Coastal Plain Profile

Project Title Coastal Plain Ground Water Number VA089 Location Coastal Plain of Virginia Cooperating Agencies Virginia Department of Environmental Quality Hampton Roads Planning District Commission Project Chief Randy McFarland Period of Project Continuing Links to Related Pages Chesapeake Bay Impact Crater Coastal Plain GIS

Atlantic Coastal Plain

Problem  
Large withdrawals from the multi-layer aquifer system of the Virginia Coastal Plain  cause regional declines in water levels and alterations in ground-water flow.  Current descriptions of the regional aquifer system are not adequate to accurately assess the effects of existing and future withdrawals.

Objective
Characterize the ground-water resources in the Coastal Plain of Virginia to provide information  needed to support sound water-resource management.

Relevance and Benefits
This study provides enhanced knowledge of the regionally extensive ground-water flow system of the Coastal Plain of Virginia and adjacent states. It addresses the on-going need for understanding changing ground-water conditions and associated hydrologic processes of this increasingly developed, multi-state water resource. Hydrologic data and information are provided that are vital in maintaining sound management to insure the continued viability of a major water supply to millions of citizens.

Approach
Collect and analyze data on poorly characterized parts of the aquifer system, and combine with data and interpretations from other previous and ongoing hydrologic studies, to develop an improved hydrogeologic framework. Construct a digital numerical ground-water model that (1) represents the improved framework, (2) can be maintained efficiently with updated withdrawal information and other changing hydrologic conditions, and (3) provides information that will fulfill ongoing water-resource
management needs.