Direction of Ground-Water Flow in the Surfi cial Aquifer in 

the Vicinity of Impact Areas G-10 and K-2, Marine Corps

Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, 2004 

U.S. Geological Survey

U.S. Department of the Interior

Prepared in cooperation with the Department of the Navy, U.S. Marine Corps,

 Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

U.S. Geological Survey 

Scientifi c Investigations Report 2004 – 5270
Direction of Ground-Water Flow in the 

Surficial Aquifer in the Vicinity of Impact 

Areas G-10 and K-2, Marine Corps Base 

Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, 2004

By Stephen L. Harden, Stephen S. Howe, and Silvia Terziotti

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Prepared in cooperation with the Department of the Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, 

Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

Scientific Investigations Report 2004–5270
U.S. Department of the Interior

Gale A. Norton, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

Charles G. Groat, Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2004

For more information about the USGS and its products:

Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS

World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov/

Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply 

endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to 

reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report.

Suggested citation:

Harden, S.L., Howe, S.S., and Terziotti, Silvia, 2004, Direction of ground-water flow in the surficial aquifer in the vicinity 

of Impact Areas G-10 and K-2, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, 2004: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific 

Investigations Report 2004–5270, accessed December 6, 2004, at http://pubs.water.usgs.gov/sir2004-5270/
 iii

Contents

Abstract . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Purpose and Scope. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Description of Study Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Previous Studies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Approach and Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Well Installation and Water-Level Measurements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Estimation of Water-Table Altitudes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Hydrogeologic Setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Direction of Ground-Water Flow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Trends in Ground-Water Levels and Vertical Gradients . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Ground-Water Levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Vertical Gradients . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

References. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Figures

1. Map showing location of Camp Lejeune study area in Onslow County in the 

North Carolina Coastal Plain physiographic province . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

2. Map showing location of wells used for evaluating water-level data at 

Camp Lejeune, North Carolina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

3. Hydrogeologic section A-A’ at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

4. Water-table map showing generalized direction of ground-water flow at Impact 

Area K-2, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

5. Water-table map showing generalized direction of ground-water flow at Impact 

Area G-10, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

6. Plot showing linear regression of land-surface altitude and water-table altitude 

for well sites at Impact Areas K-2 and G-10, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina . . . . . . . . . . 13

7. Graph showing water-level trends for selected well sites at Camp Lejeune, 

North Carolina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

8. Graph showing vertical hydraulic gradients for selected well sites at Camp 

Lejeune, North Carolina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Tables

1. Summary of well-construction information for wells used during investigation 

at Impact Areas K-2 and G-10 at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

2. Summary of well information used in developing regression of land-surface 

altitude and water-level altitude for the surficial aquifer at Impact Areas K-2 

and G-10 at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
iv 

Appendix

1. Well construction records. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Conversion Factors, Datum, and Acronyms

Multiply By To obtain

Length

foot (ft) 0.3048 meter (m)

Area

square mile (mi2) 2.590 square kilometer (km2)

Flow

foot per day (ft/d) 0.3048 meter per day (m/d)

million gallons per day (Mgal/d) 0.04381 cubic meter per second (m3/s)

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83). 

Historical data collected and stored as North American Datum of 1927 have been converted to 

NAD 83 for this publication.

Vertical coordinate information is referenced to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 

(NAVD 88) unless otherwise noted. For the purpose of this publication, the term sea level is used 

to represent the 0-foot altitude as referenced to NAVD 88.

Acronyms

GIS geographic information system

LIDAR light detection and ranging

NCDENR North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources

NGVD 29 National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929

NWIS National Water Information System

USGS U.S. Geological Survey
Direction of Ground-Water Flow in the Surficial Aquifer in 

the Vicinity of Impact Areas G-10 and K-2, Marine Corps 

Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, 2004

By Stephen L. Harden, Stephen S. Howe, and Silvia Terziotti

Abstract

Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune is located in Onslow 

County in the North Carolina Coastal Plain. In support of North 

Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resource 

requirements, Camp Lejeune is developing a site closure plan 

for two Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) 

regulated open burn/open detonation (OB/OD) facilities located 

within Impact Area K-2 and Impact Area G-10, respectively. 

Both Impact Areas are used for training activities involving live 

artillery fire. The two OB/OD facilities are used to treat RCRA 

regulated waste munitions. To provide Base officials with 

information needed for assessing the quality of ground water at 

these sites, hydrologic data were used to characterize groundwater flow directions and hydraulic gradients in the surficial 

aquifer underlying the Impact Areas.

Water-level data in the unconfined surficial aquifer and 

potentiometric head data in the underlying Castle Hayne aquifer 

were compiled from existing and newly drilled wells. Watertable contour maps were developed for Impact Areas K-2 and 

G-10 to examine the direction of ground-water flow in the 

surficial aquifer. The primary directions of ground-water flow 

beneath K-2 are southward and eastward toward discharge 

zones along the New River and its tributaries. Beneath interior 

areas of G-10, water in the surficial aquifer flows outward in all 

directions toward discharge zones along local streams that drain 

westward to the New River or to streams that drain southward 

and eastward to the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic 

Ocean.

Long-term water-level data for the period October 1994 

through September 2004 at selected Camp Lejeune well sites 

were used to examine trends in ground-water levels and vertical 

hydraulic gradients between the surficial and Castle Hayne 

aquifers. Evaluation of water-level data for three wells in the 

surficial aquifer indicated no significant trends for this period of 

record. The apparent water-level declines in two of the three 

Castle Hayne wells examined are likely the result of local 

pumping of the Castle Hayne aquifer. Vertical hydraulic 

gradients determined for two well cluster sites indicate a 

downward flow of water from the surficial aquifer into the 

underlying Castle Hayne aquifer.

Introduction

Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune is located in Onslow 

County in the central part of the North Carolina Coastal Plain 

physiographic province (fig. 1). The Base supports a population 

of about 150,000 people, including active duty, dependent, 

retiree, and civilian personnel (Camp Lejeune, 2004). The 

mission of Camp Lejeune is to maintain combat-ready units for 

expeditionary deployment. As a means of fulfilling this 

mission, Camp Lejeune provides live-fire training using 

designated Impact Areas. Two of these sites, Impact Area K-2 

and Impact Area G-10, are centrally located on the Base (fig. 1).

The North Carolina Department of Environment and 

Natural Resources (NCDENR), Division of Waste Management, is requiring Camp Lejeune to develop a closure plan for 

the two RCRA regulated OB/OD facilities located within 

Impact Area K-2 and Impact Area G-10, respectively, when the 

current Base Hazardous Waste Management Permit expires in 

2007. The two OB/OD facilities are used to treat RCRA 

regulated waste munitions. The plan includes a water-quality 

assessment of the ground water beneath these sites. Prior to 

installing monitoring wells for ground-water sampling, the 

direction of ground-water flow and associated hydraulic 

gradients in the surficial aquifer must be determined. In 2003, 

the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) began a study to examine 

ground-water flow in the surficial aquifer at Impact Areas K-2 

and G-10 to provide Camp Lejeune with information needed to 

optimize the placement of water-quality monitoring wells near 

these sites.

The primary water-supply source at Camp Lejeune is the 

Castle Hayne aquifer. The primary water-supply source in 

Onslow County and other areas of the Coastal Plain historically 

has been the Black Creek aquifer. Excessive ground-water 
2 Direction of Ground-Water Flow in the Surficial Aquifer of Impact Areas G-10 and K-2, Camp Lejeune, N.C., 2004

withdrawals, however, have lowered the potentiometric head in 

the Black Creek aquifer, which has prompted the NCDENR, 

Division of Water Resources, to implement reductions in 

withdrawals from this water-supply aquifer as part of the 

Central Coastal Plain Capacity Use Area (North Carolina 

Department of Environment and Natural Resources, 2004a). 

For this reason, the Castle Hayne aquifer has become an 

increasingly important source of water supply for Onslow 

County.

In the Camp Lejeune area, the surficial aquifer and the 

Castle Hayne aquifer are separated by the Castle Hayne 

confining unit. In areas where this confining unit is not present, 

ground water in the overlying surficial aquifer can move 

directly into the Castle Hayne aquifer. Where present, the 

Castle Hayne confining unit helps impede the flow of water 

between the aquifers.

As the demand for water supply increases, the greater 

demand on the Castle Hayne aquifer by the Base and Onslow 

County can potentially alter the natural ground-water flow 

system. Some of the water-supply wells currently used by Camp 

Lejeune and Onslow County are located in the vicinity of the 

Impact Areas (fig. 1). Hydrologic stresses induced in the Castle 

Hayne aquifer by water-supply pumping may enhance the 

downward flow of ground water from the surficial aquifer into 

the underlying Castle Hayne aquifer. 

Purpose and Scope

The purpose of this report is to present the results of an 

investigation to characterize ground-water flow directions and 

hydraulic gradients in the surficial aquifer near Impact Areas 

K-2 and G-10 at Camp Lejeune (fig. 1). The scope of work 

included a compilation of water-level data in the unconfined 

surficial aquifer and potentiometric head data in the confined 

Castle Hayne aquifer from existing and newly drilled wells. The 

water-level information was used to contour the water-table 

surface of the surficial aquifer and determine vertical hydraulic 

gradients between the surficial and Castle Hayne aquifers near 

Impact Areas K-2 and G-10. This report provides information 

needed by water-resource managers at Camp Lejeune to 

optimize the placement of water-quality monitoring wells near 

Impact Area K-2 and Impact Area G-10. Results of this study 

also will provide Base officials with information on groundwater level conditions in the surficial aquifer and underlying 

Castle Hayne aquifer.

Description of Study Area

Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune is bounded to the north 

by the City of Jacksonville, to the east by State Highways 24 

and 172, to the west by State Highway 50, and to the south by 

the Atlantic Ocean (fig. 1). The Base covers an area of 

approximately 164 square miles (mi2

) and is bisected by the 

New River. The New River is a tidal estuary that covers 

approximately 18 percent (30 mi2

) of the Base and flows into 

the Atlantic Ocean.

Impact Area K-2 is west of the New River and Impact Area 

G-10 is east of the New River (fig. 1). Impact Area K-2 

encompasses 6.1 mi2

 of the Base and Impact Area G-10 

encompasses 7.8 mi2

. Land-surface altitude ranges from about 

0 to 35 feet (ft) above sea level at K-2 and 10 to 50 ft above sea 

level at G-10. Land cover in the Impact Areas primarily consists 

of mixed forest vegetation, wetlands, and disturbed areas from 

training exercises. Impact Area G-10 is located closer to 

commercial and residential development than Impact Area K-2, 

which is located within a relatively secluded area. Surfacewater runoff at Impact Area K-2 flows to the south and east to 

tributaries of the New River. Surface-water runoff at Impact 

Area G-10 flows to the west to tributaries of the New River and 

to the south and east to tributaries that drain to the Intracoastal 

Waterway and Atlantic Ocean.

Previous Studies

 The most comprehensive study of the hydrogeologic 

framework of the North Carolina Coastal Plain to date was 

conducted by Winner and Coble (1996). This study was a 

regional investigation that identified 10 aquifers and confining 

units that compose the North Carolina Coastal Plain aquifer 

system. Correlation of the aquifers is illustrated in 18 

hydrogeologic sections; 2 of these hydrogeologic sections were 

completed in or near Camp Lejeune. These sections provide 

general information about the individual hydrogeologic units in 

or near Camp Lejeune. Because of the regional scope of the 

work, however, these sections do not present detailed 

hydrogeology at the Base scale.

A hydrogeologic framework for the principal freshwaterbearing aquifers at Camp Lejeune, including the surficial, 

Castle Hayne, Beaufort, and Peedee aquifers, was developed by 

Cardinell and others (1993). Geological, geophysical, and 

hydrologic data were compiled and evaluated for more than 180 

wells to develop the hydrogeologic framework. Hydrogeologic 

sections and maps are presented and discussed for the 

individual aquifers. 

A seismic-reflection survey at Camp Lejeune was 

conducted by Cardinell and others (1990) to examine the 

continuity of hydrogeologic units underlying the New River 

and Intracoastal Waterway. Harned and others (1989) 

performed an initial assessment of the hydrologic conditions 

and the hydrogeologic setting at Camp Lejeune. LeGrand 

(1959) examined well data to identify zones in the Castle Hayne 

aquifer that were most suitable for providing water to supply 

wells.

Acknowledgments

This report is based on work conducted by the USGS, 

Raleigh, North Carolina, in cooperation with the Department of 

the Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. 
Approach and Methods 3

The authors thank Bob Lowder of the Environmental 

Management Division and Duane Richardson of the Range 

Control Office at Camp Lejeune for their help and support 

during this project. Our appreciation is extended to USGS 

personnel who assisted with this project and report, especially 

Eve Kuniansky who provided technical assistance and Eric 

Sadorf who installed wells at the study sites.

Approach and Methods

The water-level data that were used to develop water-table 

surface maps and examine vertical hydraulic gradients were 

obtained from existing wells and new wells installed for this 

investigation. The existing wells include USGS long-term 

water-level monitoring wells (fig. 2). New wells were drilled 

along the perimeter of Impact Areas K-2 and G-10 to evaluate 

local conditions of ground-water flow in the surficial aquifer 

(fig. 2).

Well Installation and Water-Level 

Measurements

Water-level data were compiled from the USGS National 

Water Information System (NWIS) database and from an 

inventory of existing wells on the Base and nearby in Onslow 

County. Additionally, geographic information system (GIS) 

coverages, including high-resolution light detection and 

ranging (LIDAR) land-surface data (20-centimeter vertical 

accuracy), streams, and aerial photography, were used to help 

analyze the topographic characteristics of the Impact Areas to 

aid in the selection of drilling locations for additional wells 

tapping the surficial aquifer. A trailer-mounted hollow-stem 

auger drilling rig was used to install 9 wells around the 

perimeter of Impact Area K-2 and 13 wells around the perimeter 

of Impact Area G-10 (fig. 2). Construction information for the 

new and existing wells utilized in this study is summarized in 

table 1. Detailed construction forms provided to the State of 

North Carolina for the new wells are provided in Appendix 1.

Water-level data collected by the USGS are periodic 

measurements or continuous data obtained from water-level 

recorders. The water-level data are stored in the USGS NWIS 

database and are available to the public on the Internet (U.S. 

Geological Survey, 2004). With the exception of wells K2MW8 

and K2MW9, water levels in the unconfined surficial aquifer 

were measured on August 23, 2004, to provide the data needed 

to construct water-table surface maps near Impact Areas K-2 

and G-10 (table 2). Wells K2MW8 and K2MW9 could not be 

measured on August 23, 2004, because of site-access 

restrictions; thus, it was necessary to use water-level data 

obtained during the installation of these wells on February 11, 

2004, and March 11, 2004, respectively. Water-level 

measurements at each well were determined using an electronic 

water-level indicator. Additionally, hydrographs from a 

network of wells used for recording continuous ground-water 

levels at Camp Lejeune were examined to determine the 

magnitude of seasonal water-level fluctuations and vertical 

gradient between the surficial aquifer and the Castle Hayne 

aquifer. Continuous measurements of ground-water levels at 

the well network are made using a float system and incremental 

encoder. The water-level information is logged hourly using a 

data recorder. 

Estimation of Water-Table Altitudes

Because access to the interior of the Impact Areas was 

prohibited for safety reasons, it was not possible to install wells 

and collect water-level information directly from the interior 

areas of Impact Areas K-2 and G-10. Therefore, an approach 

was needed for estimating water-level altitudes in the interior 

areas of the Impact Areas to aid in the development of watertable maps for the study sites.

As an alternative approach to direct measurement, a linear 

regression was developed from available perimeter-well data 

and land-surface altitude. High-resolution topography from 

LIDAR data (North Carolina Division of Emergency 

Management, 2002) was used to estimate water-table contours 

within the interior of each Impact Area. The computergenerated water-table contours were smoothed and used in 

combination with stream-altitude data (assumed ground-water 

discharge areas) and water-level data from perimeter wells 

along the site boundaries to produce generalized water-table 

contour maps. The general direction of ground-water flow is 

indicated on the maps by arrows drawn perpendicular to the 

water-table contours. The water-table contour maps produced 

by this approach are considered qualitative and need to be 

substantiated with water-level data obtained directly from the 

interior of the Impact Areas.

Hydrogeologic Setting

Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune is situated on an 

eastward-thickening wedge of mostly unconsolidated sediment 

consisting of sands, silts, clays, shells, sandstone, and limestone 

that were deposited in marine or near-shore environments 

(Harned and others, 1989; Winner and Coble, 1996). These 

sedimentary deposits overlie igneous and metamorphic 

basement rocks and range in age from Cretaceous to Holocene. 

The sedimentary deposits are more than 1,000 ft thick.

The principal freshwater-bearing aquifers underlying 

Camp Lejeune include the surficial, Castle Hayne, Beaufort, 

and Peedee aquifers. A hydrogeologic section showing these 

aquifers and their respective confining units in the vicinity of 

Impact Areas K-2 and G-10 is provided in figure 3. The focus 

of this study is on the surficial aquifer and the Castle Hayne 

aquifer, the principal source of water supply for Camp Lejeune.

Based on the hydrogeologic framework developed for 

Camp Lejeune by Cardinell and others (1993), the thickness of 
4 Direction of Ground-Water Flow in the Surficial Aquifer of Impact Areas G-10 and K-2, Camp Lejeune, N.C., 2004

the surficial aquifer is estimated to range from about 0 to 40 ft 

at Impact Area K-2 and from 10 to 70 ft at Impact Area G-10. 

The surficial aquifer generally is thickest in the interstream 

divide areas and typically becomes thinner near surface-water 

drainage areas (fig. 3). Tributaries of the New River, including 

Mill Creek along the western perimeter of site K-2 and 

Cowhead Creek along the northwestern boundary of site G-10 

(fig. 2), may incise the surficial aquifer at lower elevations 

(Cardinell and others, 1993). Wells installed around the 

perimeters of Impact Areas K-2 and G-10 during this study 

(fig. 2; Appendix 1) indicate the presence of silty fine sand, 

clay, and sandy clay to depths of 20 ft below land surface.

The Castle Hayne confining unit isopach map developed 

by Cardinell and others (1993) indicates that the confining unit 

underlying the surficial aquifer at Impact Areas K-2 and G-10 

is approximately 5 ft thick; however, detailed information is 

insufficient to determine if the confining unit is laterally 

continuous throughout the study sites. The altitude of the top of 

the Castle Hayne aquifer at Impact Area K-2 ranges from about 

sea level to 25 ft below sea level in the western and eastern parts 

of the site, respectively. In some areas of Camp Lejeune, the 

New River and some of its tributaries have incised the Castle 

Hayne confining unit to the underlying Castle Hayne aquifer 

(Cardinell and others, 1993), which may be the case for Mill 

Creek along the western boundary of K-2. The altitude of the 

top of the Castle Hayne aquifer at Impact Area G-10 ranges 

from about 5 ft below sea level near the northern boundary to 

about 25 ft below sea level near the southern boundary. It is 

unclear whether Cowhead Creek along the northern part of the 

site has incised the Castle Hayne confining unit to the 

underlying Castle Hayne aquifer. The Castle Hayne aquifer is 

more than 225 ft thick at site K-2 and 400 ft thick at site G-10. 

Cardinell and others (1993) indicated that the upper part of the 

Castle Hayne aquifer in the Camp Lejeune area primarily 

consists of calcareous sand that contains some beds of clay and 

silt. Consolidated limestone and sandy limestone interbedded 

with clay and sand are in the lower part of the aquifer. More 

detailed information on the hydrogeologic setting at Camp 

Lejeune is discussed by Harned and others (1989) and Cardinell 

and others (1993).

Direction of Ground-Water Flow

Generalized water-table maps were developed to examine 

the direction of ground-water flow in the surficial aquifer at 

Impact Areas K-2 (fig. 4) and G-10 (fig. 5). The maps are based 

on water-level data obtained from the perimeter wells around 

both sites (table 1; fig. 2). The land-surface altitudes, based on 

high-resolution topography from LIDAR data, and water-level 

altitudes from the well sites (table 2) were used to develop the 

linear regression presented in figure 6. This regression equation 

was used with the GIS to estimate water-table altitudes in the 

perimeters of the Impact Areas. A water-table grid at a 20-ft by 

20-ft scale over each Impact Area was calculated by 

multiplying the LIDAR surface-altitude data by the slope and 

subtracting the intercept of the regression equation. The 

computed water-table data were combined with stream-altitude 

data derived from the LIDAR coverages and water-level data 

from the perimeter wells to produce the generalized water-table 

contour maps. For the purpose of this report, these maps are 

considered useful for examining the large-scale pattern of 

ground-water flow in the surficial aquifer at the study sites. 

Complete understanding of exact locations of water-table 

contours and directions of flow at localized scales will require 

the direct measurement of ground-water levels within the 

interiors of the Impact Areas.

Conceptually, ground water in the shallow surficial aquifer 

moves from areas of high hydraulic head in interstream divides 

toward areas of low hydraulic head at surface-water discharge 

areas (figs. 4, 5). The direction of flow is perpendicular to the 

water-table contours. The highest hydraulic head at Impact 

Area K-2 is near the northwestern part of the site, as denoted 

with the 40-ft contour line (fig. 4). Ground water in this area 

flows southeastward into Impact Area K-2. Generally, groundwater flow in the interior of K-2 has a southward and eastward 

trend. Locally, ground water may flow in other directions 

depending on specific location and proximity to streams. 

Ultimately, ground-water discharge from the surficial aquifer at 

K-2 is directly to the New River or its tributaries. At Impact 

Area G-10, water in the surficial aquifer flows radially from 

interior areas of the site toward the site boundaries in all 

directions (fig. 5). Depending on location, ground water flows 

toward discharge zones along local streams that drain westward 

to the New River or to streams that drain southward and 

eastward to the Intracoastal Waterway. 

Trends in Ground-Water Levels and 

Vertical Gradients

Recharge to the surficial aquifer at Impact Areas K-2 and 

G-10 occurs from precipitation. Ground water in the surficial 

aquifer discharges to local streams and the New River. Some of 

the shallow ground water moves down through the Castle 

Hayne confining unit into the underlying Castle Hayne aquifer. 

The movement of ground water between the surficial and Castle 

Hayne aquifers is controlled by the magnitude of vertical 

gradients between the aquifers and by the hydraulic 

conductivity of the Castle Hayne confining unit. Cardinell and 

others (1993) estimated the vertical hydraulic conductivity of 

the Castle Hayne confining unit to range from 0.0014 to 0.41 

foot per day (ft/day) and indicated that the confining unit may 

only partially restrict the vertical flow of ground water between 

the surficial and Castle Hayne aquifers. The vertical flow of 

water between the surficial and Castle Hayne aquifers also can 

occur where sinkholes are present. Sinkholes result from the 

collapse of surficial materials into voids and cavities created by 

the dissolution of limestone materials, such as those of the 

Castle Hayne aquifer. Water-level changes associated with 
Trends in Ground-Water Levels and Vertical Gradients 5

ground-water withdrawals are one of the principal 

anthropogenic mechanisms for inducing sinkhole development 

(Newton, 1987).

Water-level measurements collected over long time 

periods can provide information on the effects of climatic or 

human-induced hydrologic stresses on the ground-water system 

(Taylor and Alley, 2001). Ground-water level data from 

October 1994 through September 2004 were used to examine 

trends in ground-water levels and vertical hydraulic gradients 

within and between the surficial and Castle Hayne aquifers for 

selected wells near the study area. Water-level data were 

examined from wells located west of the New River, including 

well ON-294 in the surficial aquifer and well pair ON-230 and 

ON-227 in the surficial and Castle Hayne aquifers, respectively 

(fig. 2). East of the New River, water-level data were examined 

from well ON-293 in the Castle Hayne aquifer and well pair 

ON-267 and ON-266 in the surficial and Castle Hayne aquifers, 

respectively (fig. 2)

Ground-Water Levels

Overall, no apparent trends in water levels were noted for 

the period October 1994 through September 2004 in surficial 

aquifer wells ON-230, ON-267, and ON-294 (fig. 7). From 

October 1994 through the recent drought years of 2001 and 

2002, water levels at these locations fluctuated about 5 ft in 

ON-230, 5.5 ft in ON-267, and 7.5 ft in ON-294. Excluding the 

drought period, the seasonal water-level fluctuations in wells 

ON-230, ON-267, and ON-294 typically range from about 

2.5 to 5 ft. Most water-level fluctuations in the surficial aquifer 

are likely from seasonal differences in the amount of groundwater recharge. In general, water levels increase from 

November through March and decline from April through 

October, when higher evapotranspiration occurs. The waterlevel fluctuations observed for the surficial aquifer at these well 

sites likely represent those that occur in Impact Areas K-2 and 

G-10.

In the Castle Hayne aquifer, long-term water levels for the 

10-year period of record in well ON-227 fluctuated about 9 ft 

and had an overall downward trend during the period October 

1994 through September 2004 (fig. 7). From October 1994 

through early 1996, water levels in ON-227 generally were 

higher than an altitude of 34 ft. From early 1999 through 

September 2004, seasonal high water-level altitudes in ON-227 

have been about 32 ft or lower. This pattern was not observed 

in the surficial aquifer well ON-230 at the same location where 

water levels fluctuated within a fairly uniform range, which 

indicates confinement of the Castle Hayne aquifer in this area 

west of the New River.

Water levels fluctuated about 5.5 ft in Castle Hayne well 

ON-266 during the period October 1994 through September 

2004 with no apparent trend noted (fig. 7). Water-level 

fluctuations in well ON-266 exhibited the same pattern as those 

observed in surficial aquifer well ON-267, which indicates that 

seasonal differences in recharge and potential effects of local 

pumping have a similar influence on the surficial and Castle 

Hayne aquifers at this location on the east side of the New 

River. The lower water-level altitudes observed in the surficial 

aquifer well ON-267 and Castle Hayne well ON-266 during the 

period October 1994 through July 1996 compared to the period 

August 1996 through July 2001 is in direct contrast with the 

water-level pattern observed in Castle Hayne well ON-227 on 

the opposite (west) side of New River, where the initially higher 

water levels were followed by a decline in water levels (figs. 2, 

7).

The contrasting pattern noted between Castle Hayne wells 

ON-266 and ON-227 may be related to spatial and temporal 

differences in ground-water pumping at the Base. The apparent 

decline in water levels in well ON-227 likely reflects the 

removal of ground water from storage through local pumping of 

the Castle Hayne aquifer at Dixon (fig. 1). The removal of 

ground water from storage also may explain the water-level 

pattern noted in Castle Hayne well ON-293 after October 2002. 

With the exception of well ON-293, seasonal high water-level 

altitudes at all surficial and Castle Hayne wells presented in 

figure 7 have recovered to pre-drought conditions.

Vertical Gradients

For the two well-cluster sites, vertical hydraulic gradients 

were calculated to determine the vertical direction (upward or 

downward) of ground-water flow between the surficial and 

Castle Hayne aquifers. The vertical gradient calculated from a 

shallow well to a deeper well represents the difference in 

hydraulic head (in feet) divided by the distance between the 

midpoints of the screened intervals or open borehole for the 

wells (in feet). The value of vertical gradient is reported as a 

unitless number. A positive vertical gradient value represents 

downward flow; thus, the surficial aquifer is potentially 

recharging the Castle Hayne aquifer. A negative vertical 

gradient represents an upward flow, indicating that the Castle 

Hayne aquifer is potentially discharging to the overlying 

surficial aquifer.

Water-level data from well pair ON-230 and ON-227, and 

well pair ON-267 and ON-266 were used to calculate vertical 

gradients between the surficial and Castle Hayne aquifers 

(figs. 2, 8). The positive values of vertical gradient at well pair 

ON-230 and ON-227 indicate the potential for downward 

movement of shallow ground water from the surficial aquifer 

into the underlying Castle Hayne aquifer at that location (west 

of the New River). The vertical gradient values also appear to 

be increasing with time, indicating that the downward flow of 

water between the two aquifers has increased during the 10-year 

period of record. This increase in vertical gradient is a result of 

water levels in the Castle Hayne aquifer declining at a faster rate 

(from water-supply pumping), as compared to water levels in 

the overlying surficial aquifer. The decline in water levels 

observed in Castle Hayne well ON-227 appears to be in 

response to pumping from Onslow County supply wells at 

Dixon (figs. 1, 2), which began in the early 1990s. Based on 
6 Direction of Ground-Water Flow in the Surficial Aquifer of Impact Areas G-10 and K-2, Camp Lejeune, N.C., 2004

local water-supply plans for Onslow County (North Carolina 

Department of Environment and Natural Resources, 2004b), the 

average daily withdrawal of ground water from the Dixon 

supply wells increased from 1.13 million gallons per day 

(Mgal/d) in 1997 to 4.51 Mgal/d in 2002.

The values of vertical gradient calculated between surficial 

aquifer well ON-267 and Castle Hayne well ON-266 (fig. 8) are 

slightly positive and fall within a fairly confined range, 

indicating the potential for downward movement of shallow 

ground water from the surficial aquifer into the underlying 

Castle Hayne aquifer at this location (east of the New River). 

The hydraulic head difference between the surficial and Castle 

Hayne aquifers is less than about 1 ft at this well-pair site and, 

as previously mentioned, the same pattern of water-level 

fluctuations is observed for both aquifers. This information 

indicates that at the ON-267 and ON-266 well-pair site, there is 

little or no confinement of the Castle Hayne aquifer. Local 

pumping influences on water levels also appear possible, as 

indicated by the lower water-level altitudes during the period 

October 1994 through July 1996 compared to the period August 

1996 through July 2001.

Based on this evaluation of long-term water-level records 

at Camp Lejeune, it is likely that the surficial aquifer at Impact 

Areas K-2 and G-10 serves as a source of recharge to the 

underlying Castle Hayne aquifer. In addition, the possible 

presence of sink holes at the Impact Areas can facilitate direct 

exchange of water between the surficial and Castle Hayne 

aquifers. The potential effects of local water-supply pumping 

on the ground-water flow system at the Impact Areas currently 

are not known. Enlarging cones of depression in the Castle 

Hayne aquifer could alter ground-water flow in the Impact 

Areas and enhance the downward movement of shallow ground 

water from the surficial aquifer into the underlying Castle 

Hayne water-supply aquifer.

Summary

Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune is located in Onslow 

County in the central part of the North Carolina Coastal Plain. 

As required by NCDENR, Camp Lejeune has begun developing 

a closure plan for two RCRA regulated OB/OD facilities 

located within Impact Area K-2 and Impact Area G-10, 

respectively. Both Impact Areas are used for training activities 

involving live artillery fire. The two OB/OD facilities are used 

to treat RCRA regulated waste munitions. An assessment of 

ground-water quality at the two Impact Areas is needed as part 

of the closure plan. The focus of this study was to characterize 

ground-water flow directions and hydraulic gradients in the 

surficial aquifer at the Impact Areas to provide water-resource 

managers at the Base with information needed to optimize well 

locations for assessing water-quality conditions at the sites. 

The scope of work included a compilation of water-level 

data in the unconfined surficial aquifer and potentiometric head 

data in the confined Castle Hayne aquifer from existing and 

newly drilled wells. The water-level data were used to map the 

water-table surface of the surficial aquifer and determine 

vertical hydraulic gradients between the surficial and Castle 

Hayne aquifers near Impact Areas K-2 and G-10. During 

August 2003, water levels were measured in the unconfined 

surficial aquifer to provide the data necessary to construct 

water-table surface maps. These water levels were combined 

with LIDAR-derived land-surface altitudes to develop a linear 

regression that was used to estimate water-table altitudes in the 

perimeter of the Impact Areas. This information was combined 

with stream-altitude data to produce generalized water-table 

maps for each Impact Area. 

Ground water in the shallow surficial aquifer at Impact 

Areas K-2 and G-10 moves from areas of high hydraulic head 

in interstream divides toward areas of low hydraulic head at 

surface-water discharge zones. In the northwestern part of 

Impact Area K-2, ground water flows southeastward into 

interior parts of the site. The major direction of ground-water 

flow in site K-2 is southward and eastward toward discharge 

zones along the New River and its tributaries. At Impact Area 

G-10, water in the surficial aquifer flows from interior areas of 

the site outward toward the site boundaries in all directions. 

Ground water flows toward discharge zones along local streams 

that drain westward to the New River or to streams that drain 

southward and eastward to the Intracoastal Waterway.

Although most of the recharge from precipitation to the 

surficial aquifer at Impact Areas K-2 and G-10 discharges to 

local streams and the New River, some of the recharge moves 

downward from the surficial aquifer into the underlying Castle 

Hayne aquifer. Long-term water-level data for the period 

October 1994 through September 2004 at selected Camp 

Lejeune well sites were used to examine trends in ground-water 

fluctuations. Evaluation of water-level data for three wells in 

the surficial aquifer indicated no important temporal trends for 

the period October 1994 through September 2004. Water-level 

data also were evaluated for three wells in the Castle Hayne 

aquifer for this same period. The apparent decline in water 

levels noted in two of the wells likely results from removal of 

ground water from storage by local pumping of the Castle 

Hayne aquifer. 

The long-term water-level data also were used to examine 

vertical hydraulic gradients between the surficial and Castle 

Hayne aquifers. The positive values of vertical gradient 

determined for two well-cluster sites at Camp Lejeune indicate 

a downward flow of water from the surficial aquifer into the 

underlying Castle Hayne aquifer. At Impact Areas K-2 and 

G-10, the surficial aquifer likely serves as a source of recharge 

to the underlying Castle Hayne aquifer. 
References 7

References

Camp Lejeune, 2004, MCB Camp Lejeune, N.C., About the 

base: accessed on November 1, 2004, at http://

www.lejeune.usmc.mil/mcb/aboutbase.asp.

Cardinell, A.P., Berg, S.A., and Lloyd, O.B., Jr., 1993, 

Hydrogeologic framework of U.S. Marine Corps Base at 

Camp Lejeune North Carolina: U.S. Geological Survey 

Water-Resources Investigations Report 93-4049, 45 p.

Cardinell, A.P., Harned, D.A., and Berg, S.A., 1990, 

Continuous seismic reflection profiling of hydrogeologic 

features beneath New River, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina: 

U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations 

Report 89-4195, 33 p.

Harned, D.A., Lloyd, O.B., Jr., and Treece, M.W., Jr., 1989, 

Assessment of hydrologic and hydrogeologic data at Camp 

Lejeune Marine Corps Base, North Carolina: U.S. 

Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 

89-4096, 64 p.

LeGrand, H.E., 1959, Evaluation of well-water supply, Marine 

Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina: Project Report, 

Contract NBY-7595, 55 p.

Newton, J.G., 1987, Development of sinkholes resulting from 

man’s activities in the eastern United States: U.S. Geological 

Survey Circular 968, 54 p.

North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural 

Resources, Division of Water Resources, 2004a, Central 

Coastal Plain Capacity Use Area: accessed on November 1, 

2004, at http://www.ncwater.org/Permits_and_Registration/

Capacity_Use/Central_Coastal_Plain/.

North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural 

Resources, Division of Water Resources, 2004b, Local 

Water Supply Plans: accessed on November 18, 2004, at 

http://www.ncwater.org/Water_Supply_Planning/.

North Carolina Division of Emergency Management, 2002, 

North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program, White Oak 

Basin: North Carolina Division of Emergency Management; 

20-ft digital elevation model, May 2002.

Taylor, C.J., and Alley, W.M., 2001, Ground-water-level 

monitoring and the importance of long-term water-level data: 

U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1217, 68 p.

U.S. Geological Survey, 2004, National Water Information 

System: accessed on November 18, 2004, at http://

nc.water.usgs.gov/nwis/.

Winner, M.D., Jr., and Coble, R.W., 1996, Hydrogeologic 

framework of the North Carolina Coastal Plain: U.S. 

Geological Survey Professional Paper 1404-I, 106 p., 24 pls.
EXPLANATION

34o45'

77o37'3" 77o29'24" 77o21'45" 77o14'06"

34o37'30"

34o30'

Sneads

Ferry

Dixon

Jacksonville

Verona

Piney Green

Holly Ridge

U.S. Marine Corps Base

Camp Lejeune

U.S. Marine Corps Base

Camp Lejeune

U.S. Marine Corps Base

Camp Lejeune

boundary

ONSLOW

COUNTY

0 2.5 5 10 MILES

0 2.5 5 10 KILOMETERS

17

Impact Area

K-2

Impact Area

G-10

1105

210

Holcomb

Sneads Ferry

Road

Blvd.

Lyman

Rd.

Verona Loop Rd.

New

River

Atlantic

Ocean

Intracoastal

waterway

BASE SUPPLY WELLS

COUNTY SUPPLY WELLS

Figure 1. Location of Camp Lejeune study area in Onslow County in the North Carolina Coastal Plain physiographic province.

172

17

53

24

172

50

LOCATIONS OF PHYSIOGRAPHIC PROVINCES AND

ONSLOW COUNTY IN NORTH CAROLINA

Blue Ridge

Piedmont Coastal Plain

Base from

Camp Lejeune GIS Office, June 2003
34o

45'

77o37'3" 77o29'24" 77o21'45" 77o14'06"

34o37'30"

34o30'

Sneads

Ferry

Dixon

Jacksonville

Verona

Piney Green

Holly Ridge

U.S. Marine Corps Base

Camp Lejeune

U.S. Marine Corps Base

Camp Lejeune

ONSLOW

COUNTY

17

1105

210

172

17

Mill Cr.

53

24

172

50

U.S. Marine Corps Base

Camp Lejeune

boundary Cowhead

Cr.

ON-266

ON-267

ON-293

ON-294

ON-227

ON-230

ON-293

0 2.5 5 10 MILES

0 2.5 5 10 KILOMETERS

Impact Area

K-2

Impact Area

G-10

Holcomb

Sneads Ferry

Road

Blvd.

Lyman

Rd.

Verona Loop Rd.

New

River

Atlantic

Ocean

Intracoastal

waterway

NEW WELLS

CONTINUOUS WATER-LEVEL RECORDER 

 WELLS AND NUMBER

Figure 2. Locations of wells used for evaluating water-level data at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

EXPLANATION

Base from

Camp Lejeune GIS Office, June 2003

40

30

20

10

20

EXPLANATION

K2MW4

ON-294

ON-294

10

K2MW2

K2MW3

K2MW1

3439

34o38'

34o37'

34o36'

K2MW8

d

Figure 4. Generalized direction of ground-water flow at 

NEW WELL AND NUMBER

CONTINUOUS WATER-LEVEL RECORDER WELL AND NU

WATER-TABLE CONTOUR--Shows altitude of water-tabl

 Contour interval 10 feet. Vertical datum is NAVD 88

IMPACT AREA K-2 BOUNDARY

GENERALIZED DIRECTION OF GROUND-WATER FLOW

LAND SURFACE ALTITUDE, IN FEET

Base from

Camp Lejeune GIS Office, June 2003

North Carolina Division of Emergency Management, 2002

U.S. Geological Survey 1 : 24,000

Mill

Creek

70

0

0 10 20 30

LAND-SURFACE ALTITUDE, IN FEET

40 50 60

50

45

40

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

-5

WATER-TABLE ALTITUDE, IN FEET

y = 0.9736x - 4.7865

R2 = 0.95

Figure 6. Linear regression of land-surface altitude and water-table altitude for well sites at Impact Areas

 K-2 and G-10, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina (Dashed line indicates 95-percent confidence level).

Oct.

1994

Oct.

1995

Oct.

1996

Oct.

1997

Oct.

1998

Oct.

1999

Oct.

2000

Oct.

2001

Oct.

2002

Oct.

2003

Oct.

2004

Oct.

1994

Oct.

1995

Oct.

1996

Oct.

1997

Oct.

1998

Oct.

1999

Oct.

2000

Oct.

2001

Oct.

2002

Oct.

2003

Oct.

2004

Well ON-293:

Castle Hayne aquifer

Well ON-294:

Surficial aquifer

34

32

30

28

26

24

WATER-LEVEL ALTITUDE, IN FEET

28

26

24

22

20

18

WATER-LEVEL ALTITUDE, IN FEET

Figure 7. Water-level trends for selected wells at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina--continued.

Vertical datum is NAVD 88

Vertical datum is NAVD 88

Gaps indicate

missing data

Gaps indicate

missing data
Oct.

1994

Oct.

1995

Oct.

1996

Oct.

1997

Oct.

1998

Oct.

1999

Oct.

2000

Oct.

2001

Oct.

2002

Oct.

2003

Oct.

2004

Oct.

1994

Oct.

1995

Oct.

1996

Oct.

1997

Oct.

1998

Oct.

1999

Oct.

2000

Oct.

2001

Oct.

2002

Oct.

2003

Oct.

2004

-0.04

-0.02

0

0.02

0.04

VERTICAL HYDRAULIC GRADIENT VERTICAL HYDRAULIC GRADIENT

Well ON-267: Surficial aquifer and

Well ON-266: Castle Hayne aquifer

Well ON-230: Surficial aquifer and

Well ON-227: Castle Hayne aquifer

Figure 8. Vertical hydraulic gradients for selected wells at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Gaps indicate

missing data

Gaps indicate

missing data

-0.04

0

0.04

0.08

0.12

0.16

0.20
Table 1. Summary of well-construction information for wells used during investigation at Impact Areas K-2 and G-10 at Camp Lejeune, North Car[ft, feet; BLS, below land surface; S, surficial aquifer; CH, Castle Hayne aquifer; altitude is referenced to NAVD 88]

USGS site number Local well 

name Aquifer Latitude Longitude Land-surface altitude (ft) Top of casing above land surface (ft) Total well depth (ft BLS) Well cas

depth (ft BLS

343609077171302 G10MW1 S 34° 36'09.0'' 77° 17'11.0'' 42.56 3.26 21.5 11.5 

343714077141301 G10MW2 S 34° 37'14.1'' 77° 14'13.3'' 16.34 3.30 16.0 6.0 343737077140401 G10MW3 S 34° 37'37.5'' 77° 14'04.1'' 41.02 3.80 19.0 9.0 343823077135401 G10MW4 S 34° 38'22.7'' 77° 13'53.9'' 17.42 3.80 19.5 9.5 343921077135401 G10MW5 S 34° 39'12.2'' 77° 13'52.8'' 33.38 3.25 20.0 10.0 343918077145701 G10MW6 S 34° 39'18.2'' 77° 14'58.5'' 38.27 3.08 19.0 9.0 343934077171401 G10MW7 S 34° 39'34.8'' 77° 17'12.8'' 42.47 3.90 19.5 9.5 343912077183901 G10MW8 S 34° 39'12.3'' 77° 18'39.5'' 29.18 3.56 19.0 9.0 343838077175801 G10MW9 S 34° 38'37.6'' 77° 17'58.1'' 29.33 2.96 19.5 9.5 343717077173601 G10MW10 S 34° 37'17.0'' 77° 17'35.1'' 36.08 3.60 19.5 9.5 343646077170801 G10MW11 S 34° 36'45.1'' 77° 17'08.0'' 39.87 3.55 18.5 8.5 343737077145601 G10MW12 S 34° 37'36.6'' 77° 14'55.7'' 52.19 3.22 19.5 9.5 343925077160901 G10MW13 S 34° 39'26.6'' 77° 16'08.4'' 43.70 3.30 19.0 9.0 343815077253401 K2MW1 S 34° 38'15.0'' 77° 25'34.0'' 21.79 3.02 19.5 9.5 343728077253801 K2MW2 S 34° 37'28.4'' 77° 25'38.2'' 12.52 3.10 20.0 10.0 343744077253101 K2MW3 S 34° 37'44.2'' 77° 25'30.8'' 24.49 2.40 18.5 8.5 343838077245201 K2MW4 S 34° 38'38.0'' 77° 24'51.8'' 32.15 2.97 20.0 10.0 343823077221801 K2MW5 S 34° 38'22.1'' 77° 22'19.4'' 21.49 3.25 20.0 10.0 343840077225001 K2MW6 S 34° 38'39.9'' 77° 22'49.5'' 27.79 3.88 15.0 5.0 343843077234801 K2MW7 S 34° 38'43.0'' 77° 23'48.1'' 24.64 2.80 20.0 10.0 343641077235101 K2MW8 S 34° 36'40.9'' 77° 23'51.3'' 2.57 2.90 4.0 2.0 343736077222001 K2MW9 S 34° 37'34.2'' 77° 22'22.0'' 1.99 2.25 8.0 3.0 343641077290103 ON-227 CH 34° 36'40.9'' 77° 28'58.0'' 68a

aLand-surface altitude at this well is referenced to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929.

2.13 240 150 

343641077290106 ON-230 S 34° 36'40.5'' 77° 28'58.9'' 68a 2.52 22.0 18.4 344139077211206 ON-266 CH 34° 41'35.4'' 77° 21'05.7'' 23.47a 1.73 130 120 344139077211207 ON-267 S 34° 41'35.6'' 77° 21'05.9'' 24.06a 0.93 40 30 343609077171301 ON-293 CH 34° 36'09.0'' 77° 17'11.0'' 42.56 2.30 235 225 

343842077241501 ON-294 S 34° 38'42.0'' 77° 24'29.9'' 29.83 2.43 23 12 
18 

Table 2. Summary of well information used in developing regression 

of land-surface altitude and water-level altitude for the surficial aquifer 

at Impact Areas K-2 and G-10 at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, 

August 23, 2004.

[ft, feet; BLS, below land surface; altitude is referenced to NAVD 88]

Local well 

name

Land-surface 

altitude 

(ft)

Depth to water 

(ft BLS)

Water-level 

altitude 

(ft)

G10MW1 42.56 5.72 36.84

G10MW2 16.34 3.82 12.52

G10MW3 41.02 5.91 35.11

G10MW4 17.42 6.29 11.13

G10MW5 33.38 13.01 20.37

G10MW6 38.27 3.74 34.53

G10MW7 42.47 4.45 38.02

G10MW8 29.18 10.62 18.56

G10MW9 29.33 10.39 18.94

G10MW10 36.08 5.28 30.80

G10MW11 39.87 3.37 36.50

G10MW12 52.19 5.78 46.41

G10MW13 43.70 4.39 39.31

K2MW1 21.79 7.31 14.48

K2MW2 12.52 7.79 4.73

K2MW3 24.49 6.30 18.19

K2MW4 32.15 1.12 31.03

K2MW5 21.49 8.39 13.10

K2MW6 27.79 2.03 25.76

K2MW7 24.64 3.18 21.46

K2MW8 2.57 1.20a

a

Because of access restrictions at site K-2, it was not possible to measure the 

water levels at wells K2MW8 and K2MW9 on August 23, 2004, when all other 

wells were measured; thus, it was necessary to use the water levels obtained 

during installation of wells K2MW8 and K2MW9 on February 11, 2004, and 

March 11, 2004, respectively. Based on the low land-surface altitude and 

position of wells K2MW8 and K2MW9 along the New River (fig. 4), the 

magnitude of seasonal water-level change at these sites is likely similar to the 

tidal fluctuation of about 2 feet for the New River. The water levels utilized for 

wells K2MW8 and K2MW9 in developing the regression equation for estimating 

water-table altitudes at the Impact Areas are considered to be fairly representative of those that would have been obtained on August 23, 2004, when the 

other wells were measured.

1.37

K2MW9 1.99 2.95a -0.96

ON-294 29.83 4.53 25.30
Appendix 1

Well construction records






















Harden and others — Direction of Ground-Water Flow in the Surfi cial Aquifer in the Vicinity of Impact Areas G-10 and K-2, — USGS SIR 2004 – 5270

 Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, 2004