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Research about Mississippi

Source-linked reports with geographic coverage including Mississippi.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
USGS1995

Hydrogeology and simulation of ground-water flow in the Eutaw-McShan aquifer and in the Tuscaloosa aquifer system in northeastern Mississippi

The Eutaw-McShan aquifer and Tuscaloosa aquifer system in northeastern Mississippi were investi- gated to better understand the hydrogeology and the ground-water flow in and between the aquifers. A numerical model was developed to simulate ground- water flow for prepumping and pumping conditions, and model simulatons projected the possible effects of increased ground-water withdrawals. The five aquifers studied, from youngest to oldest, are the Eutaw-McShan, Gordo, Coker, massive sand, and the Lower Cretaceous aquifers. The finite-difference computer code MODFLOW was used to represent the flow system. The model grid covers 33,440 square miles, primarily in northeastern Mississippi, but includes parts of northwestern Alabama, southwestern Tennessee, and eastern Arkansas. A comparison of the simulated predevelopment and 1992 potentiometric surfaces for the aquifers shows an overall water- level decline. Simulated water levels declined an average of 53 and 44 feet in the confined parts of the Eutaw-McShan and Gordo aquifers, respectively. However, the area near Tupelo had a significant rise in water levels due to decreased pumpage from the Eutaw-McShan and Gordo aquifers compared to the simulated potentiometric surface for 1978.

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USGS1995

Hydrogeology and analysis of ground-water withdrawal in the Mendenhall-D'Lo area, Simpson County, Mississippi

The cities of Mendenhall and D'Lo, located in Simpson County, rely on ground water for their public supply and industrial needs. Most of the ground water comes from an aquifer of Miocene age. A study began in 1991 to describe the hydrogeology, analyze effects of ground-water withdrawal by making a drawdown map, and estimate the effects increased ground-water withdrawal might have on water levels in the Miocene age aquifer in the Mendenhall-D'Lo area. The most significant withdrawals of ground water in the study area are from 10 wells screened in the lower sand of the Catahoula Formation of Miocene age. Analysis of the effect of withdrawals from the 10 wells was made using the Theis non- equilibrium equation and applying the principle of superposition. Analysis of 1994 conditions was based on the pumpage history and aquifer properties deter- mined for each well. The drawdown surface resulting from the analysis indicates three general cones of depression. One cone is in the northwestern D'Lo area, one in the south-central Mendenhall area, and one about 1-1/2 miles east of Mendenhall. Calculated drawdown ranges from 21 to 47 feet. Potential drawdown-surface maps were made for 10 years and 20 years beyond 1994 using a constant pumpage. The map made for 10 years beyond 1994 indicates an average total increase in drawdown of about 5.3 feet. The map made for 20 years beyond 1994 indicates an average total increase in drawdown of about 7.3 feet.

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USGS1995

Changes in the volume of water in the Mississippi River alluvial aquifer in the Delta, northwestern Mississippi, 1980-94

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, Office of Land and Water Resources, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, estimated the volumetric changes of water in the Mississippi River alluvial aquifer in northwestern Mississippi from 1980 through 1994. Volumetric changes of water in the alluvial aquifer were estimated for the entire Delta and for five selected areas within the Delta. The volume of water per square mile in the alluvial aquifer in the Delta changed from 17,886 acre-feet during fall 1980 to 17,719 acre-feet during fall 1994, a decrease in volume per square mile of 167 acre-feet. The minimum volume of water per square mile in the alluvial aquifer in the Delta during 1980-94 was 17,640 acre-feet during fall 1988. Of five selected areas within the Delta, an area near Cleveland in Bolivar County had the greatest change in volume of water in the alluvial aquifer. During fall 1980 this area had 20,790 acre-feet of water per square mile in the aquifer; by fall 1994, the volume had decreased to 19,947 acre-feet of water per square mile. An area located in the vicinity of the Sunflower-Leflore County line has within its boundaries a large cone of depression in the potentiometric surface of the alluvial aquifer. The volume of water per square mile in this area decreased from 17,857 acre-feet during fall 1980 to 17,075 acre-feet during fall 1994.

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USGS1994

Environmental contaminants in nonviable eggs of the endangered Mississippi sandhill crane (Grus canadensis pulla)

Our objectives were to determine if concentrations of environmental pollutants and microbial contamination in nonviable eggs of the endangered Mississippi sandhill crane ( Grus canadensis pulla ) contributed to egg failure. Six eggs collected in 1990 and four in 1991 contained only background levels of organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and tests for microbial contamination were all negative. Two eggs contained late dead embryos, but neither revealed obvious abnormalities. Three eggs contained potentially harmful concentrations (23, 39, 146 pg/g, wet mass) of polychlorinated dibenzo- p -dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs), based on 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo- p -dioxin equivalents (TCDD-EQ) for combined compounds. Because of the scarcity of material suitable for laboratory examination and the endangered status of the crane, we recommend that nonviable eggs continue to be monitored for toxic pollutants.

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USGS1994

Aquatic invertebrate production in southeastern USA wetlands during winter and spring

We measured aquatic invertebrate abundance, standing stock biomass, and community production in three types of wetlands on Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge from December 1987 through April 1988. Together, Orthocyclops modestus and Daphnia pulex were the most abundant organisms collected in all habitats during both winter and spring, but each contributed little to total standing stock biomass or production. Caecidotea communis and Pristina osborni made up ≥47% of the total standing stock biomass at each site during both winter (December–February) and spring (March–May). Crangonyx gracilis, Chironomus spp., Chaoborus punctipennis , and Eclipidrilus spp. each contributed ≥5% of the total biomass at one or more wetland habitats. Estimates of aquatic invertebrate community production ranged from 930 to 1,578 mg dry weight/m 2 among wetland types during winter and from 3,306 to 5,421 mg dry weight/m 2 among wetland types during spring. Caecidotea communis and Pristina osborni contributed most to community production during both seasons, but particularly in beaver ponds during spring. Other taxa made up substantial portions of the community production in one or two wetland habitats.

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USGS1994

Water resources data, Mississippi, water year 1993

Water resources data for the 1993 water year for Mississippi consist of records of surface water, ground water, and precipitation in the State. Specifically, it contains:(1) Discharge records for 83 streamflow-gaging stations, stage records for 19 of these gaging stations, discharge records for 107 partial-record or miscellaneous streamflow stations, including 7 flood hydrograph partial-record stations, 55 crest-stage partial-record stations and 46 special study and miscellaneous sites, (2) stage only at 6 gaging stations,(3) water-quality records for 24 streamflow-gaging stations, 2 ungaged streamsites 6 partial-record or miscellaneous sites, 21 short-term study sites, 384 wells, and 3 precipitation-quality stations, and (4) water-level records for 231 observation wells. Records obtained from water-resources investigations are also included in special sections of the report. These data represent that part of the National Water Data System operated by the U.S. Geological Survey, and cooperating local, State, and Federal agencies in Mississippi.

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USGS1994

Susceptibility of major aquifers to surface contamination -- Holmes, Humphreys, Issaquena, Sharkey, Washington, and Yazoo Counties, Mississippi

A geographic information system was used to integrate digital spatial data sets describing geology, slope of the land surface, depth to water table, soil permeability, and land use/land cover to rate the relative susceptibility of unconfined parts of the Mississippi River alluvial, Cockfield, and Sparta aquifers in west-central Mississippi to contamination from surface sources. Areas were rated as having a very low, low, moderate, high, or very high susceptibility to contamination from surface sources. Less than 1 percent of the Mississippi River alluvial aquifer has a very high susceptibility to surface contamination, 35 percent has a high susceptibility, 62 percent has a moderate susceptibility, and 2 percent has a low susceptibility. About 43 percent of the Cockfield aquifer has a high susceptibility to surface contamination, 57 percent has a moderate susceptibility, and less than 1 percent has a low susceptibility. About 41 percent of the Sparta aquifer has a high susceptibility, and less than 1 percent has a low susceptibility, and 1 percent has a low susceptibility. For all three aquifers, less than 1 percent has a very low susceptibility to surface contamination.

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USGS1994

Data requirements for simulation of hydrogeologic effects of liquid waste injection, Harrison and Jackson Counties, Mississippi

Available literature and data were reviewed to quantify data requirements for computer simulation of hydrogeologic effects of liquid waste injection in southeastern Mississippi. Emphasis of each review was placed on quantifying physical properties of current Class I injection zones in Harrison and Jackson Counties. Class I injection zones are zones that are used for injection of hazardous or non-hazardous liquid waste below a formation containing the lowermost underground source of drinking water located within one-quarter of a mile of the injection well. Several mathematical models have been developed to simulate injection effects. The Basic Plume Method was selected because it is commonly used in permit applications, and the Intercomp model was selected because it is generally accepted and used in injection-related research. The input data requirements of the two models were combined into a single data requirement list inclusive of physical properties of injection zones only; injected waste and well properties are not included because such information is site-specific by industry, which is beyond the scope of this report. Results of the reviews of available literature and data indicated that Class I permit applications and standard-reference chemistry and physics texts were the primary sources of information to quantify physical properties of injection zones in Harrison and Jackson Counties. With the exception of a few reports and supplementary data for one injection zone in Jackson County, very little additional information pertaining to physical properties of the injection zones was available in sources other than permit applications and standard-reference texts.

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USGS1994

Lateral movement and stability of channel banks near four highway crossings in southwestern Mississippi

Channel meandering in alluvial streams has caused localized channel instability that has resulted in bridge failure and loss of human life in Mississippi. The U.S. Geological Survey, in coopera- tion with the Mississippi Department of Transpor- tation, conducted a study to develop a better methodology for defining and estimating channel meandering. For this report, river reaches near four bridge sites with current lateral movement of channel banks were selected for study. The lateral movement of channel banks was studied by mapping meanders from aerial photographs taken at various times, evaluating available discharge measurements, and measuring existing channel geometry and soil strength properties at these sites. Rapid, unre- stricted meander cuts and sandy banks are charac- teristic of the sites. Lateral movement was signi- ficant upstream from all four sites, and only one bridge site did not have significant lateral channel-bank movement during the study period. The development of cutbanks and localized channel-bank erosion have caused unstable conditions at three of the sites. Maps of tops of channel indicate significant lateral movement of channel banks upstream and downstream of all four sites and near the bridges at three of four sites. No significant movement occurred at the U.S. Highway 98 crossing of the Bogue Chitto near Tylertown from 1941 to 1991 despite large floods in 1983 and 1990. Slope stability analyses indicated this site to be marginally stable. The maximum lateral movement indicated from maps of tops of channel banks was 680 feet of northward movement of the right (north) bank of the Homochitto River near the State Highway 33 crossing at Rosetta from 1941 to 1983.

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USGS1994

Thickness of the upper and lower confining units of the Mississippi River alluvial aquifer in northwestern Mississippi

The thickness of the upper and lower confining units of the Mississippi River alluvial aquifer in north- western Mississippi (the Delta) has a significant influence on the vertical recharge and contamination susceptibility of the aquifer. The upper confining unit is thicker in the southern part of the Delta, the upper confining unit is less than 10 feet thick in small areas in Bolivar, Coahoma, Sunflower, Quit- man, and Tallahatchie Counties. The lower confining units are characterized by the geologic units directly underlying the alluvial aquifer. The geologic units directly underlying the aquifer, from youngest to oldest, are the Jackson Group, Cockfield Formation, Cook Mountain Formation, Sparta Sand, and Zilpha Clay. The lower confining unit thickness is greatest (greater than 250 feet) in southern Issaquena and northwestern Warren Counties. The largest area where the lower confining unit is less than 10 feet thick is Quitman, southern Coahoma, western Panola, southern Tunica, and the northern one-half of Sunflower Counties.

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USGS1994

Lead poisoning in a Mississippi sandhill crane

Lead poisoning from the ingestion of spent lead shot is well documented in waterfowl (Sanderson and Bellrose 1986) and has been reported in other wetland (Locke et al. 1991, Windingstad et al. 1984) and upland (Hunter and Rosen 1965, Locke and Bagley 1967) avian species. Ingested fishing weights have been implicated in lead poisoning of Trumpeter Swans ( Cygnus buccinator ) (Blus et al. 1989), Common Loons ( Gavia immer ) (Locke et al. 1982, Franson and Cliplef 1992, Pokras and Chafel 1992), Mute Swans ( Cygnus olor ) (Birkhead 1982), and Sandhill Cranes ( Grus canadensis ) (Windingstad et al. 1984). The significance of lead poisoning as a mortality factor in avian species other than waterfowl is probably underestimated (Locke and Friend 1992), and any cause of mortality becomes particularly important in species with small population sizes. We report here the first known case of lead poisoning in a Mississippi Sandhill Crane ( Grus canadensis pulla ), a critically endangered subspecies.

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