U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Open-File Report 2007–1211

In Cooperation with the Natural Resources Conservation Service

Ground-Water Data and Flow Directions in the Vicinity 

of Swamp Road, Licking County, Ohio, 2006–07
Cover image: Flowing conditions at well LI-18 on January 17, 2007. (Photograph by Brian Mailot, 

U.S. Geological Survey.)
Ground-Water Data and Flow Directions 

in the Vicinity of Swamp Road, Licking 

County, Ohio, 2006–07

By Denise H. Dumouchelle

In Cooperation with the Natural Resources Conservation Service

Open-File Report 2007–1211

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. Department of the Interior

DIRK KEMPTHORNE, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

Mark D. Myers, Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2007

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Suggested citation:

Dumouchelle, D.H., 2007, Ground-water data and flow directions in the vicinity of Swamp Road, Licking County Ohio: 

U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2007–1211, 17 p.
iii

Contents

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

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

Purpose and Scope ..............................................................................................................................1

Description of the Study Area ............................................................................................................4

Methods of Data Collection and Analysis .................................................................................................4

Ground-Water-Quality Data .........................................................................................................................5

Ground-Water-Level Data ............................................................................................................................8

Direction of Ground-Water Flow...............................................................................................................10

Summary........................................................................................................................................................16

References Cited..........................................................................................................................................17

Figures

1. Map showing location of the study area in central Ohio ...................................................................2

2. Map showing areas of 100-year flood inundation with and without dry dam and location of 

wells at the study site ................................................................................................................. 3

3. Hydrographs of continuous water levels in wells and precipitation in the study area .................9

4. Hydrographs of continuous water levels in well LI-20 and river stage at South Fork Licking 

River near Hebron...................................................................................................................... 11

5. Map showing hydrogeologic characterization of Swamp Road and vicinity................................12

6–8 Maps showing:

6. Ground-water-level contours for October 3, 2006 ....................................................................13

7. Ground-water-level contours for January 24, 2007..................................................................14

8. Ground-water-level contours for March 8, 2007 ......................................................................15

9. Schematic hydrologic section along Swamp Road ...........................................................................16 

Tables

1. Well data from wells in the vicinity of Swamp Road, Licking County, Ohio .....................................5

2. Results of the analyses of ground-water samples from wells in the vicinity of Swamp Road, 

Licking County, Ohio for water-quality characteristics .........................................................6

3. Synoptic water-level data from wells in the vicinity of Swamp Road, Licking County, Ohio ..... 10
iv

Conversion Factors, Abbreviations, and Vertical Datum

Multiply By To obtain

Length

inch (in.) 2.54 centimeter (cm)

inch (in.) 25.4 millimeter (mm)

foot (ft) 0.3048 meter (m)

mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer (km)

Area

acre 0.004047 square kilometer (km2

)

Volume

gallon (gal) 3.785 liter (L) 

Temperature in degrees Celsius (°C) may be converted to degrees Fahrenheit (°F) as follows:

°F=(1.8×°C)+32

Temperature in degrees Fahrenheit (°F) may be converted to degrees Celsius (°C) as follows:

°C=(°F-32)/1.8

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

(NAVD 88).

Elevation, as used in this report, refers to distance above the vertical datum.

Specific conductance is given in microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius (μS/cm 

at 25 °C).

Concentrations of chemical constituents in water are given either in milligrams per liter (mg/L) 

or micrograms per liter (μg/L).
Ground-Water Data and Flow Directions in the Vicinity of 

Swamp Road, Licking County, Ohio, 2006–07

By Denise H. Dumouchelle

Abstract

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) 

is proposing to build a dry dam on the South Fork Licking 

River to mitigate flood impacts. Concerns have been raised 

regarding the effects of impounded floodwaters on groundwater conditions in the Swamp Road neighborhood. To obtain 

a better understanding of existing ground-water conditions, 

the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the NRCS, 

installed three monitoring wells and collected ground-water–

quality samples on two occasions from these and four residential wells. In addition, transducers were placed in these seven 

wells to obtain hourly water-level measurements from August, 

2006 to early March, 2007. Intermittent water levels also were 

measured in another seven residential wells in the area.

Water-quality samples were collected in September 2006 

and January 2007. Samples were analyzed for nutrients, inorganic elements, and fecal-indicator bacteria. In general, the 

ground-water quality was very hard with large iron concentrations of 1,700 μg/L and above.

Although the aquifer underlying the Swamp Road area is 

confined, the continuous water-level records indicate a rapid 

response to precipitation. Comparison of the well hydrographs 

with the stage hydrograph for the nearby South Fork Licking 

River indicates a hydraulic connection between the river and 

the aquifer. In the vicinity of Swamp Road, the ground-waterflow direction was southeast during the duration of the study. 

The ground-water-level elevations were above the planned 

maximum elevation for water impounded by the dam, thus 

the impounded floodwater should have minimal impact on 

ground-water conditions along Swamp Road.

Introduction

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), 

a division of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, is proposing to construct a low dam on the South Fork of the Licking 

River to create a flood detention basin in the Buckeye Lake 

area (fig. 1) to mitigate flood impacts downstream. The NRCS 

estimates the inundation area for a 100-year flood would be 

907 acres behind the dam, as compared to 763 acres for the 

100-year flood with existing conditions (Scott Jerrome, Natural Resources Conservation Service, written commun., 2007). 

The detention area would store water only during flood conditions. During the planning stages, concerns were raised about 

the impact of this additional temporary floodwater storage 

on ground water, residential water wells, and septic systems 

along Swamp Road (fig. 1), a neighborhood adjacent to the 

northwestern area of impoundment. A 100-year flood with 

the dry dam in place would create up to 2.6 ft of additional 

water column, thus flooding a larger area than what would be 

flooded without the dam (fig. 2). The NRCS estimates that, in 

the Swamp Road area, the impounded water would require up 

to 10 more hours to recede than natural (undammed) floodwaters (Scott Jerrome, oral commun., 2006). To obtain a better 

understanding of existing ground-water conditions in the area, 

the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the 

NRCS, collected data to determine the current ground-waterquality characterstics and flow directions.

Purpose and Scope

The purpose of this report is to present data from groundwater samples and water-level measurements collected from 

selected wells in the vicinity of Swamp Road in Licking 

County, Ohio. Ground-water flow directions were determined 

on the basis of the water-level data. During the summer of 

2006, three monitoring wells were drilled. Water samples 

were collected in September 2006 and January 2007 from 

these wells and from four residential wells, and analyzed for 

nutrients, inorganic elements, and fecal-indicator bacteria. 

The water-quality data were collected to provide background 

data for comparison with any future samples. Transducers 

for continuous recording of water-levels were installed in the 

monitoring wells and the four residential wells. Data were 

collected from late August 2006 until early March 2007. In 

addition, synoptic water-levels were manually collected in 

seven additional residential wells in October 2006, January 

2007, and March 2007. 
2 Ground-Water Data and Flow Directions in the Vicinity of Swamp Road, Licking County, Ohio, 2006–07

Figure 1. Location of the study area in central Ohio.
Introduction 3

Figure 2. Areas of 100-year flood inundation with and without dry dam and location of wells at the study site.
4 Ground-Water Data and Flow Directions in the Vicinity of Swamp Road, Licking County, Ohio, 2006–07

Description of the Study Area

The study area is in the vicinity of the intersection of 

Swamp Road and National Road in south-central Licking 

County (figs. 1 and 2) between Kirkersville and Hebron. The 

South Fork Licking River, to the north and east of the study 

site, flows east-southeast. The land use in the KirkersvilleSwamp Road region is mostly agricultural with some ruralresidential. Homes are served by residential water wells and 

leach-line septic systems. Residential wells in the KirkersvilleSwamp Road region are generally from 30 to 60 ft deep 

although one well is 107 ft deep. The region is underlain by 

glacial deposits consisting of clay till interspersed with sand 

and gravel. Residential wells in the region are completed in 

sand and gravel and the overlying clay generally ranges from 

about 15 to 50 ft thick. 

Methods of Data Collection and 

Analysis

Three monitoring wells (LI-17, 18, and 19) (fig. 2) were 

installed with a hollow-stem auger rig by the USGS. The 2-in. 

diameter PVC-cased monitoring wells have 10-ft long screens. 

The annular space around the screens was packed with sand 

and the remaining annular space was sealed with bentonite 

chips. The wells were completed with a steel, lockable, protective casing set in concrete. Logs for the wells are available 

from the USGS Ohio Water Science Center upon request. 

Drillers’ logs for residential wells (Ohio Department of 

Natural Resources, 2006) were reviewed for geologic information. Four residential wells along Swamp Road were selected 

for continuous water-level monitoring with pressure transducers (table 1). Seven additional residential wells along Swamp 

and National Roads were selected for intermittent water-level 

measurements by hand. The residential wells were selected 

based on location and access. 

The pressure transducers were installed above the 

residential water-supply pumps and secured to prevent shifting over time. Water levels were recorded hourly and were 

accurate to 0.04 ft. Synoptic and transducer-calibration waterlevels measured manually were made using either a calibrated 

electric tape or chalked-steel tape. Measurements were accurate to 0.01 ft. Water-level equipment was cleaned by a dilute 

chlorine-bleach rinse between measurements. The top of each 

well casing was used as the measuring point. The elevations of 

the top of the well casings for the 14 wells were surveyed by 

the NRCS and were reported to .05 ft. 

Monitoring well LI-18 periodically would overflow, thus 

requiring the use of a nonvented transducer to collect waterlevel data. The water-level data had to be corrected to account 

for changes in barometric pressure. Barometric-pressure data 

from the Port Columbus International Airport station (WBAN 

14821) were obtained from the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (2007). As a result of the flowing 

conditions and barometric corrections, the accuracy of the 

continuous water-level data from this well is less than that of 

the other transducers. The accuracy is estimated to be between 

.05 and .1 ft.

A staff gage was temporarily installed at Swamp Road in 

the ditch (fig. 2). The gage elevation was surveyed by NRCS 

and was reported to 0.01 ft. The water level in the ditch was 

periodically recorded. The staff gage was removed at the end 

of the study.

Water samples from four residential wells and the three 

monitoring wells were collected for the analysis of nutrients, 

inorganic elements, and fecal-indicator bacteria. Homeowners of the selected wells gave permission for water-quality 

sampling and identified exterior household spigots from which 

untreated water could be drawn. All of the samples from the 

residential wells were collected from these spigots, as supplied 

by the existing plumbing and well pumps. Sterile tubing and 

fittings were connected to the spigots for well and supply line 

purging and sample collection. For the monitoring wells, the 

transducers were removed and a portable submersible pump 

was used for purging and sample collection. Sterile tubing was 

used for sample collection. The pump was cleaned with soap 

and deionized water between wells. Monitoring wells were 

purged of at least three borehole volumes; residential wells, 

which are in daily use, were purged of one to more than three 

borehole volumes. During purging, field measurements of pH, 

specific conductance, dissolved oxygen concentration, and 

temperature were monitored. Water samples were collected 

after the field measurements had stabilized. Because LI-18 

was flowing at the time of the January sample collection, 

no purging was necessary; the sample was collected using a 

peristaltic pump with the sterile tubing placed a few feet down 

into the casing. Sample collection protocols for the USGS are 

documented in the National Field Manual for the Collection of 

Water-Quality Data (U.S. Geological Survey, 2007).

Water samples were analyzed for nutrient and inorganic 

elements by the USGS National Water Quality Laboratory in 

Denver, Colo. The water samples were analyzed for the nutrients ammonia, nitrite, nitrite plus nitrate, total nitrogen, and 

orthophosphate concentrations. The water samples were analyzed for the inorganic elements calcium, chloride, fluoride, 

iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, silica, sodium, and 

sulfate. The water samples to be analyzed for fecal-indicator 

bacteria were collected with sterile tubing and bottles. Analyses for bacteria were done at the USGS Ohio Water Microbiology Laboratory, in Columbus, Ohio. Samples were analyzed 

for total coliforms and Escherichia coli (E. coli) by use of the 

membrane-filtration method (U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency, 2002). 

A duplicate sample and a blank sample were collected 

for quality-control purposes. These samples were collected 

to verify that contaminants were not being introduced during 

sample collection or laboratory methods. The results of the 

duplicate sample were compared qualitatively with the results 
Ground-Water-Quality Data 5

of the field sample; the two samples were comparable (table 

2). No analytes were detected in the blank sample (table 2). 

Procedures for the microbiology quality-assurance/qualitycontrol laboratory procedures are described in Francy and 

others (2006). Because the portable submersible pump used 

for the monitoring could not be sterilized, the pump was rinsed 

thoroughly with sterile water, and then extra blank samples for 

bacterial analyses were collected to ensure that there was no 

cross-contamination between well samples. None of the pump 

blanks yielded any total coliform or E. coli bacteria. 

Ground-Water-Quality Data

Data for the wells used in this study are listed in table 

1; well locations are shown on figure 2. The three monitoring wells, LI-17, 18 and 19, were 37.4, 37.1 and 28.2 ft deep, 

respectively; the residential wells in the study ranged from 32 

to 87 ft deep (table 1). Water samples were collected from the 

wells LI-17-23 in September 2006 and January 2007. 

Water samples from the wells were analyzed for major 

ions, nutrients, and bacteria. Data from field measurements of 

pH, specific conductance, and dissolved oxygen concentrations are presented in table 2 with the results of the laboratory 

analyses. In general, the water sampled was very hard and had 

high iron concentrations. Water with a hardness of 180 mg/L 

(of CaCO3) or more is considered very hard (Hem, 1989); all 

of the samples from wells in this study had hardnesses greater 

than 300 mg/L, except for the January sample from LI-22, 

which was less than 1 mg/L. Iron concentrations in samples 

from the wells in this study ranged from 1,700 to 2,700 μg/L, 

except for the January sample from LI-22, which had a concentration of 7 μg/L. The secondary maximum contaminant 

level for iron is 300 μg/L; at concentrations exceeding that 

level, iron contributes to staining of fixtures and laundry, and 

water can have a metallic taste (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2007). The significant differences in concentrations of hardness, ammonia, calcium, magnesium, manganese, 

sodium, and iron in the two samples at LI-22 are due to water 

treatment. The January sample was unintentionally collected 

from an exterior spigot that received softened water from the 

household treatment system.

Table 1. Well data from wells in the vicinity of Swamp Road, Licking County, Ohio.

[Measuring point was the top of the well casing; elevation datum is the North American Vertical Datum of 1988; bls, 

below land surface; M, monitoring well; T, continuous water-level data; R, residential well; S, synoptic water-level 

data; --, unknown; na, not applicable]

Well

number

Measuring 

point elevation

(feet)

Depth

(feet, bls)

Approximate

thickness

of clay layer1

(feet)

Type Transducer installed

LI-17 922.22 37.4 28 M-T-S 08-21-06

LI-18 900.35 37.1 32 M-T-S 09-20-06

LI-19 914.60 28.2 20 M-T-S 08-22-06

LI-20 909.69 47 37 R-T-S 08-28-06

LI-21 915.43 47 35 R-T-S 08-22-06

LI-22 919.09 50 28 R-T-S 08-25-06

LI-23 916.03 60 29 R-T-S 08-25-06

LI-24 914.20 55 -- 2 R-S na

LI-25 901.30 54 45 R-S na

LI-26 914.10 32 28 R-S na

LI-27 914.91 31.5 28.5 R-S na

LI-28 915.40 -- -- R-S na

LI-29 911.56 87 75 R-S na

LI-30 917.70 51 30 R-S na

1 Based on drillers’ logs, this layer is the first unit recorded on the log and may contain silt, sand, or gravel, but is 

predominantly clay. 

2 The driller’s log records 13 feet of topsoil, followed by gritty gravel, then sand and gravel.
6 Ground-Water Data and Flow Directions in the Vicinity of Swamp Road, Licking County, Ohio, 2006–07 Table 2. Results of the analyses of water samples from wells in the vicinity of Swamp Road, Licking County, Ohio, for water-quality characteristics. [NTU, nephelometric turbidity units; mg/L, milligrams per liter; deg C, degrees Celsius; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; μg/L, micrograms per liter; CaCO3, calcium carbonate; evap, evaporation; N, nitro- gen; P, phosphorus; -- no data; E. coli, Escherichia coli; col/100 mL, colonies per 100 milliliters; E, estimated; <, less than; bolded text indicates analyses were from treated (softened) water] Specif. Dis- pH, conduc- Hardness Alkalinity, Bicar- Turbidity solved field tance, lab (mg/L Magnes- Potas- field bonate, Well Date field oxygen (μS/cm as Calcium ium sium Sodium (mg/L as field number (NTU) (mg/L) 25 deg C) CaCO3

) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) CaCO3

) (mg/L)

LI-17 09-12-06 3.5 0.3 7.2 674 340 85 32 1.4 9.0 255 311

01-17-07 .8 .3 7.5 675 340 85 31 1.3 9.6 262 319

LI-18 09-12-06 30 .2 7.4 671 320 76 32 2.0 16 266 324

01-17-07 .1 .2 7.5 678 330 80 32 1.9 17 296 360

LI-19 09-13-06 .6 .2 7.3 902 430 110 39 1.6 17 280 341

01-17-07 1.9 .4 7.5 886 420 110 38 1.5 18 284 345

LI-20 09-11-06 .2 .6 7.3 727 360 88 33 1.6 12 262 319

01-18-07 .6 .2 7.4 737 370 90 34 1.7 12 278 338

LI-21 09-11-06 .7 .4 7.4 738 380 94 36 1.4 8.4 316 384

01-18-07 .4 .2 7.4 757 380 95 35 1.4 8.7 312 380

LI-22 09-13-06 .4 .2 7.4 719 350 87 33 1.5 11 272 331

01-18-07 .1 .2 7.5 769 0.650 .16 .06 .18 180 289 351

Duplicate 01-18-07 .1 .2 7.5 766 -- .15 .06 .15 180 280 340LI-23 09-11-06 14 3.7 7.4 721 350 85 35 1.8 17 267 325

01-18-07 3.5 .7 7.4 722 340 83 32 1.7 17 286 348

Blank 09-12-06 -- -- -- 3 -- E.01 <.01 <.16 <.20 -- --
Ground-Water-Quality Data 

7

Table 2. Results of the analyses of water samples from wells in the vicinity of Swamp Road, Licking County, Ohio, for water-quality characteristics—Continued.[NTU, nephelometric turbidity units; mg/L, milligrams per liter; deg C, degrees Celsius; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; μg/L, micrograms per liter; CaCO3, calcium carbonate; evap, evaporation; N, nitrogen; P, phosphorus; -- no data; E. coli, Escherichia coli; col/100 mL, colonies per 100 milliliters; E, estimated; <, less than; bolded text indicates analyses were from treated (softened) water]

Residue Nitrite

Carbon- on evap plus

ate, at 180 Ammonia nitrate Nitrite Total

Well Date field Chloride Fluoride Silica Sulfate deg C as N as N as N nitrogen

number (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L)

LI-17 09-12-06 0.0 15 0.68 15 82 421 0.26 E0.03 <0.002 0.29

01-17-07 .6 17 .73 15 82 425 .26 <.06 <.002 .30

LI-18 09-12-06 .0 12 1.2 15 74 410 .42 <.06 <.002 .46

01-17-07 .7 13 1.2 16 75 421 .41 <.06 <.002 .47

LI-19 09-13-06 .0 74 .56 16 83 541 .25 E.03 <.002 .28

01-17-07 .7 71 .61 16 84 527 .24 <.06 <.002 .30

LI-20 09-11-06 .0 27 .62 15 83 447 .32 <.06 <.002 .33

01-18-07 .4 28 .64 16 86 467 .31 <.06 E.001 .37

LI-21 09-11-06 .0 18 .78 15 83 466 .29 <.06 <.002 .31

01-18-07 .7 20 .82 15 84 465 .28 <.06 <.002 .35

LI-22 09-13-06 .0 19 .70 15 88 434 .31 <.06 <.002 .35

01-18-07 .6 18 .74 15 87 464 E.01 <.06 <.002 E.04

Duplicate 01-18-07 .6 18 .76 15 87 463 E.01 <.06 <.002 .07LI-23 09-11-06 .0 18 .66 16 87 461 .40 <.06 <.002 .40

01-18-07 .5 18 .71 15 88 468 .37 <.06 <.002 .44

Blank 09-12-06 -- -- <.20 <.10 <.04 <.18 <10 <.010 <.06 <.002
8 Ground-Water Data and Flow Directions in the Vicinity of Swamp Road, Licking County, Ohio, 2006–07

Table 2. Results of the analyses of water samples from wells in the vicinity of Swamp Road, Licking County, Ohio, for 

water-quality characteristics—Continued.

[NTU, nephelometric turbidity units; mg/L, milligrams per liter; deg C, degrees Celsius; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter; μg/L, micrograms 

per liter; CaCO3, calcium carbonate; evap, evaporation; N, nitrogen; P, phosphorus; -- no data; E. coli, Escherichia coli; col/100 mL, colonies 

per 100 milliliters; E, estimated; <, less than; bolded text indicates analyses were from treated (softened) water]

Orthophos- E. coli Total Iron Manganese

Well Phate. as (col/100 mL) coliform (μg /L) (μg /L)

number Date P, (mg/L) (col/100 mL)

LI-17 09-12-06 E0.006 <1 >80 2,400 19

01-17-07 .008 <1 E5 2,300 16

LI-18 09-12-06 E.006 E1 34 2,200 20

01-17-07 .006 <1 <1 2,200 15

LI-19 09-13-06 .009 <1 E2 2,700 26

01-17-07 .007 <1 E2 2,500 20

LI-20 09-11-06 .007 <1 E11 2,400 15

01-18-07 .007 <1 <1 2,500 15

LI-21 09-11-06 E.006 <1 E1 2,400 18

01-18-07 E.006 <1 <1 2,400 19

LI-22 09-13-06 .007 <1 <1 2,200 15

01-18-07 .007 <1 <1 7 <.2

Duplicate 01-18-07 E.010 <1 <1 6 <.2

LI-23 09-11-06 E.005 <1 <1 2,200 19

01-18-07 .006 <1 <1 1,700 19

Blank 09-12-06 <.006 -- -- E4 <.6

Ground-Water-Level Data

Transducers were installed during August 2006, with the 

exception of well LI-18. Because of periodic flowing conditions, a nonvented transducer was needed at LI-18; it was 

installed on September 20. Water-levels were recorded hourly. 

The transducers were removed on March 8, 2007. 

Hydrographs of the continuous water-level data from the 

transducers are shown in figure 3. The hydrographs are similar 

to each other. The water levels in the monitoring wells, LI-17, 

18, and 19, are less variable than those of the residential wells, 

LI-20, 21, 22, and 23, because the monitoring wells are not 

pumped for water supply. The periodic pumping from the residential wells is evident on the graphs as vertical lines that indicate rapid drops in the water level. The water levels quickly 

recover from any pumping, as shown by the immediate return 

to the initial water level. The similarity of the hydrographs for 

wells LI-17 and LI-19 to those of the residential wells shows 

that long-term monitoring of water levels in either of these 

monitoring wells would adequately represent water levels in 

the residential wells along Swamp Road.

The peaks on the hydrograph for well LI-18 are subdued 

with respect to those for the other wells (fig. 3). Water in well 

LI-18 occasionally overflows the top of the well casing, which 

is 3.53 ft above the land surface (see front cover photo). The 

water level measured in the well actually is recorded by the 

transducer as the pressure head, which is the weight of the 

water plus atmospheric pressure, above the device; when the 

well overflows, the pressure is reduced (i.e., the water column 

is shorter than it would be if the well did not overflow) as the 

water is released, thus resulting in the subdued peaks of the 

hydrograph. Due to ice in the well, data collected after February 7, 2007, were unusable; the stainless-steel wire thread 

holding the transducer was snapped by ice sometime after this 

date.
Ground-Water-Level Data 

9

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SEHCNINI, ONITATIPICERPY ILAD

111

LI-17

LI-18

LI-19LI-20

LI-21

LI-22

LI-23

EXPLANATION

Figure 3. Hydrographs of continuous water levels in wells and precipitation in the study area. [Precipitation data from the Port Columbus International Airport station (WBAN 14821) National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (2007)]
10 Ground-Water Data and Flow Directions in the Vicinity of Swamp Road, Licking County, Ohio, 2006–07

The hydrographs show that the water levels in these wells 

rise quickly in response to precipitation events (fig. 3). This 

quick response is unexpected given that these wells are completed in a confined aquifer. A confined aquifer, also known 

as artesian, is one in which the ground water is confined under 

pressure greater than the atmosphere by an overlying layer of 

low permeability sediments (Todd, 1980); water levels in wells 

penetrating a confined aquifer will rise above the bottom of 

the confining layer and, in some cases, above land surface, and 

they are called “flowing artesian wells”. The low-permeability 

confining layer can delay the response in wells to precipitation 

events, but this is apparently not the case at this study site. The 

location of the site within a bend of the South Fork Licking 

River (fig. 1) suggests the potential for local surface-water 

influence on ground water. There is a USGS streamgaging station on the South Fork Licking River near Hebron (03219743). 

The similarity of the fluctuations in river stage at this station 

with fluctuations in the ground-water levels strongly indicates 

a hydraulic connection between the river and the confined 

aquifer in the area (fig. 4). Drillers’ logs for some wells in and 

around Kirkersville and a map of surficial sediments (fig. 5) 

indicate the potential for more permeable surficial sediments 

such as sandy clay or sand and gravel overlain by less than 

10 ft of clay, thus supporting the probability of a connection 

between the river and the confined aquifer.

Data from the three synoptic water-level measurements 

are shown in table 3. The synoptic data were collected from 14 

wells (fig. 3): the 7 wells with transducers and an additional 7 

residential wells. All of the wells show a rise from 0.65 to 1.10 

ft in water level between the October and January measurements; most of the wells have the same rise in water level, 0.8 

ft. Between the January and March measurements, the wells 

have a rise in water level from 0.02 to 0.07 ft. Two wells, 

LI-18 and LI-25, had water levels above land surface during 

the January and March measurements.

Direction of Ground-Water Flow

Ground water flows in the direction of decreasing hydraulic head; contours on a ground-water-level map represent lines 

of equal hydraulic head. Figures 6, 7, and 8 show the water 

levels and water-level contours for October 3, 2006, January 

24, 2007, and March 8, 2007. Although the data are limited to 

a small area around Swamp Road, the water levels are coherent and hydrologically reasonable. The ground-water-flow 

direction is southeasterly. 

If the aquifer underlying the pool of the proposed dam 

is confined, then the impounded water would not appreciably 

affect ground water in the vicinity of Swamp Road. Although 

data from this study indicate that the aquifer is confined along 

Swamp Road, the rapid response of water levels to precipitation and changes in river stage suggest that there are nearby 

connections between the surface and the aquifer. The groundwater elevations measured in this study were higher than the 

dam pool (fig. 9) and these elevations were measured during 

conditions that were dryer than what would occur should the 

dam retain floodwater. Thus, the effect on the ground water 

around Swamp Road would be similar to backwater conditions on a stream during high flows—the ground-water flow 

direction would not change, although flow would likely slow, 

and perhaps stall for a brief period, before resuming natural 

conditions as the floodwater drained. Any rise in ground-water 

levels due to the impounded water, probably only a few inches, 

would be due mainly to the pressure effect from the weight 

of the impounded water. In other words, because the temporary flood pool from the dam has an elevation lower than the 

current ground-water levels along Swamp Road, the natural 

ground-water flow conditions will dominate flow directions in 

the event of 100-year flood event, notwithstanding the presence of the dam.

Table 3. Synoptic water-level elevations from wells in the vicinity of Swamp Road, 

Licking County, Ohio.

[Elevations are in feet above the North American Vertical Datum of 1988; na, not available]

Well

number

Oct. 3, 2006 Jan. 24, 2007 Mar. 8, 2007

LI-17 902.01 902.85 902.92

LI-18 899.84 900.561 900.601

LI-19 899.26 899.93 899.95

LI-20 900.80 901.58 901.62

LI-21 901.02 901.80 901.83

LI-22 900.63 901.40 901.45

LI-23 900.49 901.24 901.29

LI-24 900.77 901.52 901.56

LI-25 900.24 900.992 901.042

LI-26 899.54 900.22 900.26

LI-27 899.72 900.40 900.45

LI-28 899.483 900.58 900.61

LI-29 899.68 900.33 900.37

LI-30 901.13 901.89 901.95

Ditch gage na 891.18 890.85 1

. Flowing artesian conditions, measurement was an estimate of the water level above the casing.

2

. Water level was above land surface, but not above well casing.

3

. Water level was not static at the time of measurement.
Direction of Ground-Water Flow 11 20 24 28 September 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 October 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 November 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 December 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 January 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 February 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 4 8 2006 2007

9876543210

1110

23456789

Stream-gaging station 03145000, South Fork Licking River near Hebron, OH

Well LI-20

Figure 4. Hydrographs of continuous water levels in LI-20 and river stage at South Fork Licking River near Hebron.

DEPTH TO WATER BELOW LAND SURFACE, IN FEET

RIVER STAGE, IN FEET
12 Ground-Water Data and Flow Directions in the Vicinity of Swamp Road, Licking County, Ohio, 2006–07

EXPLANATION

Figure 5. Hydrogeologic characterization of Swamp Road and vicinity (extracted and modified from Hartzell,1992). 
Direction of Ground-Water Flow 13

Figure 6. Ground-water-level contours for October 3, 2006.
14 Ground-Water Data and Flow Directions in the Vicinity of Swamp Road, Licking County, Ohio, 2006–07

Figure 7. Ground-water-level contours for January 24, 2007.
Direction of Ground-Water Flow 15

Figure 8. Ground-water-level contours for March 8, 2007.
16 Ground-Water Data and Flow Directions in the Vicinity of Swamp Road, Licking County, Ohio, 2006–07

Summary

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) 

is proposing to build a dry dam on the South Fork Licking 

River to mitigate flood impacts. Concerns have been raised 

regarding the effects of impounded floodwaters on groundwater conditions in the nearby Swamp Road neighborhood. 

To obtain a better understanding of existing ground-water 

conditions, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with 

the NRCS, installed three monitoring wells and collected 

ground-water quality samples on two occasions from these and 

four residential wells. Transducers were placed in these seven 

wells to obtain hourly water-level measurements from August 

2006 to early March 2007. Water levels also were measured 

intermittently in another seven residential wells.

Water samples were collected from seven wells in September 2006 and January 2007. Samples were analyzed for 

nutrients, inorganic elements, and fecal-indicator bacterial. In 

general, the ground water was very hard with high iron concentrations. With the exception of one sample of treated water, 

hardness values ranged from 320 to 430 mg/L as CaCO3, and 

iron concentrations ranged from 1,700 to 2,700 μg/L.

Well logs and water-level data indicate that the aquifer 

underlying the vicinity of Swamp Road is confined. However, 

the continuous water-level records indicate a rapid response to 

precipitation. A review of well logs from the Kirkersville area, 

LI-24

N S LI-20

Clay

EXPLANATION

Approximate ground-water level, March 8, 2007, 901.5 feet

100-year flood level with dam, 899.5 feet

100-year flood level without dam, 896.9 feet

Surface-water elevation in ditch, March 8, 2007, 890.9 feet

Datum is NAVD 88

Vertical scale greatly exaggerated

Ditch

Figure 9. Schematic hydrologic section from north to south along Swamp Road.

Land surface
References Cited 17

about 1 mile west of Swamp Road, indicates the potential for 

more permeable surficial deposits. A comparison of the well 

hydrographs with the hydrograph of the stage (water level) of 

nearby South Fork Licking River indicates that at some location a hydraulic connection exists between the river and the 

aquifer. 

In the vicinity of Swamp Road, the ground-water-flow 

direction was southeasterly during the duration of the study. 

The ground-water-level elevations were above the maximum 

planned (100-year flood) elevation for water impoundment by 

the dam, thus the impounded floodwater should have minimal 

impact on ground-water conditions along Swamp Road.

References Cited

Francy, D.S., Bushon, R.N., Brady, A.M.G., Kephart, C.M., 

and Stoeckel, D.M., 2006, Quality assurance/quality control 

manual for the Ohio Water Microbiology Laboratory, 

accessed on March 3, 2007, at http://oh.water.usgs.gov/

micro/qcmanual/Manual%2006.htm

Hartzell, G.W., 1992, Ground-water resources of Licking 

County accessed on June 5, 2007, at http://www.dnr.state.

oh.us/water/gwrmaps/counties/Licking.htm

Hem, J.D., 1989, Study and interpretation of the chemical 

characteristics of natural waters (3d ed.), U.S. Geological 

Survey Water-Supply Paper 2254, 263 p.

National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, 2007, 

National Climatic Data Center, accessed on March 12, 2007 

at http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/ncdc.html

Ohio Department of Natural Resources, 2006, Division of 

Water, Water well log report, on-line search tools, accessed 

on July 19, 2006, at http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/water/

maptechs/wellogs/appNEW/

Todd, D. K., 1980, Groundwater Hydrology (2nd ed.): John 

Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, p. 43.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2002, Method 1604—

Total coliforms and Escherichia coli in water by membrane 

filtration using a simultaneous detection technique (MI 

medium): Washington D.C., EPA 821-R-02-024, 14 p.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2007, Secondary 

drinking water regulations: guidance for nuisance chemicals, accessed on March 13, 2007, at http://www.epa.gov/

safewater/consumer/2ndstandards.html

U.S. Geological Survey, 2007, National field manual for the 

collection of water-quality data: U.S. Geological Survey 

Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations, Book 9, 

variously paginated, accessed on June 4, 2007, at http://

water.usgs.gov/owq/Fieldprocedures.html
D.H. Dumouchelle—Ground-Water Data and Flow Directions in the Vicinity of Swamp Road, Licking County, Ohio, 2006–07—Open-File Report 2007–06