Prepared in cooperation with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development 

Water Resources of West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana

Introduction 

Information concerning the availability, use, and quality of 

water in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana (fig. 1), is critical for proper 

water-supply management. The purpose of this fact sheet is to present 

information that can be used by water managers, parish residents, 

and others for stewardship of this vital resource. Information on the 

availability, past and current use, use trends, and water quality from 

groundwater and surface-water sources in the parish is discussed. 

Previously published reports (see References Cited section) and data 

stored in the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Water Information 

System (http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis) are the primary sources of the 

information presented here.

In 2010, about 41.7 million gallons per day (Mgal/d) of water 

were withdrawn in West Feliciana Parish, including about 37.0 

Mgal/d (89 percent) from surface-water sources and 4.68 Mgal/d from 

groundwater sources1 (table 1). Withdrawals for industry and power 

generation accounted for about 89 percent (37.1 Mgal/d) of the total 

water withdrawn (table 2). Water-use data collected at 5-year intervals 

from 1960 to 2010 (fig. 2) indicated that surface-water withdrawals 

for industrial use increased from 0.00 Mgal/d in 1965 to 32.0 Mgal/d 

in 1970. Between 1980 and 1985, withdrawals for power generation 

increased from 0.00 to 24.5 Mgal/d. 

1

Tabulation of numbers in text and tables may result in different totals 

because of rounding; nonrounded numbers are used for calculation of totals. 

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Fact Sheet 2014–3039

August 2014

Figure 1. Location of study area, West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana.

Turnbull Island

A

A'

Retreat

St. Francisville

New Roads 

Jackson

Morganza

Elm

Park

Hardwood

Bains

Jarreau

Laurel Hill

Smithland

Labarre

Rogillioville Spillman

Alice

Wakefield

Turnbull

Angola

10 10

10

421 421

967

66

1

1

66

969

965

966

964

61

61

61

Base map modified from Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator’s Office, 2007

LOUISIANA

MISSISSIPPI

0 2 4 6 8

0 2 4 6 8 10 KILOMETERS

10 MILES

CONCORDIA

PARISH

POINTE COUPEE

PARISH

WEST

BATON ROUGE

PARISH

EAST

FELICIANA

PARISH

EAST

BATON ROUGE

PARISH

WEST

FELICIANA

PARISH

Blackfork

Lake

Raccourci

Old River

Lake

Platte

False River

Lake

Killarney

Bayou Sara

Thompson Creek

Mississippi River

TEXAS

ARKANSAS MISSISSIPPI

LOUISIANA

WEST

FELICIANA

PARISH

91°30'

31°00'

30°45'

91°15'

A A'

WF-222

07373420

Approximate altitude of the

 base of fresh groundwater,

 in feet below National

 Geodetic Vertical Datum

 of 1929 (Smoot, 1988)

 499 and shallower

 500 to 999

 1,000 to 1,499

 1,500 to 1,999

 2,000 and deeper

 Approximate eastern boundary of 

 the Mississippi River alluvial

 aquifer (Griffith, 2003) 

Line of hydrogeologic section

 (see fig. 3)

Well for which hydrograph is

 shown (see fig. 4)

U.S. Geological Survey surface-water 

 discharge site and number

U.S. Geological Survey surface-water 

 quality site and number (see table 4)

EXPLANATION

07373291

C

O

07373291

WF-222

WF-188 WF-254

WF-158

07373420

C

O
Groundwater Resources 

The groundwater resources underlying West Feliciana Parish, from 

near surface to deepest, include the Mississippi River alluvial aquifer and 

the Chicot, Evangeline, and Jasper equivalent aquifer systems (Stuart and 

others, 1994). The aquifers within these aquifer systems primarily consist 

of beds of unconsolidated sand that generally thicken and dip to the south 

(Tomaszewski, 1996) (fig. 3). Although the aquifers vary in thickness and 

can be missing locally, the individual aquifers generally are at least 75 feet 

(ft) thick and can be more than 200 ft thick. The confining units between the 

aquifers primarily consist of clay and silt, which generally are at least 100 ft 

thick but can be as much as 500 ft thick in some areas (Tomaszewski, 1996). 

The base of freshwater (water with a chloride concentration of 

250 milligrams per liter [mg/L] or less) is present at depths of about 

300–600 ft below the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD 29) 

in the extreme northwestern corner of the parish (Turnbull Island, fig. 1). 

The base of freshwater reaches depths of about 2,000 ft below NGVD 29 

near the southern boundary of the parish (fig. 1) (Smoot, 1988). Below 2,000 

ft, aquifers generally contain saltwater (water with a chloride concentration 

greater than 250 mg/L). 

Recharge to aquifers in West Feliciana Parish is from precipitation, 

leakage from overlying aquifers, and seasonally from rivers. Precipitation 

is the primary source of recharge (Morgan, 1963). Generally, groundwater 

moves downdip in a southerly to southwesterly direction through the 

aquifers at rates that range from tens to hundreds of feet per year (Buono, 

1983). Discharge is by evapotranspiration, natural leakage into rivers, 

leakage into underlying aquifers, and withdrawal from wells. State wellregistration records listed 264 active water wells in West Feliciana Parish in 

2009, including 153 domestic, 52 irrigation, 41 public supply, 16 industrial, 

and 2 power generation (Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, 2009). 

The Mississippi River Alluvial Aquifer and Chicot 

Equivalent Aquifer System 

The Mississippi River alluvial aquifer is located within the Mississippi 

River flood plain in the western part of the parish (fig. 1). The top of the 

aquifer ranges from about 0 to 50 ft below NGVD 29, and the base of the 

aquifer ranges in depth from about 100 to 150 ft below NGVD 29. The 

top and base of the aquifer are generally flat within the parish, with no 

discernible dip. Although the Mississippi River alluvial aquifer constitutes 

a large fresh groundwater resource in Louisiana, State well-registration 

records listed only 10 wells screened in the aquifer in West Feliciana Parish 

in 2009, including 5 irrigation, 3 rural domestic, 1 industrial, and 1 public 

supply. Depths of these wells ranged from 117 to 216 ft below land surface, 

with a median depth of 137 ft (Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, 

2009). Generally, freshwater from the Mississippi River alluvial aquifer 

is very hard2 and exceeds the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 

Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels (SMCLs)3 for drinking water for 

iron and manganese (Tomaszewski, 2003). 

The Chicot equivalent aquifer system is present in most of West 

Feliciana Parish east of the Mississippi River alluvial aquifer (Stuart and 

others, 1994) and consists of the Upland terrace aquifer (fig. 3). The altitude 

of the base of the Chicot equivalent aquifer system ranges from about 250 ft 

above to 250 ft below NGVD 29 in West Feliciana Parish. Water levels in 

the Chicot equivalent aquifer system at well WF-188 (fig. 4), screened in the 

Upland terrace aquifer near Bains (fig. 1), showed no appreciable change 

from 1960 to 1990 but showed slight declines from 1998 to 2010 at well 

WF-158 (fig. 4), screened in the Upland terrace aquifer northeast of St. 

Francisville (fig. 1).

2

Hardness ranges, expressed as milligrams per liter of calcium carbonate, are as 

follows: 0–60, soft; 61–120, moderately hard; 121–180, hard; greater than 180, very 

hard (Hem, 1985). 3

The SMCLs are nonenforceable Federal guidelines regarding cosmetic effects 

(such as tooth or skin discoloration) or aesthetic effects (such as taste, odor, or color) 

of drinking water. At high concentrations or values, health implications as well as 

aesthetic degradation could result. SMCLs were established as guidelines for the 

States by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (1992). 

Figure 2. Water withdrawals in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, 

1960–2010 (Sargent, 2011).

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

Year

Groundwater

Surface water

EXPLANATION

Annual withdrawals, in million gallons per day

Table 1. Water withdrawals, in million gallons per day, by 

source in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, 2010 (modified from 

Sargent, 2011).

Aquifer, aquifer system, or 

surface-water body Groundwater Surface water

Mississippi River alluvial 

aquifer

0.04

Chicot equivalent aquifer 

system 

0.45

Evangeline equivalent aquifer 

system

0.02

Jasper equivalent aquifer 

system

4.17

Mississippi River 36.69

Miscellaneous streams 0.31

Total 4.68 37.00

Table 2. Water withdrawals, in million gallons per day, by use 

category in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, 2010 (modified 

from Sargent, 2011).

Use category Groundwater Surface water Total

Public supply 4.15 0.00 4.15

Industrial 0.41 18.29 18.70

Power generation 0.02 18.40 18.42

Rural domestic 0.10 0.00 0.10

Livestock 0.00 0.05 0.05

General irrigation 0.00 0.26 0.26

Total 4.68 37.00 41.69
State well-registration records listed 64 active water wells screened 

in the Chicot equivalent aquifer system in West Feliciana Parish in 2009, 

including 49 rural domestic, 12 irrigation, and 3 public supply. Well depths 

ranged from 14 to 200 ft, and reported yields ranged from 3 to 1,950 

gallons per minute (gal/min) (Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, 

2009). Freshwater from the Chicot equivalent aquifer system generally is 

soft and low in dissolved solids. Locally, iron or saltwater may be present 

(Stuart and others, 1994). 

The Evangeline Equivalent Aquifer System 

The Evangeline equivalent aquifer system underlying West 

Feliciana Parish consists of, from near surface to deepest, the “800-foot,” 

“1,000-foot,” “1,200-foot,” “1,500-foot,” and “1,700-foot” sands of the 

Baton Rouge area (Stuart and others, 1994). The Evangeline equivalent 

aquifer system is present throughout the parish with the exception of the 

Angola area and Turnbull Island (fig. 1) (Morgan, 1963). The Evangeline 

equivalent aquifer system is present at depths between 200 ft above and 

300 ft below NGVD 29 in the northern part of the parish (about 500 ft 

thick) and between about 300 ft and 1,200 ft below NGVD 29 in the 

southern part of the parish (about 900 ft thick). Aquifers in the system 

typically consist of fine to medium sand units from 100 to 200 ft thick 

(fig. 3). 

Flow in the Evangeline equivalent aquifer system is primarily 

southward. In 2003, water levels in the “1,200-foot,” “1,500-foot,” and 

“1,700-foot” sands of the Baton Rouge area (fig. 3) ranged from about 

140 ft above NGVD 29 in the northeastern part of the parish to 40 ft below 

NGVD 29 in the southern part (Griffith and Lovelace, 2003a, b; Prakken, 

2004). Water levels in well WF-254, screened in the Evangeline equivalent 

aquifer system (“1,700-foot” sand) near the town of Bains (fig. 1), have 

declined about 10 ft since 1996 (fig. 4). 

State well-registration records listed 128 active water wells screened 

in the Evangeline equivalent aquifer system in West Feliciana Parish 

Figure 3. Generalized north-to-south hydrogeologic section through West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana (modified from Griffith, 2003). Trace of 

section shown on figure 1.

Underlying aquifers

not shown

NGVD 29

400

200

-200

-400

-600

-1,000

-1,200

-1,400

-1,600

-1,800

-2,000

-2,200

-800

FEET

NGVD 29

400

200

-200

-400

-600

-1,000

-1,200

-1,400

-1,600

-1,800

-2,000

-2,200

-800

FEET

NORTH

A

SOUTH

A’

Jasper equivalent aquifer system

Evangeline equivalent aquifer system

Chicot equivalent aquifer system

Upland terrace aquifer

“1,200-ft” sand

“1,500-ft” sand

“2,000-ft” sand

“1,700-ft” sand

“2,400-ft” sand

“2,800-ft” sand

“1,000-ft” sand

“800-ft” sand

VERTICAL SCALE IS NATIONAL GEODETIC VERTICAL DATUM OF 1929 (NGVD 29)

VERTICAL SCALE GREATLY EXAGGERATED

Land surface

Upland terrace aquifer

0 10 MILES

0 10 KILOMETERS

Hydrogeologic contact—Defines boundary

between conjoined or merged aquifers

Clay and silt

 Sand

EXPLANATION
in 2009, including 75 domestic, 32 irrigation, 12 public supply, and 9 

industrial. Depths of these wells ranged from 90 to 793 ft below land 

surface, with a median depth of 259 ft. Reported yields from these wells 

ranged from 3 to 400 gal/min (Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, 

2009). Water from the aquifer system generally is soft and generally does 

not exceed the SMCLs for pH and concentrations of chloride, iron, and 

dissolved solids (table 3). 

The Jasper Equivalent Aquifer System 

The Jasper equivalent aquifer system underlies the Evangeline 

equivalent aquifer system in West Feliciana Parish and consists of, from 

shallowest to deepest, the “2,000-foot,” “2,400-foot,” and “2,800-foot” 

sands of the Baton Rouge area (Stuart and others, 1994) (fig. 3). The 

base of the aquifer system ranges from about 1,000 ft below NGVD 29 

in the northern part of the parish to about 2,000 ft below NGVD 29 in the 

southern part of the parish. Aquifers in the Jasper equivalent aquifer system 

are typically composed of fine- to medium-grained sand units (Morgan, 

1963) that commonly range from 50 to 150 ft thick (Griffith, 2003). 

Water-level data collected in 2002 and 2006 indicated that levels 

in the Jasper equivalent aquifer system ranged from about 40 ft above 

NGVD 29 in the northern part of the parish to about 20 ft below NGVD 

29 in the southern part. Flow in the Jasper equivalent aquifer system is 

primarily southward toward water-withdrawal centers in East Baton Rouge 

Parish (Tomaszewski and Accardo, 2004a, b). Water levels in the Jasper 

equivalent aquifer system at well WF-222, screened in the “2,400-foot” 

sand at St. Francisville, have declined about 70 ft since 1960 (fig. 4). 

State well-registration records listed 46 active water wells screened 

in the Jasper equivalent aquifer system in West Feliciana Parish in 2009, 

including 24 public supply, 14 domestic, 6 rural domestic, and 2 power 

generation. Depths of these wells ranged from 484 to 2,083 ft below 

land surface, with a median depth of 852 ft. Reported yields from these 

wells ranged from 6 to 1,900 gal/min (Louisiana Department of Natural 

Resources, 2009). Freshwater from the Jasper equivalent aquifer system 

generally is soft and generally does not exceed SMCLs for drinking water 

for color, pH, and concentrations of iron, manganese, and dissolved solids 

(table 3). 

Surface-Water Resources 

In 2010, about 37.0 Mgal/d of surface water were withdrawn in West 

Feliciana Parish for industrial use, power generation, livestock, and general 

irrigation (table 2). All surface-water withdrawals for industrial and powergeneration use in West Feliciana Parish came from the Mississippi River. 

Most of this water was used for cooling purposes and was returned to the 

river after use (Sargent, 2011). Notable streams in West Feliciana Parish 

include Thompson Creek and Bayou Sara (fig. 1). 

According to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers records, the average flow 

of the Mississippi River downstream from the Old River diversion at Red 

River and Tarbert Landings (site number 07373291), located about 40 river 

miles upstream from St. Francisville (fig. 1), was about 460,000 cubic 

feet per second (about 298,000 Mgal/d) for the period 1928–76 (Wells, 

1980). Water from the Mississippi River is generally hard and does not 

exceed SMCLs for pH and concentrations of chloride, sulfate, and iron 

(table 4). Dissolved oxygen concentration is generally greater than 5 mg/L, 

which is considered the minimum value for a diversified population of 

fresh, warmwater biota, including sport fish (Louisiana Department of 

Environmental Quality, 2008). 

Year

1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

Water level, in feet (ft)

NGVD 29

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

110

Well: WF-254

Aquifer: "1,700-ft" sand of the Baton Rouge area

Altitude of land surface: 155 ft above NGVD 29

Well depth: 793 ft below land surface

Well: WF-188

Aquifer: Upland terrace

Altitude of land surface: 117 ft above NGVD 29

Well depth: 55 ft below land surface

Well: WF-222

Aquifer: "2,400-ft" sand of the Baton Rouge area

Altitude of land surface: 140 ft above NGVD 29

Well depth: 1,526 ft below land surface

Well: WF-158

Aquifer: Upland terrace

Altitude of land surface: 198 ft above NGVD 29

Well depth: 156 ft below land surface

Figure 4. Water levels in wells WF-188 and WF-158 of the Chicot equivalent aquifer system, well WF-222 of the Evangeline equivalent 

aquifer system, and well WF-254 of the Jasper equivalent aquifer system in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana (see fig. 1 for well locations; 

U.S. Geological Survey, 2011a). Altitude of land surface and water level is measured in feet (ft) above the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 

1929 (NGVD 29).
Table 4. Summary of selected water-quality characteristics for the Mississippi River in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana (U.S. 

Geological Survey, 2011b).

[Values are in milligrams per liter, except as noted. μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; °C, degrees Celsius; SU, standard units; CaCO3, calcium carbonate; 

μg/L, micrograms per liter; <, less than; SMCL, Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2012); NA, 

not applicable]

Specific

conductance,

field

(μS/cm

at 25 °C)

Oxygen,

dissolved

pH,

field

(SU)

Hardness

(as CaCO3)

Calcium,

filtered

(as Ca)

Magnesium,

filtered

(as Mg)

Sodium,

filtered

(as Na)

Chloride,

filtered

(as Cl)

Sulfate,

filtered

(as SO4)

Iron,

filtered

(μg/L

as Fe)

Mississippi River near St. Francisville, 1978–20101

Median 380 8.6 7.8 150 38 12 17 20 44 10

10th percentile 298 6.5 7.3 110 31 8.7 11 14 32 <10

90th percentile 473 11.8 8.0 180 46 16 27 28 66 40

Number of samples 412 402 407 400 400 405 346 410 409 393

Percentage of samples 

that do not exceed 

SMCLs

NA NA 100 NA NA NA NA 100 100 100

SMCLs

NA NA 6.5–8.5 NA NA NA NA 250 250 300

1

Site number 07373420.

Table 3. Summary of selected water-quality characteristics of freshwater for the Evangeline and Jasper equivalent aquifer systems in 

West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana (U.S. Geological Survey, 2011b).

[Values are in milligrams per liter, except as noted. °C, degrees Celsius; PCU, platinum cobalt units; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; SU, standard units; 

CaCO3, calcium carbonate; μg/L, micrograms per liter; <, less than; SMCL, Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level established by the U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency (2012); NA, not applicable]

Temperature 

(°C)

Color,

(PCU)

Specific 

conductance, 

field

(μS/cm

at 25 °C)

pH,

field

(SU)

Hardness 

(as CaCO3)

Chloride,

filtered

(as Cl)

Iron,

filtered (μg/L 

as Fe)

Manganese, 

filtered

(μg/L as Mn)

Dissolved 

solids, 

filtered

Evangeline equivalent aquifer system, 1946–75 (24 wells)

Median 20.5 20 171 6.9 50 7.3 110 120 154

10th percentile 19.0 5 106 6.3 20 4.4 10 <10 92

90th percentile 21.0 30 253 7.2 77 11 960 140 192

Number of 

samples

13 22 18 24 24 23 5 5 18

Percentage of 

samples that 

do not exceed 

SMCLs

NA 41 NA 79 NA 100 80 40 100

Jasper equivalent aquifer system, 1940–2005 (51 wells)

Median 24.8 5 288 7.8 12 3.5 160 20 197

10th percentile 22.0 0 242 6.8 4 1.7 20 <10 184

90th percentile 28.0 20 438 8.9 56 11 600 100 325

Number of 

samples

32 34 41 45 47 48 28 21 36

Percentage of 

samples that 

do not exceed 

SMCLs

NA 76 NA 78 NA 100 68 81 100

SMCLs

NA 15 NA 6.5–8.5 NA 250 300 50 500
References Cited

Buono, Anthony, 1983, The Southern Hills regional aquifer system of 

southeastern Louisiana and southwestern Mississippi: U.S. Geological 

Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 83–4189, 38 p., accessed 

September 7, 2012, at http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/wri834189.

Griffith, J.M., 2003, Hydrogeologic framework of southeastern Louisiana: 

Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Water 

Resources Technical Report no. 72, 15 p., 18 pls.

Griffith, J.M., and Lovelace, J.K., 2003a, Louisiana ground-water map no. 

15—Potentiometric surface of the “1,200-foot” sand of the Baton Rouge 

area, Louisiana, spring 2001: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources 

Investigations Report 03–4020, 2 sheets, accessed September 7, 2012, at 

http://la.water.usgs.gov/publications/pdfs/WRI_03-4020.pdf. 

Griffith, J.M., and Lovelace, J.K., 2003b, Louisiana ground-water map no. 

16—Potentiometric surface of the “1,500-foot” sand of the Baton Rouge 

area, Louisiana, spring 2001: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources 

Investigations Report 03–4021, 2 sheets, accessed September 12, 2012, 

at http://la.water.usgs.gov/publications/pdfs/WRI_03-4021.pdf. 

Hem, J.D., 1985, Study and interpretation of the chemical characteristics 

of natural water (3d ed.): U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 

2254, 264 p., accessed February 20, 2013, at http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/

publication/wsp2254.

Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, 2008, Environmental 

Regulatory Code, Title 33, Part IX, Subpart 1: Baton Rouge, Louisiana 

Department of Environmental Quality, accessed June 9, 2009, at 

http:www.deq.louisiana.gov/portal/tabid/1674/Default.aspx. 

Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, 2009, Strategic Online Natural 

Resources Information System (SONRIS): Louisiana Department of 

Natural Resources database, accessed July 1, 2009, at http://sonris.com/.

Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator’s Office, 2007, The Louisiana GIS CD—A 

digital map of the State, version 2: Baton Rouge, La., Louisiana Oil 

Spill Coordinator’s Office, Office of the Governor, 2 CDs.

Morgan, C.O., 1963, Ground-water resources of East Feliciana and West 

Feliciana Parishes, Louisiana: Louisiana Department of Public Works, 

58 p.

Prakken, L.B., 2004, Louisiana ground-water map no. 17—Generalized 

potentiometric surface of the Kentwood aquifer system and the “1,500-

foot” and “1,700-foot” sands of the Baton Rouge area in southeastern 

Louisiana, March–April 2003: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific 

Investigations Map 2862, 2 sheets, accessed February 24, 2012, at 

http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/sim2862.

Sargent, B.P., 2011, Water use in Louisiana, 2010: Louisiana Department 

of Transportation and Development Water Resources Special Report 

no. 17, 135 p. 

Smoot, C.W., 1988, Louisiana hydrologic atlas map no. 3—Altitude of 

the base of freshwater in Louisiana: U.S. Geological Survey WaterResources Investigations Report 86–4314, 1 sheet, accessed November 

2, 2011, at http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/wri864314.

Stuart, C.G., Knochenmus, Darwin, and McGee, B.D., 1994, Guide to 

Louisiana’s ground-water resources: U.S. Geological Survey WaterResources Investigations Report 94–4085, 55 p.

Tomaszewski, D.J., 1996, Distribution and movement of saltwater in 

aquifers in the Baton Rouge area, Louisiana, 1990–92: Louisiana 

Department of Transportation and Development Water Resources 

Technical Report no. 59, 44 p. 

Tomaszewski, D.J., 2003, Ground-water resources along the lower 

Mississippi River, southeastern Louisiana: Louisiana Department of 

Transportation and Development Water Resources Technical Report 

no. 69, 23 p. 

Tomaszewski, D.J., and Accardo, Darren, 2004a, Louisiana ground-water 

map no. 19—Potentiometric surface of the “2,400-foot” sand of the 

Baton Rouge area, Louisiana, May–June 2002: U.S. Geological Survey 

Scientific Investigations Map 2865, 2 sheets, accessed September 7, 

2012, at http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/sim2865.

Tomaszewski, D.J., and Accardo, Darren, 2004b, Louisiana ground-water 

map no. 20—Potentiometric surface of the “2,000-foot” sand of the 

Baton Rouge area, Louisiana, May 2002: U.S. Geological Survey 

Scientific Investigations Map 2872, 2 sheets, accessed September 7, 

2012, at http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/sim2872. 

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regulations—Guidance for nuisance chemicals: U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency publication EPA 810/K-92-001, 4 p., accessed 

September 28, 2011, at http://water.epa.gov/drink/contaminants/

secondarystandards.cfm. 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2012, 2012 Edition of the drinking 

water standards and health advisories: U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency publication EPA 822-S-12-001, Office of Water, 12 p., accessed 

August 7, 2012, at http://water.epa.gov/action/advisories/drinking/

upload/dwstandards2012.pdf. 

U.S. Geological Survey, 2011a, Groundwater levels for Louisiana: National 

Water Information System Web Interface, accessed June 1, 2011, at 

http://nwis.waterdata.usgs.gov/la/nwis/gwlevels.

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National Water Information System Web Interface, accessed December 

1, 2011, at http://nwis.waterdata.usgs.gov/la/nwis/qwdata/.

Wells, F.C., 1980, Hydrology and water quality of the lower Mississippi 

River: Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, Office 

of Public Works Water Resources Technical Report no. 21, 83 p. 

By Lawrence B. Prakken, John K. Lovelace, 

Dan J. Tomaszewski, and Jason M. Griffith

For additional information, contact: 

Director, USGS Louisiana Water Science Center

3535 S. Sherwood Forest Blvd., Suite 120

Baton Rouge, LA 70816

E-mail: dc_la@usgs.gov

Fax: (225) 298–5490

Telephone: (225) 298–5481

Home Page: http://la.water.usgs.gov

This fact sheet was published by the U.S. Geological 

Survey in cooperation with the Louisiana Department of 

Transportation and Development (DOTD). Thanks are 

given to Zahir “Bo” Bolourchi, Director, Water Resources 

Programs, Louisiana DOTD, who contributed to the content 

of the fact sheet

ISSN 2327–6916 (print)

ISSN 2327–6932 (online)

http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/fs20143039