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Patrick O. Jefferson

Publications and source records attributed to Patrick O. Jefferson.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

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↗

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↗

Water availability and geology of Sumter County, Alabama

Geologic units that crop out in Sumter County include the Selma Group of Late Cretaceous age; the Midway and Wilcox Groups of Tertiary Age; and terrace deposits and alluvium of Quaternary age. The Tuscaloosa Group, consisting of the Coker and Gordo Formations, and Eutaw Formation of Late Cretaceous age underlie the entire county. The Cretaceous units dip southwestward about 45 feet per mile and strike northwestward. 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 1.6 mgd (million gallons per day or more per well. The Naheola and Nanafalia formations, Tuscahome Sand, and terrace deposits and alluvium are expected to yield 10 to 50 gallons per minute per well.

Open-File Report↗

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↗