HURRICANE-INDUCED WATER LEVEL CHANGES IN THE BLACK CREEK AQUIFER, ROBESON COUNTY

The Atlantic Coastal Plain aquifer system composed of unconsolidated materials like sand, gravel, silt, and clay. These aquifers, especially Black Creek aquifer, are reliable for good quality of water and are pumped extensively for municipalities, industries, and agricultural water needs in the coastal areas. On one hand, groundwater use from the aquifer in North Carolina has increased recently and will increase in the future in response to the growth in population. On the other hand, low-lying areas in the region have become more frequently flooded for extended periods due to climate change. Hence, it is crucial to understand what impact these flood areas could have on the quality and quantity of water in the aquifer system. We have monitored groundwater levels in Robeson County since December 2017 using a network of 13 monitoring wells that are tapped into the Black Creek Aquifer. The data from at least one of the wells has similar signals to the Lumber River following Hurricane Florence for days. These findings raise the question of whether the Black Creek Aquifer is completely confined. We have begun to study the influence of hurricanes in the last decade in relation to the groundwater levels in the Black Creek Aquifer. The objective of this study is to investigate whether the Black Creek Aquifer has breached or is missing a confining layer. If the aquifer is not confined, there are implications for the public health, the environment, and the economy of the region.