HYDROGEOLOGICAL DATA FROM A STREAMBANK SEEP ALONG THE UPPER WABASH RIVER

A groundwater seepage point at the base of a rocky outcrop along the north bank of the Wabash River Basin was studied to identify a recharge source and to provide an overall characterization of the seep and its functional relationship to the Silurian and Devonian Carbonates Aquifer System of Wabash County. Water samples were collected in November from the seep and analyzed for pH, temperature, total dissolved solids (TDS), conductivity, dissolved oxygen (DO), phosphates, nitrates, and nitrites. Also, the water discharge rate was determined using weir discharge measurements and by directly measuring the volume collected in a graduated cylinder. Water samples were also collected from the Wabash River, Rager Creek and a nearby water well and analyzed for the same chemical parameters and the data were compared to the seep. The groundwater flow direction was also determined using minipiezometers to determine if the Wabash River and the Rager Creek sections are influent or effluent streams. Average discharge rates ranged from 6.10 ml/s to 19.5 ml/s. Discharge measurements proved that there was a consistent flow of water from this seep, even during late September through early October of 2015, when precipitation rates were lower than earlier in the year. Chemical analysis of the water samples showed some similarity between the residential well and the seep, but Rager Creek’s water chemistry was dissimilar to the other two locations. Phosphate measurements for the Rager Creek (1.01mg/L-2.75mg/L) were higher than for the seep (0.03mg/L-0.08mg/L- and well water (0.08mh/L-0.19mg/L). This is an ongoing research project and new data will be presented.