GROUNDWATER AND SURFACE WATER CONTRIBUTION FOR A PROPOSED RESERVOIR IN GEORGE COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI

The purpose of this research was to determine the groundwater contribution within a basin for a proposed reservoir in George County, Mississippi. George County is located in southeastern Mississippi. A reservoir was proposed in this area to increase surface water storage for industrial and recreational purposes. Groundwater levels, base flow hydrographs, and grain size analysis were examined to determine the amount of groundwater contributed to the basin. Two continuous monitoring sites on Big and Little Cedar Creeks provide surface-water-level data, as well as temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity. The surface-water-level data was used to generate base flow hydrographs, which were used to determine surface water and groundwater interactions and the amount of runoff contributed from precipitation. A Geoprobe was used to obtain thirteen core samples around the perimeter of the predetermined, proposed reservoir footprint. Five piezometers were installed in the holes drilled by the Geoprobe. To provide the groundwater level, grain size analyses were conducted on the core samples obtained to determine the permeability of the rock within the proposed reservoir basin.