Groundwater Development in the Altamaha River Watershed: Implications for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems
Author(s)
Shaw, Douglas T.
Advisor(s)
Editor(s)
Hatcher, Kathryn J.
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Abstract
Information is presented on the
ecological role of groundwater in the Altamaha River
watershed. Although groundwater makes up a
substantial portion of baseflow to coastal plain streams,
it may have ecological benefit far out of proportion to
the quantity of seepage or springflow that reaches the
river. Groundwater flows provide reliable sources of
cool, fresh water that allow aquatic and estuarine
organisms to cope with seasonal temperature and
salinity stress and sustain baseflows and nutrient
delivery during periods when surface runoff is reduced.
It is hypothesized that sustained groundwater flows are a principal source of resiliency to coastal plain aquatic ecosystems that allows populations to survive periodic
drought and recover quickly from drought-induced stress. As such it is imperative that protection of
ecologically-important groundwater resources be
incorporated into plans for aquatic ecosystem
conservation and water supply development.
Sponsor
Sponsored and Organized by: U.S. Geological Survey, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Natural Resources Conservation Service, The University of Georgia, Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of Technology
Date
2001-03
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Resource Type
Text
Resource Subtype
Proceedings