Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2009GA201B

Identifying Locations of High Connectivity between Floridan Aquifer Water and Surface Waters at Lineament Intersections with Tributaries of the Lower Flint River

Institute: Georgia
Year Established: 2009 Start Date: 2009-03-01 End Date: 2010-02-28
Total Federal Funds: $18,000 Total Non-Federal Funds: $36,041

Principal Investigators: C. Jackson, C. Jackson

Project Summary: We propose to map lineaments in the Ocala Limestone in the vicinity of Spring and Ichawaynochaway Creeks and locate intersections between lineaments and the stream channels. We will then investigate water chemistry (pH, specific conductivity, and stable isotopes, particularly chloride) and temperature above, within, and below these intersections to determine whether these intersections are areas of enhanced connectivity between the stream systems and the Floridan Aquifer. The research program is designed to evaluate the following questions: Can proximity of streams to underlying fracture traces be used to predict stream-aquifer association in these reaches? Do summer and winter thermal refugia occur in these areas? What are the normal temporal-spatial geochemical variations in these streams? How much groundwater is gained or lost at this stream/lineament intersections? The results of this research will be integrated with ongoing investigations of mussel populations in the area.