Search USGS⌕ Search

Geology topics

Research about Alabama

Source-linked reports with geographic coverage including Alabama.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources
USGS1979

Sample descriptions for test wells penetrating deep aquifers in Dallas and Sumpter counties, Alabama

Test wells in Dallas and Sumter counties, Alabama penetrated deep Cretaceous aquifers that are sources of future ground-water withdrawals. The test well in Dallas County was drilled to a depth of 1,460 feet, and the test well in Sumter County was drilled to a depth of 2,311 feet. The deep aquifers in Sumter County are in an area of future residential and industrial development along the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. Descriptions of drill cuttings are given in the report.

Alabama↗
USGS1979

Water resources data for Alabama, water year 1978

Water resources data for the 1978 water year for Alabama consist of records of stage, discharge, and water quality of streams; stage and contents of lakes and reservoirs; and water levels and water quality of ground-water wells. This report contains records for water discharge at 95 gaging stations; stage only at 16 gaging stations; stage and contents of 12 lakes and reservoirs; water quality at 64 gaging stations, 24 partial-record stations, and 2 wells; and water levels at 59 observation wells. Also included are data for 23 crest-stage and 11 flood hydrograph partial-record stations. Location of these sites are shown on figures 4-7. Additional water data were collected at various sites, not involved in the systematic data-collection program, and are published as miscellaneous measurements and analyses. Discharge records for a few pertinent stations in bordering states are also included in this report. These data represent that part of the National Water Data System collected by the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating State and Federal agencies in Alabama.

Alabama↗
USGS1978

Water resources data for Alabama, water year 1977

Water resources data for the 1977 water year for Alabama consist of records of stage, discharge, and water quality of streams; stage and contents of lakes and reservoirs; and water levels and water quality of ground water. This report contains discharge records for 92 gaging stations; stage only records for 25 gaging stations; stage and contents for 12 lakes and reservoirs; water quality for 61 gaging stations, 33 partial-record stations, and 3 wells, and water levels for 52 observation wells. Also included are 26 crest-stage partial-record stations, and 10 flood hydrograph partial-record stations. Additional water data were collected at various sites, not involved in the systematic data-collection program, and are published as miscellaneous measurements. Discharge records for a few pertinent stations in bordering states are also included in this report. These data represent that part of the National Water Data System collected by the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating State and Federal agencies in Alabama.

Alabama↗
USGS1977

Water resources data for Alabama, water year 1976

Water resources data for the 1976 water year for Alabama consist of records of stage, discharge, and water quality of streams; stage and contents of lakes and reservoirs; and water levels of ground water. This report contains discharge records for 88 gaging stations; stage only records for 25 gaging stations; stage and contents for 12 lakes and reservoirs; water quality for 45 gaging stations, 68 partial-record stations, and water levels for 53 observation wells. Also included are 27 crest-stage partial-record stations, and 11 flood hydrograph partial-record stations, Discharge records for a few pertinent stations in bordering states are also included in this report. These data represent that part of the National Water Data System collected by the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating State and Federal agencies in Alabama.

Alabama↗
USGS1977

Water and related problems in coal-mine areas of Alabama

Water-resource problems or potential problems in Alabama resulting from surface and subsurface coal mining include erosion and sedimentation, flooding, diversion of drainage, decline in water level, land subsidence, and the degradation of water quality. The degradation of water quality is the most serious and widespread coal-mine related problem in Alabama. The chemical quality of water in numerous streams draining coal-mine areas has been altered drastically. The pH of water draining from mined areas commonly ranges from 2.1 to 5.0, generally has high sulfate and dissolved solids concentrations, is hard to very hard, and may contain objectionable amounts of iron. The detrimental quality of water in some streams may persist for decades after mining has ceased. Without proper safeguards, additional mining may cause a significant deterioration in the quality of water in major streams where the more mineralized mine waters are now diluted. (Woodard-USGS)

Alabama↗
USGS1977

Miospore diversity and its relationship to lithology in the Coker Formation (Upper Cretaceous) of western Alabama

A multiple-regression procedure was applied to samples from two cores of the Coker Formation (Upper Cretaceous) of western Alabama in an attempt to characterize the relationship between the diversity of miospore species and selected lithologic factors. The resulting prediction equations suggest that the number of miospore species in these samples is inversely related to changes in median grain size and to other as yet undefined factors not reflected by lithology. In addition, it appears that the degree of sorting of the sediment has no effect on species diversity. A plot of these prediction equations shows that changes in the number of miospore species are negligible in samples of clay and silt size but that the number of species decreases rapidly in sediments of fine sand size or coarser. The results presented here agree with those presented by other workers for the relationship between grain size and the absolute abundance of miospores.

Alabama↗
USGS1977

Transverse mixing in the Mobile River, Alabama

Transverse dispersion in the Mobile River was measured by (1) ground-based techniques using water samples and a fluorometer and (2) by aerial photography. Magnitude of the transverse mixing coefficient obtained by the two methods was 6.2 feet squared per second (0.58 metre squared per second) and 5.0 feet squared per second (0.46 metre squared per second), respectively. The value of the numerical coefficient k , which relates the transverse mixing coefficient E , to shear velocity U * and average depth of flow, d , by the relationship k = E z / U * d , was 7.2.

Alabama↗
USGS1976

Regional flood depth-frequency relations for Alabama

Regional relations are defint, for estimating the depth of water of floods having a recurrence interval of 10- and 100-years on natural flow streams in Alabama. Drainage area is the only independent variable required. All other variations of depth are included in a hydrogeologic area coefficient. Six hydrogeologic areas are identified for Alabama.

Alabama↗
USGS1975

Geology and water availability of Cullman County, Alabama

The Pottsville Formation of Pennsylvanian age underlies most of Cullaman County in northern Alabama. It consists mostly of interbedded sandstones and shales that dip southward about 40 feet per mile. The Bangor Limestone of Mississippian age underlies the Pottsville and crops out in a few valleys along the northern boundary of the county. The principal source of ground water in the county is the Pottsville Formation. Sandstones of the Pottsville Formation underlying low topographic areas will yield as Much as 200 gpm (gallons per minute) to individual wells 200 feet deep or less in the southeastern part of the the county and 25-100 gpm in other parts. Those underlying high topographic areas generally yield less than 5 gpm. The average flow of streams in and adjoining Cullman County is about 1,500 mgd (million gallons per day) which includes about 780 mgd that originates in the county. Discharge from ground-water storage is small, and most streams cease to flow during extended dry periods. Sipsey Fork and Mulberry Fork are the only streams in and adjoining Cullman County that have median annual 7-day low flows that exceed 2 mgd.

Alabama↗
USGS1975

Water availability and geology of Hale County, Alabama

Geologic units that underlie and crop out in Hale County include the Tuscaloosa Group, Eutaw Formation, and Selma Group of Late Cretaceous age, and terrace deposits and alluvium of Quaternary age. The Cretaceous units dip southwest about 35 feet per mile and strike northwest. They consist chiefly of deposits of sand, gravel, chalk, and clay. Potential sources of large supplies of ground water are major aquifers in the Coker, Gordo, and Eutaw Formations; expected yields are 1.5 mgd (million gallons per day per well). Aquifers in the Eutaw Formation are the shallowest source of ground water in most of the county. The average annual runoff originating in Hale County is about 17 inches or 0.82 mgd per square mile. The Black Warrior River, largest potential source of surface water in the county, has an average flow of 5,800 mgd at gaging station 2-4660 near Eutaw and a median annual 7-day low flow of 349 mgd. Elliotts, Fivemile, Big Brush, and Big Prairie Creeks also are potential sources of surface water. These creeks have average flows ranging from 35 to 210 mgd and median annual 7-day low flows in excess of 2 mgd at their lower reaches. Water from most streams in the county contains less than 10 mg/l (milligrams per liter) chloride and ranges from soft to hard. The mineral content of water from Big Brush Creek is affected by salty water from a flowing well. Ground water from the major aquifers contains less than 250 mg/l chloride, except in the extreme northwestern and west-central parts of the county, and ranges from soft to very hard. Water from the aquifers generally contains iron in excess of 0.3 mg/l except in the southern part of the county. Water use in Hale County in 1968 was about 3.9 mgd, most of which was ground water. Less than one percent of the potential water resources is being utilized.

Alabama↗
USGS1975

Water availability, Jefferson County, Alabama

The average annual precipitation in Jefferson County is about 53 inches (1,346.2 millimeters) or about 2,820 mgd (million gallons per day), which is equivalent to 124 m 3 /s (cubic meters per second). Part of the rainfall (about 1,130 mgd or 50 m 3 /s) runs off directly into streams, and the remaining 1,690 mgd (74 m 3 /s) replenishes soil moisture to underground reservoirs. Potential sources of ground water in the county are limestone, dolomite, sandstone, and chert aquifers. Wells developed in these aquifers may produce as much as 0.5 mgd (0.022 m 3 /s) per well. In some areas, wells developed in the limestone, dolomite, and chert aquifers may produce more than 0.5 mgd (0.022 m 3 / s) per well. Potential sources of surface water in Jefferson County are the Black Warrior and Cahaba Rivers, Locust Fork, and Valley, Village, Fivemile, Shades, and Turkey Creeks. Average flows at the mouth of these streams or at the point where the stream leaves the county are 4, 070, 250, 1, 230, 360, 100, 120, 100, and 90 mg (178, 11, 54, 16, 4.4, 5. 3, 4. 4, and 3.9 m 3 /s), respectively. Low flows (7-day Q 2 ) are generally in the range of 10 to 100 mgd (0. 44 to 4.4 m 3 /s). Most streams, however, are affected in some way by urbanization. These effects must be considered and better defined before extensive use of streamflow is made. Water from the limestone and dolomite aquifers generally is moderately hard to very hard, contains less than 0.3 mg/1 (milligrams per liter) iron, and has 3 median value of 150 mg/1 dissolved solids. Water from the sandstone aquifer generally is soft to moderately hard, contains iron in excess of 0.3 mg/1, and has a median value of 210 mg/1 dissolved solids. The concentrations of mineral constituents of surface water generally become progressively greater in the downstream direction. The increase in concentration of mineral constituents is attributed to inflow of municipal and industrial waste in the downstream reaches of the stream. This waste disposal has degraded the quality of water in Shades, Valley, Village, and Fivemile Creeks, and Locust Fork. The average water use in Jefferson County was estimated to be about 200 mgd (8.8 m 3 /s) in 1970. The major sources of this supply are Lewis Smith Lake, Inland Lake, and Lake Purdy. These three sources supply water for about 75 percent of Jefferson County's population or 66 percent of the water used.

Alabama↗
USGS1975

Water availability of Choctaw County, Alabama

Large quantities of ground water and surface water are available in Choctaw County. Major sources of ground water are the Nanafalia Formation, Tuscahoma Sand, Hatchetigbee Formation, and Gosport Sand and Lisbon Formation. The Nanafalia Formation is the most productive source of ground water, and individual wells will yield as much as 1.0 mgd (million gallons per day). The depths to aquifers and the quality of ground water in the south half of the county are governed in part by geologic structures. The average flow of the Tombigbee River at the southeast corner of the county is 16,500 mgd and the 7-day Q2 exceeds 1,000 mgd. Kinterbish, Tuckabum, and Okatuppa Creeks have average flows that range from 115 to 265 mgd at their confluences with the Tombigbee River and 7-day Q2's that exceed 10 mgd in their downstream reaches. Average runoff originating in the county is about 786 mgd or 0.8 mgd per square mile. Water in aquifers tapped by wells generally contains less than 500 mg/1 (milligrams per liter) dissolved solids and is soft to moderately hard. In southeastern parts of the county, in the vicinity of the Hatchetigbee anticline, wells have been abandoned because of the poor quality of water. Water in streams, with the exception of that in Okatuppa Creek and some of its tributaries near Gilbertown and Barrytown, is generally soft and contains less than 140 mg/1 dissolved solids. The quality of water in Okatuppa Creek and some of its tributaries reflects contamination by oil-field brines. Biweekly samples collected from Okatuppa Creek from September 1965 to May 1967 show an average chloride content of 312 mg/1 and specific conductances indicate an average dissolved solids content of 630 mg/ 1.

Alabama↗
USGS1975

Water availability in Perry County, Alabama

The principal sources of large quantities of ground water in Perry County are sand and gravel aquifers in the Coker, Gordo, and Eutaw Formations of the Upper Cretaceous Series. Upper Cretaceous deposits, which dip to the southwest at about 35 feet per mile, range in thickness (d from about 400 feet in the northern part of the county to about 2,300 feet in the southernmost part. Most wells tapping Upper Cretaceous deposits range in depth from 20 to 950 feet; the deposits are potential sources of water to depths of 2,000 feet. Yields of wells that tap individual aquifers in the Upper Cretaceous Series range from about 0.5 to 2 mgd (million gallons per day). Water levels in wells tapping the Upper Cretaceous deposits range from 40 feet above land surface in low areas along the streams to 245 feet below land surface in upland areas. Beds of sand and gravel in the alluvial deposits underlying the major stream valleys and terraces along these valleys are sources of water to wells. Where these beds are hydraulically connected to streams, they potentially will yield large supplies of water to wells. Annual rainfall averages about 55 inches and the average rate of runoff per square mile is about 0.8 mgd. The Cahaba River and Oakmulgee Creek are the largest sources of surface water in the county. The Cahaba River at Sprott has an average flow of about 1,300 mgd and a 7-day low flow (7-day Q 2 ) of 200 mgd. Cakmulgee Creek near Perryville has an average flow of about 140 mgd and a 7-day Q 2 of about 15 mgd. the total average flow of all streams in the county is about 1,300 mgd. Water from aquifers and streams in Perry County is chemically suitable for most uses. Water from wells ranges from soft to moderately hard but locally is hard and has an iron content that exceeds 0. 3 mg/l (milligrams per liter). Water from streams has a low mineral content and is generally soft. Water use in Perry County in 1968 was about 4 mgd which was less than 1 percent of the available quantity.

Alabama↗
USGS1968

Mortality among bobwhites confined to a heptachlor contaminated environment

The lethal effects of heptachlor on bobwhites ( Colinus virginianus ) were studied at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center during 1962 and 1963. A pair of adult birds was placed in each of 32 wire-covered field pens (20 x 50 x 61/2 ft) in May, 1962, and in 36 additional pens in May, 1963. Heptachlor (technical grade on clay granules) was spread in the pens at rates of1/8, 1/4, 1 1/4 and 2 lb/acre. In 1963 the treated pens were thoroughly soaked with a hose before birds were introduced to avoid the possibility of birds pecking granules. Heptachlor at 1 1/4 and 2 lb/acre caused severe mortality among birds introduced successively during the first 15 days after application. Mortality declined rapidly among birds placed in these same pens thereafter and was undetectable after 45 days. Mortality at 1/4 lb/acre was significant only during the first 15 days of the 1962 test. There was no detectable difference in mortality of the sexes. Water applied to the pens followed by fairly heavy rain did not significantly affect mortality.

Alabama↗