IMPROVING DATABASES FOR 3-DIMENSIONAL HYDROSTRATIGRAPHIC FRAMEWORKS: A CASE STUDY OF THE MISSISSIPPI EMBAYMENT

Hydrogeologic framework modeling is an integral part of water availability studies. Increased demand for regional frameworks highlights the need for an integrated system that manages extensive datasets collected over the past several decades in different mapping campaigns, of multiple companies, and with different geophysical methods and instrumentation. Development of a comprehensive database with 3-dimensional visualization capabilities is critical to improving existing models as new data becomes available. The U.S. Geological Survey; Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment—Geological Survey; Arkansas Department of Agriculture – Natural Resources Division; Memphis Light, Gas, and Water; Louisiana State University; and University of Memphis are partnering to enhance the development of hydrostratigraphic modeling for the Mississippi Embayment (ME). The ME comprises about 100,000 square miles in the Gulf Coastal Plain and is underlain by water-bearing geologic units that are the subject of many previous and ongoing water availability studies. While several national and regional hydrostratigraphic studies have been conducted in the region since the early 1900’s, to date these have not been compiled in a centralized USGS database. This project aims to develop a hydrogeologic data management system that both integrates existing data sets and makes the interpretive process more transparent. The current phase of this project includes data compilation, database construction, and application development to store and aid in the rapid assessment and construction of hydrogeologic frameworks. Development of a database schema that is flexible, links to USGS groundwater data in NWIS, and supports multiple sources of hydrogeophysical data such as geophysical logs, lithological descriptions, aquifer tests, and terrestrial, water, and airborne geophysical data will support robust interpretation of groundwater system geometry. Ultimately, the goal is to develop a platform that facilitates 2- and 3-dimensional visualization of the subsurface and allows government agencies and academic institutions to consolidate, cross-check, and publicly share important hydrogeologic datasets.