U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Fact Sheet 2014-3043

June 2014

Prepared in cooperation with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development 

Water Resources of Acadia Parish, Louisiana

Introduction 

Information concerning the availability, use, and quality of 

water in Acadia 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 presented. 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 231 million gallons per day (Mgal/d) 

of water were withdrawn in Acadia Parish, including about 

183 Mgal/d from groundwater sources and 47.6 Mgal/d from 

surface-water sources1

 (table 1). Withdrawals for rice irrigation 

accounted for about 70 percent (161 Mgal/d) of the total water 

withdrawn (table 2). Other categories of use included public 

supply, industrial, power generation, rural domestic, livestock, 

general irrigation, and aquaculture. Water-use data collected at 

5-year intervals from 1960 to 2010 (fig. 2) indicated that water 

withdrawals peaked in 1980 when withdrawals for rice irrigation 

were about 295 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. 

13

10

EXPLANATION

Approximate altitude of base of fresh groundwater,

 in feet below National Geodetic Vertical Datum

 of 1929 (NGVD 29) (modified from Smoot, 1988;

 Nyman, 1989)

 300 to 499

 500 to 699

 700 to 899

 900 to 1,199

Line of section (see fig. 3)

Approximate boundary between the undifferentiated

 sand to the north and the upper and lower sands

 to the south

Well for which hydrograph is shown (see fig. 4) 

U.S. Geological Survey surface-water 

 discharge site and number (see table 4)

U.S. Geological Survey surface-water 

 quality site and number (see table 4)

Ac-326

A'A

08012150

08012300 Base modified from U.S. Geological Survey digital data

Albers Equal-Area Conic projection

North American Datum of 1983

10 KILOMETERS

0

0 2 4 6 8

2 4 6 8 10 MILES

TEXAS

ARKANSAS MISSISSIPPI

LOUISIANA ACADIA

PARISH

Crowley

Estherwood

Morse

Mermentau

Evangeline

Iota Maxie

Church Point

Rayne

Riceville Leleux

Ac-335U

Ac-428

Ac-326

08012300

302403092152300

08011000

300446092214200

08012150

Lyons Point Gully

Bayou

Plaquemine Brule

Bayou des Cannes

Bayou

Nezpique

River Mermentau

Bayou Queue de Tortue

Bayou Wikoff

Bayou Mallet

ST LANDRY

PARISH

VERMILION

PARISH

LAFAYETTE

PARISH

JEFFERSON

DAVIS

PARISH

ACADIA PARISH

ALLEN

PARISH

EVANGELINE

PARISH

92°20'

92°10'

92°30'

30°20'

30°10'

A'

A

Figure 1. Location of study area, Acadia Parish, Louisiana. 
Table 1. Water withdrawals, in million gallons per day, by source 

in Acadia Parish, Louisiana, 2010 (modified from Sargent, 2011).

Aquifer system or

surface-water body Groundwater Surface water

Chicot aquifer system 183.25

Bayou Mallet 0.79

Bayou Nezpique 2.67

Bayou Plaquemine Brule 10.01

Bayou Queue De Tortue 11.95

Lyons Point Gully 5.87

Mermentau River 5.87

Miscellaneous streams 10.44

Total 183.25 47.60

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

category in Acadia Parish, Louisiana, 2010 (modified from Sargent, 

2011).

Use category Groundwater Surface 

water Total

Public supply 5.81 0.00 5.80

Industrial 0.01 0.00 0.01

Power generation 1.33 0.79 2.12

Rural domestic 1.34 0.00 1.34

Livestock 0.09 0.01 0.10

Rice irrigation 126.79 34.68 161.47

General irrigation 1.41 1.41 2.82

Aquaculture 46.47 10.71 57.18

Total 183.25 47.60 230.85 Annual withdrawals, in million gallons per day

Year

1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

Groundwater

Surface water

EXPLANATION

0

25

50

75

100

125

150

175

200

225

250

275

300

325

350

Figure 2. Water withdrawals in Acadia Parish, Louisiana, 1960–2010 

(Sargent, 2011).

Groundwater Resources 

The primary source of fresh groundwater (water with a chloride 

concentration of 250 milligrams per liter [mg/L] or less) in Acadia 

Parish is the Chicot aquifer system (fig. 3). Generally, the base of 

fresh groundwater in Acadia Parish is within the Chicot aquifer 

system at depths of about 400 feet (ft) below the National Geodetic 

Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD 29) near the northwestern corner 

of the parish to about 900 ft below NGVD 29 in the southwestern 

and east-central areas of the parish (fig. 1) (Smoot, 1988). The 

underlying Evangeline aquifer generally contains saltwater 

(water with a chloride concentration greater than 250 mg/L) 

(Nyman, 1989). 

The Chicot aquifer system thickens and dips to the south at a 

rate of about 30 ft per mile (Nyman and others, 1990). Recharge 

to the Chicot aquifer system is from infiltration of precipitation, 

vertical leakage, and lateral flow from other aquifers. Recharge 

from precipitation primarily occurs in areas where the aquifer 

system outcrops in parts of Beauregard, Vernon, Allen, Rapides, 

and Evangeline Parishes (Nyman, 1989). The general direction of 

groundwater flow in the Chicot aquifer system in 2003 in Acadia 

Parish was toward the north-central part of the parish (Lovelace and 

others, 2004). In January 2003, water levels in the aquifer system 

ranged from about 37 ft below NGVD 29 near the southern parish 

line to about 60 ft below NGVD 29 in north-central Acadia Parish. 

The direction of flow is a result of large groundwater withdrawals, 

primarily for rice irrigation in Acadia Parish and surrounding 

parishes, which are the major sources of discharge for the aquifer 

system. Groundwater withdrawals in Acadia Parish in 2010 for 

various categories of use are presented in table 2. 

In Acadia Parish, the Chicot aquifer system is composed of the 

shallow sand, the undifferentiated aquifer, and the upper and lower 

sands. A surficial confining layer of clay (the Chicot aquifer system 

surficial confining unit) is present throughout the parish from land 

surface to depths of 80 to 120 ft below land surface; however, in 

some areas, the thickness can reach 160 ft (Sargent, 2004). Within 

the surficial confining clay are scattered sand streaks and lenses. 

These streaks and lenses are known collectively as the shallow sand 

of the Chicot aquifer system (Prakken, 2003). State well-registration 

records listed 83 active water wells screened in the shallow sand 

in Acadia Parish in 2010, including 80 domestic and 3 irrigation. 

Depths of these wells ranged from 18 to 95 ft below land surface, 

with a median depth of 39 ft. Reported yields from wells screened 

in the shallow sand in Acadia Parish ranged from 6 to 8 gallons 

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

2011). In 2005, withdrawals from the shallow sand in Acadia Parish 

totaled about 0.10 Mgal/d and included about 0.05 Mgal/d for ruraldomestic use and 0.04 Mgal/d for livestock. 

 Below the surficial confining unit and the shallow sands, the 

Chicot aquifer system consists of the undifferentiated, upper, and 

lower sand units. The undifferentiated sand unit is a single massive 

sand present in the northern third of Acadia Parish. In the southern 

two-thirds of the parish, a clay layer generally is present at depths 

ranging from about 400 to 450 ft below NGVD 29, separating the 

aquifer system into the upper and lower sand units. The altitude 

of the base of the Chicot aquifer system ranges from about 500 ft 

below NGVD 29 in the northwestern corner of the parish to over 

1,000 ft below NGVD 29 at the southern boundary of the parish 

(fig. 3) (Nyman, 1989). Saltwater generally is present near the base 

of the lower sand at depths ranging from 700 to 800 ft below NGVD 

29 (Nyman, 1989). 
?

NGVD 29

+20

-200

-400

-600

-800

-1000

-1200

Vertical datum is National Geodetic Vertical

Datum of 1929 (NGVD 29)

VERTICAL SCALE GREATLY EXAGGERATED

Evangeline

aquifer

(saltwater)

Chicot aquifer lower sand unit

(freshwater)

Chicot aquifer upper sand unit

(freshwater)

Chicot aquifer lower sand unit

(saltwater)

Surficial confining clay

Clay

Clay

Clay

FEET FEET

A A’

NORTH SOUTH

Land surface

Bayou

Plaquemine

Brule

(Scale change)

NGVD 29

+20

-200

-400

-600

-800

-1000

-1200

(Scale change)

Bayou

Queue

de Tortue

Chicot aquifer system

0 5 KILOMETERS

0 5 MILES

Chicot aquifer shallow sand

(freshwater)

EXPLANATION

Clay

Freshwater in sand Hydrogeologic contact–

Dashed where approximate

Queried where uncertain 

?

Saltwater in sand

Figure 3. Generalized north-to-south hydrogeologic section 

through southern Acadia Parish, Louisiana (modified from Whitman 

and Kilburn, 1963). Trace of section shown on figure 1. 

State well-registration records listed 2,701 active water 

wells screened in the undifferentiated and upper sands in 

Acadia Parish in 2010, including 1,644 domestic, 871 irrigation, 

135 public supply, 48 industrial, and 3 power generation. 

Depths of these wells ranged from 96 to 453 ft below land 

surface. Yields from these wells have reportedly ranged 

from 4 to 5,000 gal/min (Louisiana Department of Natural 

Resources, 2011). In 2010, withdrawals totaled 182.6 Mgal/d, 

and categories of use included 5.52 Mgal/d for public supply, 

0.01 Mgal/d for industrial, 1.33 Mgal/d for power generation, 

1.29 Mgal/d for rural domestic, 0.05 Mgal/d for livestock, 

126.8 Mgal/d for rice irrigation, 1.41 Mgal/d for general 

irrigation, and 46.5 Mgal/d for aquaculture. 

State well-registration records listed only two active water 

wells (both public supply) screened in the lower sand in Acadia 

Parish in 2010. Depths of these wells are 910 and 927 ft below 

land surface, and reported yields from wells screened in the 

lower sand in Acadia Parish ranged from 40 to 752 gal/min 

(Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, 2011). In 2010, 

withdrawals from the lower sand in Acadia Parish totaled about 

0.29 Mgal/d. 

A statistical summary of selected water-quality 

characteristics for water samples collected from 155 wells 

screened in the undifferentiated sand and upper sand in 

Acadia Parish is listed in table 3. Freshwater from the aquifer 

is generally very hard2 and exceeds the U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency’s Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels 

(SMCLs)3 for iron and manganese. The median concentration of 

iron in 42 samples, 1,700 micrograms per liter (μg/L), greatly 

exceeds the SMCL of 300 μg/L. The median concentration 

of manganese in 35 samples, 120 μg/L, exceeds the SMCL 

of 50 μg/L. All sampled wells contained freshwater which 

generally did not exceed SMCLs for pH or concentrations of 

chloride and dissolved solids. Generally, freshwater in the upper 

and lower sands is of similar water quality (Nyman, 1989). 

In Acadia Parish, water levels in the Chicot aquifer 

system generally fluctuate seasonally 5 to 20 ft in response 

to seasonal pumping for rice irrigation (Lovelace and others, 

2004). Figure 4 shows seasonal water-level fluctuations at well 

Ac-428, located in northwestern Acadia Parish (fig. 1), and at 

wells Ac-326 and Ac-335U, located in central Acadia Parish 

(fig. 1). Water levels in the Chicot aquifer system in Acadia 

Parish generally have declined 50 ft or more since groundwater 

development began around 1900 (Lovelace and others, 2004). 

During the 10-year period 1996–2005, which included the 

drought years of 1999–2000, water levels at wells Ac-326 and 

Ac-335U declined about 1 foot per year (ft/yr) (fig. 4) (Prakken 

and Wright, 2009). 

Surface-Water Resources 

In 2010, about 47.6 Mgal/d of surface water were 

withdrawn in Acadia Parish, primarily for rice irrigation and 

aquaculture. Other categories of use included power generation, 

livestock, and general irrigation (table 2). Major surface-water 

sources in Acadia Parish include Bayou Queue De Tortue, 

Bayou Plaquemine Brule, Lyons Point Gully, Mermentau River, 

and miscellaneous streams (table 1). Other streams in the parish 

include Bayou des Cannes, Bayou Mallet, Bayou Nezpique, and 

Bayou Wikoff. 

About 10.0 Mgal/d of water were withdrawn in Acadia 

Parish from Bayou Plaquemine Brule in 2010. Few discharge 

data are available for Bayou Plaquemine Brule, but during 

the period 1942–47, the average daily discharge for Bayou 

Plaquemine Brule near Crowley (site number 08011000) (fig. 

1) was about 543 cubic feet per second (ft3/s) (U.S. Geological 

Survey, 2013). A limited number of water samples collected 

from Bayou Plaquemine Brule near Church Point (site number 

302403092152300) (fig. 1) from 1989 to 2001 (table 4) 

indicated that, in general, the water is hard and generally does 

not exceed SMCLs for pH and for concentrations of chloride, 

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 might exist. SMCLs were 

established as guidelines for the States by the U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency (1992).
Table 3. Summary of selected water-quality characteristics for freshwater in the undifferentiated sand and upper sand of the Chicot 

aquifer in Acadia 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; 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

Undifferentiated sand and upper sand of the Chicot aquifer, 1939–2009 (155 wells) 

Median 21.5 10 672 7.5 200 44 1,700 120 382

10th percentile 21.0 5 492.6 7.2 140 24 841 70.26 303

90th percentile 22.5 30 764.3 8.3 253.3 78 2,290 210 450

Number of 

samples

112 20 114 64 88 151 42 35 46

Percentage of 

samples that 

do not exceed 

SMCLs

NA 70 NA 98 NA 100 5 3 96

SMCLs

NA 15 NA 6.5–8.5 NA 250 300 50 500

Year

1995 2000 2005 2010

Water level, in feet (ft) 

-70

-60

-50

-40

-30

-20

Well: Ac-335U

Sand unit: Lower 

Altitude of land surface: 24.55 ft above NGVD 29

Well depth: 907 ft below land surface

Well: Ac-428

Sand unit: Undifferentiated

Altitude of land surface: 42.00 ft above NGVD 29

Well depth: 203 ft below land surface 

Well: Ac-326

Sand unit: Upper

Altitude of land surface: 25.80 ft above NGVD 29

Well depth: 202 ft below land surface

Figure 4. Water levels in wells Ac-326, Ac-335U, and Ac-428 screened in the Chicot aquifer system in Acadia Parish, Louisiana (see fig. 1 for 

well locations; U.S. Geological Survey, 2011a). Land surface and water level are measured in feet (ft) relative to the National Geodetic Vertical 

Datum of 1929. 
Table 4. Summary of selected water-quality characteristics for Bayou Plaquemine Brule, Bayou Queue De Tortue, and Mermentau 

River in Acadia 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; μg/L, micrograms per liter; 

CaCO3, calcium carbonate; SMCL, Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2012); NA, not 

applicable; E, estimated]

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)

Bayou Plaquemine Brule at LA-Hwy 370 near Church Point, 1989–20011

Median 548 7.0 8.1 150 37 16 48 44 4.0 30

10th percentile 351 4.6 7.7 120 28 11 26 25 0.5 10

90th percentile 659 11.7 8.3 190 41 21 66 53 8.3 60

Number of 

samples

9 8 9 8 8 8 9 8 8 9

Percentage of 

samples that 

do not exceed 

SMCLs

NA NA 89 NA NA NA NA 100 100 100

Bayou Queue De Tortue at LA-Hwy 13 near Leleux, 2000–012

Median 406 1.4 7.8 96 22 10 48 29 4.4 20

10th percentile 259 0.9 7.4 73 18 6.8 24 16 2.9 E8

90th percentile 554 4.8 8.0 130 31 13 70 44 7.5 40

Number of 

samples

8 8 8 8 8 8 7 8 8 8

Percentage of 

samples that 

do not exceed 

SMCLs

NA NA 100 NA NA NA NA 100 100 100

Mermentau River at Mermentau, 1979–20113

Median 163 4.0 7.1 40 10 3.6 15 17 4.2 170

10th percentile 70 1.1 6.2 17 4.5 1.6 5.7 6.7 2.3 20

90th percentile 329 7.0 7.6 77 18 7.6 39 37 8.4 340

Number of 

samples

192 176 192 126 126 126 124 188 187 103

Percentage of 

samples that 

do not exceed 

SMCLs

NA NA 84 NA NA NA NA 100 100 79

SMCLs

NA NA 6.5–8.5 NA NA NA NA 250 250 300

1

Station number 302403092152300 (U.S. Geological Survey, 2011b; specific data at http://nwis.waterdata.usgs.gov/la/nwis/qwdata/?site_

no=302403092152300).

2

Station number 300446092214200 (U.S. Geological Survey, 2011b; specific data at http://nwis.waterdata.usgs.gov/la/nwis/qwdata/?site_

no=300446092214200).

3

Station number 08012150 (U.S. Geological Survey, 2011b; specific data at http://nwis.waterdata.usgs.gov/la/nwis/qwdata/?site_no=08012150).
sulfate, and iron. Dissolved oxygen concentrations are 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). 

In 2010, about 11.95 Mgal/d of water were withdrawn in 

Acadia Parish from Bayou Queue De Tortue. During the period 

1985–90, the average discharge for Bayou Queue De Tortue 

at Riceville (site number 08012300) (fig. 1) was about 364 

ft3/s (U.S. Geological Survey, 2013). Wind and tide affect this 

station, and reverse flow (northeasterly) can occur at this site. A 

limited number of water samples collected from Bayou Queue 

De Tortue from near Leleux (site number 300446092214200) 

during 2000–1 (table 4) indicated that, in general, the water is 

moderately hard and does not exceed SMCLs for pH and for 

concentrations of chloride, sulfate, and iron. Dissolved oxygen 

concentrations are generally below 5 mg/L. 

In 2010, about 5.87 Mgal/d of water were withdrawn in 

Acadia Parish from the Mermentau River. During the period 

1989–2003, the average discharge of the Mermentau River at 

Mermentau (site number 08012150) was about 2,243 ft3/s (U.S. 

Geological Survey, 2013). During 1979–2011, water samples 

collected from the Mermentau River at Mermentau indicated the 

water is generally soft. The pH of the water and concentrations 

of chloride, sulfate, and iron are generally below the SMCLs 

(table 4). Dissolved oxygen concentrations are generally 

below 5 mg/L. 

References Cited 

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, 2011, Strategic Online Natural 

Resources Information System (SONRIS): Louisiana Department of Natural 

Resources database, accessed November 3, 2011, at http://sonris.com/.

Lovelace, J.K., Fontenot, J.W., and Frederick, C.P., 2004, Withdrawals, water 

levels, and specific conductance in the Chicot aquifer system in southwestern 

Louisiana, 2000–03: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 

2004-5212, 56 p., accessed December 6, 2012, at http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/

publication/sir20045212.

Nyman, D.J., 1989, Quality of water in freshwater aquifers in southwestern 

Louisiana: Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Water 

Resources Technical Report no. 42, 22 p., 28 pls. 

Nyman, D.J., Halford, K.J., and Martin, Angel, Jr., 1990, Geohydrology and 

simulation of flow in the Chicot aquifer system of southwestern Louisiana: 

Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Water Resources 

Technical Report no. 50, 58 p. 

Prakken, L.B., 2003, Quality of water used for domestic supply in the 

Chicot aquifer system of southwestern Louisiana, 1994–2001: Louisiana 

Department of Transportation and Development Water Resources Technical 

Report no. 71, 48 p. 

Prakken, L.B., and Wright, L.S., 2009, Water withdrawals and trends in groundwater levels and stream discharge in Louisiana, 1996–2005: Louisiana 

Department of Transportation and Development Water Resources Technical 

Report no. 79, 49 p. 

Sargent, B.P., 2004, Thickness of the Chicot aquifer system surficial confining 

unit and location of shallow sands, southwestern Louisiana: Louisiana 

Department of Transportation and Development Water Resources Technical 

Report no. 73, 29 p. 

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 Water-Resources 

Investigations Report 86-4314, 1 sheet, accessed December 6, 2012, at http://

pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/wri864314.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1992, Secondary Drinking Water 

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

Protection Agency publication EPA 810/K-92-001, 4 p., accessed July 29, 

2009, 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 820-R-11-002, Office of Water, 12 p., accessed 

February 21, 2014, at http://water.epa.gov/action/advisories/drinking/upload/

dwstandards2012.pdf.

U.S. Geological Survey, 2011a, Ground-water levels for Louisiana: National 

Water Information System Web Interface, accessed July 28, 2011, at http://

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

U.S. Geological Survey, 2011b, Water-quality samples for Louisiana: U.S. 

Geological Survey digital dataset, accessed July 28, 2011, at http://nwis.

waterdata.usgs.gov/la/nwis/qwdata.

U.S. Geological Survey, 2013, USGS surface-water daily statistics for the 

Nation: National Water Information System Web Interface, accessed October 

25, 2013, at http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/dvstat?referred_module=sw.

Whitman, H.M., and Kilburn, Chabot, 1963, Ground-water conditions in 

southwestern Louisiana, 1961 and 1962, with a discussion of the Chicot 

aquifer in the coastal area: Department of Conservation, Louisiana 

Geological Survey, and Louisiana Department of Public Works Water 

Resources Pamphlet no. 12, 32 p.

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.

By Lawrence B. Prakken and Vincent E. White

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

ISSN 2327–6916 (print)

ISSN 2327–6932 (online)

http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/fs20143043