum from late winter to early spring due to recharge from high and steady rain and low evapotranspiration, which leads to high baseflow (stream-aquifer flux) during this period.…”

Section: Sensitivity Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The aquifer is heavily exploited due to widespread irrigation for row crop agriculture in southwestern Georgia. The hydraulic connection of the UFA with surface water through stream channels, sink holes, and fractures has been well documented (Bush & Johnston, ; Hayes, Maslia, & Meeks, ; Torak, Davis, Strain, & Herndon, ; Torak & McDowell, ; Torak & Painter, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evaluation of water‐use policies for baseflow recovery during droughts in an agricultural intensive karst watershed: Case study of the lower Apalachicola–Chattahoochee–Flint River Basin, southeastern United States

Singh

Mitra

Srivastava

et al. 2017

Hydrological Processes

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The lower Apalachicola–Chattahoochee–Flint River Basin in the Southeast United States represents a major agricultural area underlain by the highly productive karstic Upper Floridan aquifer (UFA). During El Niño Southern Oscillation‐induced droughts, intense groundwater withdrawal for irrigation lowers streamflow in the Flint River due to its hydraulic connectivity with the UFA and threatens the habitat of the federally listed and endangered aquatic biota. This study assessed the compounding hydrologic effects of increased irrigation pumping during drought years (2010–2012) on stream–aquifer water exchange (stream–aquifer flux) between the Flint River and UFA using the United States Geological Survey modular finite element groundwater flow model. Principal component and K‐means clustering analyses were used to identify critical stream reaches and tributaries that are adversely affected by irrigation pumping. Additionally, the effectiveness of possible water restriction scenarios on stream–aquifer flux was also analysed. Moreover, a cost–benefit analysis of acreage buyout procedure was conducted for various water restriction scenarios. Results indicate that increased groundwater withdrawal in Water Year 2011 decreased baseflow in the lower Apalachicola–Chattahoochee–Flint River Basin, particularly, in Spring Creek, where irrigation pumping during April, June, and July changed the creek condition from a gaining to losing stream. Results from sensitivity analysis and simulated water restrictions suggest that reducing pumping in selected sensitive areas is more effective in streamflow recovery (approximately 78%) than is reducing irrigation intensity by a prescribed percentage of current pumping rates, such as 15% or 30%, throughout the basin. Moreover, analysis of acreage buyout indicates that restrictions on irrigation withdrawal can have significant impacts on stream–aquifer flux in the Basin, especially in critical watersheds such as Spring and Ichawaynochaway Creeks. The proposed procedure for ranking of stream reaches (sensitivity analysis) in this study can be replicated in other study areas/models. This study provides useful information to policymakers for devising alternate irrigation water withdrawal policies during droughts for maintaining flow levels in the study area.

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“…Interchange between ground and surface water in this region can occur rapidly, frequently, and unexpectedly [5]. During the 1980s and 1990s, several studies suggested strong connectivity between groundwater withdrawal and reduced stream flow in southwest Georgia [6][7][8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Agricultural Water Policy during Drought: A Strategy for Including Groundwater Permits in Future Irrigation Buyout Auctions in the Flint River Basin

Mullen

2019

Water

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Georgia's Flint River Basin has water management challenges from extensive groundwater pumping for agriculture and in-stream flow requirements. The state has experimented with buying out irrigation permits through auctions. Past auctions were relegated to surface water permits. Recently, the state has allowed groundwater permit holders to participate in future auctions. The Flow-Impact Offer (FIO) developed in this paper provides a way to reconcile the disparate impacts of groundwater and surface water withdrawals on in-stream flows when comparing offers in a buyout auction. The techniques suggested here to operationalize the FIO are applicable to other regions of the world as well.

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Geohydrology of the lower Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River basin, southwestern Georgia, northwestern Florida, and southeastern Alabama

Cited by 16 publications

References 9 publications

Effects of irrigation withdrawals on streamflows in a karst environment: lower Flint River Basin, Georgia, USA

Effects of irrigation withdrawals on streamflows in a karst environment: lower Flint River Basin, Georgia, USA

Evaluation of water‐use policies for baseflow recovery during droughts in an agricultural intensive karst watershed: Case study of the lower Apalachicola–Chattahoochee–Flint River Basin, southeastern United States

Agricultural Water Policy during Drought: A Strategy for Including Groundwater Permits in Future Irrigation Buyout Auctions in the Flint River Basin

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