Hydrologic conditions, groundwater quality, and analysis of sink hole formation in the Albany area of Dougherty County, Georgia, 2009

Abstract

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Albany Water, Gas, and Light Commission has conducted water resources investigations and monitored groundwater conditions and availability in the Albany, Georgia, area since 1977. This report presents an overview of hydrologic conditions, water quality, and groundwater studies in the Albany area of Dougherty County, Georgia, during 2009. Historical

Simulated longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) restoration increased streamflow—A case study in the Lower Flint River Basin

“…Past decreases in streamflow during the growing season and during extended droughts has had substantial effects on aquatic fauna of the region including fishes, freshwater mussels and crayfishes (e.g., Davis et al, 2020;Freeman et al, 2013;Golladay et al, 2004;Sargent et al, 2011& Smith et al, 2017. Increasingly, streams within the Lower Flint River Basin are ceasing to flow during growing season dry periods with only isolated pools remaining (e.g., Davis et al, 2020;Gordon et al, 2012;Smith et al, 2017). While the comprehensive effects on stream ecosystems are not known, studies of important faunal groups show the potential severity of changing flow regimes.…”

“…In the lower Flint, streamflows are declining during the peak growing season, particularly during seasonal or climatological dry and drought periods (Emmanuel & Rogers, 2012;Rugel et al, 2012). Streams that were once perennial are becoming intermittent and once intermittent streams are experiencing longer and more extreme dry periods (Gordon et al, 2012). Throughout the basin, recent streamflow declines during dry periods greatly exceed those during similar periods in the historic record (Golladay et al, 2007;Rugel et al, 2012).…”

The Favorability of Florida’s Geology to Sinkhole Formation

“…For example, periods of prolonged drought and heavy rainfall have the ability to trigger collapse of subsurface cavities forming sinkholes. These processes are well known to geologists as natural triggering events (Newton, 1987;Beck and Sayed, 1991;Veni, 2001;Salvati and Sasowsky, 2002;Scheidt et al, 2005;Gordon et al 2012). Appendix II provides an in-depth case study of the natural sinkhole event related to the passage of Tropical Storm Debby in 2012.…”

“…We constantly interact with and impact the landscape, frequently altering the natural environment (Fluery, 2007). The effects of anthropogenic activities, are also well known to geologists to trigger the formation of sinkholes (Sinclair, 1982;Newton, 1987;Wilson and Beck, 1992;Veni, 2001;Salvati and Sasowsky, 2002;Scheidt, 2005;Waltham et al, 2005;Gordon et al, 2012). Appendix III contains an in-depth case study of a human-induced triggered sinkhole formation event following substantial groundwater withdrawal in 2010.…”

Role of Floods on Sinkhole Occurrence in Covered Karst Terrains: Case Study of the Orléans Area (France) During the 2016 Meteorological Event and Perspectives for other Karst Environments

“…A large amount of water is usually considered to be an aggravating factor for the occurrence of sinkholes (Hyatt et al, 1996;Gordon et al, 2012). In France, the meteorological event of spring 2016 constitutes a new example of that assertion.…”