Publication Date
April 2018
Abstract
Extreme droughts in recent years have highlighted the need to enhance management and protection actions for the water resources of Alabama. The Groundwater Assessment Program (GAP) of the Geological Survey of Alabama investigates the availability and quality of the states’ groundwater resources working in cooperation with other state and federal agencies, local governments and water systems, industry, educational institutions, and citizens. Alabama is located in the humid region of the United States, with numerous karst features, such as caves, sinkholes (dolines), and springs occurring in carbonate (limestone and dolomite) rocks, which underlie about 25 percent of the state. In the Interior Low Plateaus (Western and central part), Appalachian Plateaus (Jackson County), and Valley and Ridge Physiographic Provinces, which are in the northern half of the state, carbonate rocks underlie many areas and groundwater is contained mainly in karstified aquifers with high secondary porosities. The southern half of the state is situated in the Coastal Plain physiographic province, where around 7.5 percent of the aquifers are located in carbonates rocks. All wells installed in carbonate rocks and karst springs obtain water from solution cavities in these strata or the regolith above them. These solution cavities are not uniformly distributed, making prediction of their occurrence extremely difficult. To better understand the geologic framework of karst aquifer systems in Alabama, a series of hydrogeological cross-sections were constructed depicting stratigraphy and aquifers in the area. The selection of cross-section lines and wells were based on their geographic location, with preference given to wells having a greater total depth and with supporting geophysical and sampling logs. These cross-sections were used to identify geologic structure, aquifers (depth and elevation) and their production intervals, and determine where deeper aquifers might be located. The economic future and quality of life for Alabamians, as well as sustainable ecosystem functions and services, are dependent upon the availability and protection of the state’s water resources. Therefore, future water source development will require significant scientific research, substantial logistical planning, and infrastructure development to find and manage water sources.
Rights Information
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5038/9780991000982.1033
Geologic Framework of Karst Aquifer Systems in Alabama
Extreme droughts in recent years have highlighted the need to enhance management and protection actions for the water resources of Alabama. The Groundwater Assessment Program (GAP) of the Geological Survey of Alabama investigates the availability and quality of the states’ groundwater resources working in cooperation with other state and federal agencies, local governments and water systems, industry, educational institutions, and citizens. Alabama is located in the humid region of the United States, with numerous karst features, such as caves, sinkholes (dolines), and springs occurring in carbonate (limestone and dolomite) rocks, which underlie about 25 percent of the state. In the Interior Low Plateaus (Western and central part), Appalachian Plateaus (Jackson County), and Valley and Ridge Physiographic Provinces, which are in the northern half of the state, carbonate rocks underlie many areas and groundwater is contained mainly in karstified aquifers with high secondary porosities. The southern half of the state is situated in the Coastal Plain physiographic province, where around 7.5 percent of the aquifers are located in carbonates rocks. All wells installed in carbonate rocks and karst springs obtain water from solution cavities in these strata or the regolith above them. These solution cavities are not uniformly distributed, making prediction of their occurrence extremely difficult. To better understand the geologic framework of karst aquifer systems in Alabama, a series of hydrogeological cross-sections were constructed depicting stratigraphy and aquifers in the area. The selection of cross-section lines and wells were based on their geographic location, with preference given to wells having a greater total depth and with supporting geophysical and sampling logs. These cross-sections were used to identify geologic structure, aquifers (depth and elevation) and their production intervals, and determine where deeper aquifers might be located. The economic future and quality of life for Alabamians, as well as sustainable ecosystem functions and services, are dependent upon the availability and protection of the state’s water resources. Therefore, future water source development will require significant scientific research, substantial logistical planning, and infrastructure development to find and manage water sources.
