Delineation of Recharge Areas for Springs in George Washington Carver National Monument

Aley, Thomas; Aley, Cathy

This document is a hydrologic analysis and delineation of the springs in George Washington Carver National Monument. A hydrologic study was conducted to delineate recharge areas for springs in and adjacent to George Washington Carver National Monument. Groundwater tracing showed that Carver Spring is being pirated by a spring which we have called Lower Carver Spring. This explains why Carver Spring no longer has perennial flow. Our groundwater tracing also demonstrated that the West Diamond Sewage Lagoon is a major source of contamination for Williams Spring, Carver Spring, and other springs in the channel of Carver Branch within G. W. Carver National Monument. Finally, the tracing showed that the East Diamond Sewage Lagoon lies outside of the recharge area for springs within G.W. Carver National Monument. This investigation also included a mapping of hazard areas in the vicinity of the National Monument, Hazard areas are sites which, because of their hydrogeologic characteristics and/or their associated land uses, pose particular threats to the quality of groundwater. This hazard area mapping included areas both inside and outside of recharge areas for springs within the National Monument. There are major groundwater contamination problems affecting all springs within G,W, Carver National Monument. Actions to mitigate these problems are identified.