USGS - science for a changing world

South Atlantic Water Science Center

Map of North Carolina highlighting the counties within the project study area

Project Overview

Full Title
Monitoring of water-level conditions in the Black Creek, Peedee, and upper Cape Fear aquifers in Bladen, Columbus, Hoke, Robeson, Sampson, and Scotland Counties, North Carolina

Location
Bladen, Columbus, Hoke, Robeson, Sampson, and Scotland Counties

Cooperating Agencies
Southern Coastal Plain Groundwater Advisory Council,
Lumber River Council of Governments (LRCOG)

Project Chief
Gerald Strickland

Period of Project
1/2000 to 12/2003

Southern Coastal Plain Ground-Water Monitoring

This project was completed in 2003. These pages are for historical purposes only.

Introduction

Since the early 1900s, ground-water-level declines have been documented throughout the Coastal Plain of North Carolina. Ground-water use has outpaced the rate of recharge, particularly to the Cretaceous aquifers. Ground-water supplies are being developed in and around Bladen, Columbus, Hoke, Robeson, Sampson, and Scotland Counties. These counties cover an area of approximately 4,400 square miles in the Coastal Plain of North Carolina. As revealed in previous USGS/LRCOG ground-water studies, water levels in the Black Creek and upper Cape Fear aquifers have declined steadily in some areas as the amount of water pumped from these aquifers has increased with economic and agricultural growth. Between 1992 and 1998, water-level declines of 117 feet were observed in the upper Cape Fear aquifer in Bladen County.