Status of water levels and selected water-quality conditions in the Sparta-Memphis aquifer in Arkansas, Spring-Summer 2003

Abstract

During the spring of 2003, water levels were measured in 341 wells in the Sparta-Memphis aquifer in Arkansas. Waterquality samples were collected for temperature and specificconductance measurements during the spring-summer of 2003 from 70 wells in Arkansas in the Sparta-Memphis aquifer. Maps of areal distribution of potentiometric surface, change in waterlevel measurements from 1999 to 2003, and specific-conductance data reveal spatial trends across the study area. The highest water-level altitude measured in Arkansas was 328 feet above National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD of 1929) in Craighead County; the lowest water-level altitude was 199 feet below NGVD of 1929 in Union County. Three large cones of depression are shown in the 2003 potentiometric surface map, centered in Columbia, Jefferson, and Union Counties in Arkansas as a result of large withdrawals for industrial and public supplies. A broad depression exists in western Poinsett County in Arkansas. The potentiometric surface indicates that large withdrawals have altered or reversed the natural direction of flow in most areas. In the northern third of the study area the flow is from the east, west, and north towards the broad depression in Poinsett County. In the central third of the study area the flow is dominated by the cone of depression centered in Jefferson County. In the southern third of the study area the flow is dominated by the two cones of depression in Union and Columbia Counties. A map of water-level changes from 1999 to 2003 was constructed using water-level measurements from 281 wells. The largest rise in water level measured was about 57.8 feet in Columbia County. The largest decline in water level measured was about-71.6 feet in Columbia County. Areas with a general rise are shown in Arkansas,

Water levels and water quality in the Sparta-Memphis aquifer (middle Claiborne aquifer) in Arkansas, spring-summer 2009

“…Group Formations in the south part of Arkansas altitude was 157 ft below NGVD 29 in Union County near the southern boundary of the study area. The water-level altitude in this well in Union County was 28 ft higher than in 2005 (Schrader, 2006). Eight depressions (represented by closed contours) are located in the following counties: Bradley; Ashley; Calhoun; Cleveland; Columbia; Arkansas, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Prairie; Cross and Poinsett; and Union.…”

“…The lowest water-level altitude measurement was 161 ft below NGVD 29 in 2007 (Schrader, 2009), with a 4-ft rise to 157 ft below NGVD 29 in 2009. In 2003, this depression was elongated east and west and beginning to coalesce with the depression in Columbia County (Schrader, 2006). Decreasing withdrawals in Columbia and Union Counties have resulted in a separation of these two depressions.…”

“…The depression in Union County has diminished and encloses a smaller area than in recent years. The lowest water-level altitude measurement during 2009 in the center of the depression in Union County, represents a rise of 42 ft since 2003 (Schrader, 2006). The location of the lowest water-level altitude can vary through time.…”

Water levels and water quality in the Sparta-Memphis aquifer (middle Claiborne aquifer) in Arkansas, spring-summer 2011

“…The lowest water-level altitude measurement during 2011 in the center of the depression in Union County represents a rise of 79 ft since 2003 (Schrader, 2006). The lowest waterlevel altitude measurement was 157 ft below NGVD 29 in 2009 (Schrader, 2013), with a 37-ft rise to 120 ft below NGVD 29 in 2011.…”

“…In 1999, the 150-ft contour of the depression extended from Poinsett County through Cross County into St. Francis County (Joseph, 2000;Schrader, 2004). In 2003, the depression covered most of the western half of Poinsett County (Schrader, 2006). In 2005, the depression covered part of western Poinsett County and extended into northwestern Cross County.…”