Controls on Saltwater Intrusion in a Shallow Coastal Aquifer: Wormsloe Historic Site, GA
Williams, Marshall D
Citations
Abstract
The Wormsloe Historic site is situated on a barrier island located off the Georgia Coast. Four shallow monitoring wells were installed in an east-west transect to monitor the surficial aquifer for saltwater intrusion and to find what factors were most strongly controlling it. Previous studies have found strong indications for saltwater intrusion along the east coast, particularly in areas where the underlying Floridan aquifer has been extensively pumped. Temperature and conductivity data gathered show evidence for the lateral movement of saltwater into the surficial aquifer moving inland from a saline marsh, while tidal, precipitation, and Ground Penetrating Radar data reveal the timing and controls of it. Integration of the multiple lines of evidence indicates risks whereby lateral saltwater intrusion could eventually be conveyed downward under continued sea level rise, with the potential to impact the Upper Floridan aquifer or the regions potable water aquifer in the future.