Polygons Representing Sensitivity of Ground Water to Contamination in Lawrence County, SD

Release Date

2001-01-01

Time Period

1999-06-09

Publication Date

2023-09-15

Putnam, L.D., 2001, Polygons Representing Sensitivity of Ground Water to Contamination in Lawrence County, SD: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9162TJX.

Type: Related Primary Publication

This data set was created to describe the sensitivity of ground water to contamination in Lawrence County, SD. An additional mechanism of transport of potential contaminants is streamflow loss (infiltration). Mechanisms of potential contamination considered were limited to those that can occur near the land surface and did not include deep subsurface injection. Ground water, for the purposes of this data set, refers to the water in the uppermost saturated rocks and sediments that can be yielded in usable quantities to a well or spring. Transport of a potential contaminant was assumed to occur from infiltration of precipitation from the land surface to the uppermost saturated rocks. Runoff from precipitation on drainage basins upstream from streamflow-loss zones affects the sensitivity of map areas containing the losing stream. Therefore, two additional digital data sets delineating and describing streamflow loss zones and drainage basins above them should be conjunctively considered when evaluating sensitivity to contamination (see cross-reference to obtain these digital data sets). These data sets provide some information about the upstream drainage basins that can be compared but no attempt was made to provide a relative ranking of sensitivity based on this information. The intended use of the sensitivity data sets is as a screening tool used in conjunction with other information and analysis. Some relative comparisons can be made between factors that influence sensitivity of ground-water to contamination. The map is not designed to replace the need for site-specific investigations or to be the sole criterion in making land-use decisions.

• Model Data Management Function (MDMF)