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In cooperation with the

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

STATE OF LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND DEVELOPMENT

OFFICE OF PUBLIC WORKS AND INTERMODAL

PUBLIC WORKS AND WATER RESOURCES DIVISION

SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATIONS

 MAP-2862

Louisiana Ground-Water Map No. 17: Generalized

Potentiometric Surface of the Kentwood Aquifer

System and the “1,500-foot” and “1,700-foot” Sands

of the Baton Rouge Area in Southeastern Louisiana,

March-April 2003

L.B. Prak

ken--Louisiana Ground-Water Map No. 17: Generalized Potentiometric Surface of the Kentwood Aquifer System and the “1,500-foot” and

“1,700-foot” Sands of the Baton Rouge Area in Southeastern Louisiana, March-April 2003

SIM-2862
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Louisiana Ground-Water Map No. 17:

Generalized Potentiometric Surface of the Kentwood Aquifer 

System and the “1,500-foot” and “1,700-foot” Sands of the 

Baton Rouge Area in Southeastern Louisiana, March-April 2003

By

Lawrence B. Prakken

2004

SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATIONS MAP 2862

Potentiometric Surface--SHEET 1 OF 2

Prakken, L.B., 2004, Louisiana Ground-Water Map no. 17:

Generalized potentiometric surface of the Kentwood aquifer system and the “1,500-foot” and “1,700-foot” sands

of the Baton Rouge area in southeastern Louisiana, March-April 2003

Prepared in cooperation with the

LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND DEVELOPMENT

Office of Public Works and Intermodal

Public Works and Water Resources Division

INTRODUCTION

The Kentwood aquifer system is a principal source of fresh ground water in St. Tammany Parish in 

southeastern Louisiana. The Kentwood aquifer system includes the Kentwood, Abita, Covington, and Slidell 

aquifers (Nyman and Fayard, 1978, table 2). The system is adjacent to and correlative to the "1,500-foot" and 

"1,700-foot" sands of the Baton Rouge area, which underlie East and West Baton Rouge, East and West Feliciana, 

Livingston, Pointe Coupee, and St. Helena Parishes (fig. 1). The Baton Rouge fault interrupts the aquifer system 

along a line that is approximately located between Baton Rouge and Slidell (fig. 2). South of the fault, many of the 

aquifers contain saltwater. In 2000, an estimated 43 Mgal/d of water was withdrawn from the Kentwood aquifer 

system and the “1,500-foot” and “1,700-foot” sands for various uses including public supply, industrial, agricultural, 

and rural domestic (table 1). Of that amount, approximately 32 Mgal/d (74 percent) was withdrawn for publicsupply use. About 25 Mgal/d (58 percent) of the 43 Mgal/d was withdrawn in East Baton Rouge Parish 

(B.P. Sargent, U.S. Geological Survey, written commun., 2004). Pumpage data for calendar year 2000 (B.P. Sargent, 

U.S. Geological Survey, written commun., 2004) are listed in table 1. Figure 3 shows the locations of waterwithdrawal centers where average daily withdrawals exceeded 0.5 Mgal/d during April 2003.1

According to data from the Louisiana State Census Data Center (2003), some of the largest population 

increases in the State from 1990 to 2000 occurred in St. Tammany (+32.4 percent), Livingston (+30.2 percent), and 

Tangipahoa (+17.4 percent) Parishes. These population increases have been accompanied by increased withdrawals 

of ground water during the same period (Lovelace, 1991; Sargent, 2002): +40 percent in St. Tammany Parish, 

+63 percent in Livingston Parish, and +35 percent in Tangipahoa Parish. 

Since the early 1900’s, water withdrawals for public supply and industry in East Baton Rouge Parish have 

influenced ground-water levels in the “1,500-foot” and “1,700-foot” sands, and to a lesser extent, the correlative 

sands of the Kentwood aquifer system. This pumpage has affected water levels as far east as Tangipahoa Parish 

(Nyman and Fayard, 1978, p. 41). Water-level data indicate that water levels in the “1,500-foot” sand and deeper 

aquifers in southeastern Louisiana declined about 1 to 2 ft/yr during the period 1990 to 2000 (Tomaszewski, and 

others, 2002). 

Additional information about ground-water flow and effects of increased withdrawals on water levels in the 

Kentwood aquifer system and the “1,500-foot” and “1,700-foot” sands of the Baton Rouge area is needed to assess 

ground-water-development potential and to protect the resource. To meet this need, the U.S. Geological Survey 

(USGS), in cooperation with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, began a study in 2003 to 

determine water levels, flow direction, and water-level trends for the Kentwood aquifer system and the “1,500-foot” 

and “1,700-foot” sands of the Baton Rouge area. This report presents data and maps that illustrate the potentiometric 

surface during spring 2003 and water-withdrawal centers for these aquifers. Clay layers separating the aquifers or 

sand units in this report are not impermeable. The clays contain silty and sandy material which make the clays 

“leaky.” In some areas, the clay layer separating aquifers or sand units is thin or missing. Because of this, a 

generalized potentiometric-surface map can be created. Water levels were not measured south of the Baton Rouge 

fault where aquifers are offset and hydrologically separated from equivalent units to the north of the fault (Griffith, in 

press). Graphs showing long-term water-level trends for selected wells in the study area are presented. Arrows on 

the potentiometric-surface map show generalized direction of ground-water flow and illustrate the effect of water 

withdrawal on water levels and flow direction in the study area.

The study area is located in southeastern Louisiana and includes all or parts of the following parishes: East 

Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Washington, West 

Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana (fig. 2). The study area is bounded approximately by the Louisiana-Mississippi 

state line to the east and north, the Baton Rouge fault to the south, and the western boundaries of Pointe Coupee and 

West Baton Rouge Parishes to the west. The Baton Rouge metropolitan area, the Covington-Mandeville area, and the 

Slidell area are the largest population centers which use water from the aquifers in the study area. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The author gratefully acknowledges the assistance and cooperation of many public water suppliers and private 

well owners who allowed USGS personnel to measure water levels in their wells. Additionally, the author thanks 

Z. “Bo” Bolourchi, Chief, Public Works and Water Resources Division, Louisiana Department of Transportation and 

Development, for providing well information which was used for selection and documentation of wells for this study.

HYDROGEOLOGY

North of the study area, in southwestern Mississippi, deposits of the Kentwood aquifer system and the 

"1,500-foot" and "1,700-foot" sands of the Baton Rouge area are in contact with the Citronelle Formation and the 

alluvium of major rivers (Nyman and Fayard, 1978, p. 30). The Kentwood aquifer system is stratigraphically 

adjacent to the "1,500-foot" and "1,700-foot" sands of the Baton Rouge area. Clay layers located between the 

aquifers act to retard, but not prevent, the vertical flow of water between adjacent aquifers. The "1,500-foot" and 

"1,700-foot" sands were originally identified and named for their depth of occurrence in the Baton Rouge area, and 

have been shown to extend into Livingston and St. Helena Parishes. East of these parishes, the sands are recognized 

using Kentwood aquifer system terminology.

In southeastern Louisiana, the Kentwood aquifer system and "1,500-foot" and "1,700-foot" sands are confined 

aquifers which dip and thicken in a southerly direction toward the Gulf of Mexico. Precipitation is the principal 

source of recharge to the Kentwood aquifer system (Nyman and Fayard, 1978, p. 32) and "1,500-foot" and 

"1,700-foot" sands of the Baton Rouge area (Tomaszewski, 1996, p. 7, fig. 3). Additional recharge occurs throughout 

the aquifer system by vertical leakage from areas of higher hydraulic head to areas of lower hydraulic head. Figure 1 

shows a partial stratigraphic column of hydrogeologic units in southeastern Louisiana.

The Kentwood aquifer is located in northern Tangipahoa and Washington Parishes. South of an east-west 

trending line running approximately from 2 mi north of Roseland, Louisiana, to 2 mi south of Franklinton, Louisiana, 

the Kentwood aquifer is separated by clay into an upper (Abita) and lower (Covington) aquifer (Nyman and Fayard, 

1978, pl. 8). The Covington aquifer correlates with the "1,700-foot" sand of the Baton Rouge area, and the Abita 

aquifer correlates with the “1,500-foot” sand of the Baton Rouge area. In southern St. Tammany Parish, the 

Covington aquifer is itself separated into an upper and lower aquifer (Nyman and Fayard, 1978, p. 30). The upper 

aquifer retains the name of the Covington aquifer, while the lower aquifer has been named the Slidell aquifer (fig. 1). _______________________

 1

Computed from April 2003 data provided by major water users and/or 2000 water use data provided by minor 

users (B.P. Sargent, U.S. Geological Survey, written commun., 2004).

POTENTIOMETRIC SURFACE

A generalized potentiometric-surface map was constructed using water-level data from 116 wells screened in 

the Kentwood, Abita, Covington, and Slidell aquifers and the "1,500-foot" and "1,700-foot" sands of the Baton 

Rouge area. Contours were initially generated using commercially available software, then adjusted to account for 

the Baton Rouge fault. Contours were adjusted around withdrawal centers and smoothed. Most of the water levels 

in the Kentwood aquifer system in this report were measured in March-April 2003 using a calibrated pressure gage 

for flowing artesian conditions (the wells are naturally flowing at land surface). Steel or electrical measuring tapes 

marked with 0.01-ft gradations were used for wells where the water level was below land surface. Wells in which 

water levels were measured were not being pumped at the time of measurement. Water-level data are listed in 

table 2. 

Ground water moves through the study area from areas of higher hydraulic head to areas of lower hydraulic 

head. The direction of ground-water flow is indicated on the potentiometric-surface map (fig. 2) by flow arrows, 

drawn perpendicular to the equipotential lines. The general direction of ground-water flow in the Kentwood aquifer 

system and “1,500-foot” and “1,700-foot” sands is from the upland areas in the northern part of the study area, 

where water levels are highest, to lowland areas in the south, where water levels are lowest. Water levels in 

northern Tangipahoa Parish and northwestern Washington Parish are the highest in the study area. These areas are 

closest to the recharge area in southern Mississippi, which is at a higher topographic elevation. Within the study 

area, water levels are lowest in East Baton Rouge Parish where water withdrawals have depressed the 

potentiometric surface.

A north-south trending flow pattern is present in eastern Tangipahoa Parish; water levels along the western 

edge of the parish are affected by water withdrawals from Livingston and East Baton Rouge Parishes, and water 

levels along the eastern edge of the parish are affected by withdrawals from the Covington-Mandeville and Slidell 

areas in St. Tammany Parish. In Washington, St. Tammany, and eastern Tangipahoa Parishes, ground-water flow is 

generally south-southeast toward withdrawal centers in southern St. Tammany Parish. Kentwood aquifer system 

withdrawal centers in St. Tammany Parish, shown in figure 3, include the Covington-Mandeville area where 

approximately 4.73 Mgal/d was withdrawn in April 2003, and the Slidell area where approximately 5.47 Mgal/d 

was withdrawn, also in April 2003. Values on the pumpage map represent summed withdrawal rates from wells 

located in the general vicinity (within 7 mi or less) of the data point. The highest water level measured, about 226 ft 

above NGVD 29, was in the Kentwood aquifer at well Ta-407, in northern Tangipahoa Parish. 

The general direction of ground-water flow in the “1,500-foot” and “1,700-foot” sands is toward withdrawal 

centers in East Baton Rouge Parish where over 28 Mgal/d was withdrawn and from northwestern Livingston Parish 

where approximately 3.14 Mgal/d was withdrawn from these sands in April 2003. Water withdrawals in the Baton 

Rouge metropolitan area have created a cone of depression, causing water to flow radially into the area. The Baton 

Rouge fault acts as a leaky barrier, restricting ground-water flow from the south (Whiteman, 1979). The lowest 

water level measured, about 141 ft below NGVD 29, was in the "1,500-foot" sand at well EB-657 in East Baton 

Rouge Parish.

Figure 2. Generalized potentiometric surface of the Kentwood aquifer system and the “1,500-foot” and “1,700-foot” sands of the Baton Rouge area, southeastern Louisiana, March-April 2003.

Copies of this report can be purchased from:

U.S. Geological Survey

Branch of Information Services

Box 25286

Denver, CO 80225

E-mail: infoservices@usgs.gov

Fax: (303) 202-4188

Telephone (toll free): 1-888-ASK-USGS

For additional information, contact:

District Chief

U.S. Geological Survey

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: la.water.usgs.gov

Table 1. Withdrawal rates, by parish and public supply, for the Kentwood aquifer system and the “1,500-foot” and “1,700-foot” sands of the Baton Rouge area, 

southeastern Louisiana, 2000.

Baton Rouge area

Total pumpage (million gallons per day)

Parish1

“1,500-foot” 

sand

“1,500-foot” and 

“1,700-foot” sands2

 “1,700-foot” 

sand

Total, Baton Rouge 

area

________________________

Parish Public supply

______________________

Parish Public supply

_________________________

Parish Public supply

_______________________

Parish Public supply

East Baton Rouge 14.46 12.59 6.07 0 4.19 2.27 24.73 14.86

West Baton Rouge 2.87 2.83 0 0 .09 .04 2.96 2.87

East Feliciana .22 .21 0 0 0 0 .22 .21

West Feliciana 0 0 0 0 0 0 .01 0

Livingston .01 0 0 0 3.09 2.84 3.10 2.84

Pointe Coupee .21 .14 0 0 .20 .06 .41 .19

Subtotal3 17.78 15.77 6.07 0 7.58 5.20 31.43 20.97

Kentwood aquifer system

Parish

Total pumpage (million gallons per day)

Abita aquifer

________________________

Parish Public supply

Covington aquifer

________________________

Parish Public supply

Kentwood aquifer

 __________________

Parish Public supply

Slidell aquifer

______________________

 Parish Public supply

Total, Kentwood aquifer system

________________________

Parish Public supply

St. Tammany .86 .76 2.50 2.43 .01 0 6.91 6.89 10.27 10.09

Tangipahoa .04 0 .33 .24 .97 .77 0 0 1.34 1.01

Washington 0 0 .01 0 .13 0 0 0 .14 0

Subtotal .90 .76 2.84 2.67 1.11 .77 6.91 6.89 11.76 11.10

Total: Kentwood aquifer system and “1,500-foot” and “1,700-foot” sands of the Baton Rouge area 43.18 32.07

1No water was withdrawn in St. Helena Parish.

2Multiscreened wells.

3

Totals are based on data prior to rounding.

Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development - U.S. Geological Survey Water Resources Cooperative Program

Figure 1. Partial stratigraphic column of hydrogeologic units in southeastern Louisiana (modified from Nyman and 

Fayard, 1978, table 2; Stuart and others, 1994, fig. 5; Lovelace and Lovelace, 1995, fig. 1; Griffith, in press, fig. 3).

DOTD

APED TR MENT

OF TRANSPORTATION AND DEVELOPMENT

Series

Mississippi River 

alluvial aquifer

“800-foot” sand

“1,000-foot” sand

“1,200-foot” sand

“1,500-foot” sand

“1,700-foot” sand

“2,000-foot” sand

“2,400-foot” sand

“2,800-foot” sand

Catahoula aquifer

“600-foot” sand

“400-foot” sand

Upper Ponchatoula 

 aquifer

Lower Ponchatoula aquifer

Big Branch aquifer

Abita aquifer

Covington aquifer

Slidell aquifer

Tchefuncte aquifer

Hammond aquifer

Amite aquifer

Ramsay aquifer

Franklinton aquifer

Upland terrace aquifer

System

Baton Rouge area1

Tertiary

Oligocene

Quaternary

Pleistocene

Pliocene

Miocene

Fleming Formation

Catahoula Formation

Lena Member

Williamson Creek 

 Member 

Dough Hills 

 Member

Carnahan Bayou 

 Member

Castor Creek Member

Blounts Creek 

 Member

Stratigraphic unit

Unnamed 

 Pleistocene 

 deposits

Mississippi River and

 other alluvial deposits

Catahoula equivalent

 system aquifer 

Unnamed confining unit

Jasper equivalent 

 aquifer system

Evangeline equivalent 

 aquifer system or 

 surficial confining 

 unit

Chicot equivalent 

 aquifer system 

 or surficial 

 confining unit

Unnamed confining unit

Holocene

Eastern Florida Parishes: St. Tammany,

Tangipahoa, and Washington

Unnamed confining unit

Southern Hills regional aquifer system2

Upland terrace

 aquifer

Near-surface aquifers 

 surficial confining unit or 

Shallow sands

Kentwood aquifer

1

East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana. 2

Buono, 1983.

Ken wt ood

aquifer

system

Unnamed confining unit

Shallow sands

Base map modified from Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator, Office of the Governor, Louisiana GIS CD: A digital Map of the State, Version 2.0

BATON

ROUGE FAULT

P

E

A

R L

R I V E R

LAKE

PONTCHARTRAIN

LAKE 

BORGNE

LAKE 

MAUREPAS

R

I V E

R

STUDY

AREA

FAULT--Shows approximate location of 

 fault at ground surface (modified from 

 Murray, 1961, fig. 4.33; Cardwell and 

 others, 1967, pl. 2; McCulloh, 1991, 

 pl. Ia-e; P.V. Heinrich, R.P. McCulloh, 

 and J.I. Snead, Louisiana Geological 

 Survey, written commun., 1997; Griffith, 

 in press, pl. 1)

POTENTIOMETRIC CONTOUR--Shows 

 altitude at which water level would have 

 stood in tightly cased wells. Dashed 

 where approximately located. Interval 10 

 feet. Vertical datum is NGVD 29

FLOW ARROW--Shows general direction 

 of ground-water flow 

CONTROL POINT AND NUMBER, BY AQUIFER 

WELL WITH HYDROGRAPH AND NUMBER, 

 BY AQUIFER (See fig. 4) 

 

 

 

 “1,500-foot” Sand = Blue

 “1,700-foot” Sand = Brown

 Kentwood Aquifer = Magenta

 Abita Aquifer = Purple

 Covington Aquifer = Green

 Slidell Aquifer = Orange

225

205

185

165

145

125

105

85

65

55

155

135

115

95

75

55

35

15

-5

-25

-45

-65

-85

-105

-55

-125
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Louisiana Ground-Water Map No. 17:

Generalized Potentiometric Surface of the Kentwood Aquifer 

System and the “1,500-foot” and “1,700-foot” Sands of the 

Baton Rouge Area in Southeastern Louisiana, March-April 2003

By

Lawrence B. Prakken

2004

Prepared in cooperation with the

LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND DEVELOPMENT

Office of Public Works and Intermodal

Public Works and Water Resources Division

WATER-LEVEL TRENDS

Long-term water-level declines have occurred within the study area in response to water withdrawals. Hydrographs 

illustrating water-level trends are shown in figure 4. Average rates of water-level change were computed over the period 

1993 to 2003 using ordinary least squares linear regression. The largest rate of decline occurred in East Baton Rouge 

Parish, where large amounts of water were withdrawn for public-supply and industrial needs. Hydrographs for wells 

EB-168, EB-392, and EB-917 (fig. 4A) in the "1,500-foot" sand and EB-804A and WBR-100A (fig. 4B) in the 

"1,700-foot" sand illustrate the declining water levels in the Baton Rouge metropolitan area (fig. 4). From 1993 to 2003, 

water levels declined 2.9 ft/yr at well EB-392 and 2.3 ft/yr at well WBR-100A.

In southern St. Tammany Parish, water levels declined at a rate of 1.3 ft/yr from 1993 to 2003, as represented by the 

hydrographs for wells ST-563 in Slidell and ST-576 in the Lacombe area. The water level in northern Orleans Parish, at 

well Or-179, south of Slidell, declined at a more modest rate of 0.7 ft/yr from 1993 to 2003 (fig. 4C).

Water levels declined at well Ta-278 (northeast of Hammond) at a rate of 1.4 ft/yr from 1993 to 2003 and at well 

ST-562 (northwest of Mandeville) at a rate of 0.7 ft/yr from 1990 to 2003. The water level near Albany at well Li-52 also 

declined at a rate of 1.4 ft/yr from 1993 to 2003 (fig. 4D).

Nearest the northern outcrop area and away from the influence of major withdrawal centers to the south, water-level 

declines were less, and water levels were more likely to fluctuate in response to precipitation than to withdrawals. 

Hydrographs for wells Ta-440 and Ta-454 (fig. 4E), located in northern Tangipahoa Parish, and well WF-254 (north of 

St. Francisville) indicate minor declines, probably due to the recent drought during 1998-2001 (Bohr, 2003), and 

subsequent recovery. Water levels in well PC-39, in northwestern Pointe Coupee Parish, did not change substantially over 

the period April 1993 to April 2003 (fig. 4F). 

SELECTED REFERENCES

Buono, Anthony, 1983, The Southern Hills regional aquifer system of southeastern Louisiana and southwestern Mississippi: 

U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 83-4189, 38 p.

Bohr, G.S., 2003, Recent drought in the Southern Region: Southern Regional Climate Center, accessed December 23, 2003, 

at URL http://www.srcc.lsu.edu/monitor/drought.html

Cardwell, G.T., Forbes, M.J., Jr., and Gaydos, M.W., 1967, Water resources of the Lake Pontchartrain area, Louisiana: 

Department of Conservation, Louisiana Geological Survey, and Louisiana Department of Public Works Water 

Resources Bulletin no. 12, 105 p.

Case, H.L., III, 1979, Ground-water resources of Washington Parish, Louisiana: Louisiana Department of Transportation 

and Development, Office of Public Works Water Resources Technical Report no. 18, 33 p.

Compton, R.R., 1985, Geology in the field: New York, John Wiley and Sons, 398 p.

Dial, D.C., 1968, Water-level trends in southeastern Louisiana: Department of Conservation, Louisiana Geological Survey, 

and Louisiana Department of Public Works Water Resources Pamphlet no. 22, 11 p.

Griffith, J.M., in press, Hydrogeologic framework of southeastern Louisiana: Louisiana Department of Transportation and 

Development Water Resources Technical Report no. 72, 21 p. 

Griffith, J.M., and Lovelace, J.K., 2003, Louisiana ground-water map no. 16: Potentiometric surface of the “1,500-foot” 

sand of the Baton Rouge area, Louisiana, spring 2001: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations 

Report 03-4021, 2 sheets. 

Louisiana State Census Data Center, 2003, Census 2000, accessed October 15, 2003, at 

www.state.la.us/census/2000/2000countychange.htm

Lovelace, J.K., 1991, Water use in Louisiana, 1990: Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Water 

Resources Special Report no. 6, 131 p.

Lovelace, J.K., and Lovelace, W.M., 1995, Hydrogeologic unit nomenclature and computer codes for aquifers and 

confining units in Louisiana: Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Water Resources Special 

Report no. 9, 12 p.

Martin, Angel, Jr., and Whiteman, C.D., Jr., 1985, Map showing generalized potentiometric surface of the Evangeline and 

equivalent aquifers in Louisiana, 1980: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 84-4359, 

1 sheet.

McCulloh, R.P., 1991, Surface faults in East Baton Rouge Parish: Baton Rouge, La., Louisiana Geological Survey OpenFile series 91-02, 25 p.

Murray, G.E., 1961, Geology of the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Province of North America: New York, Harper Brothers, 

692 p.

Nyman, D.J., and Fayard, L.D., 1978, Ground-water resources of Tangipahoa and St. Tammany Parishes, southeastern 

Louisiana: Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, Office of Public Works Water Resources 

Technical Report no. 15, 76 p.

Sargent, B. Pierre, 2002, Water use in Louisiana, 2000: Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Water 

Resources Special Report no. 15, 133 p.

Stuart, C.G., Knochenmus, Darwin, and McGee, B.D., 1994, Guide to Louisiana’s ground-water resources: U.S. Geological 

Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 94-4085, 55 p.

Tomaszewski, D.J., 1988, Ground-water hydrology of Livingston, St. Helena, and parts of Ascension and Tangipahoa 

Parishes, southeastern Louisiana: Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Water Resources 

Technical Report no. 43, 54 p.

Tomaszewski, D.J., 1996, Distribution and movement of saltwater in aquifers in the Baton Rouge area, Louisiana, 1990-92: 

Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Water Resources Technical Report no. 59, 44 p.

Tomaszewski, D.J., Lovelace, J.K., and Ensminger, P.A., 2002, Water withdrawals and trends in ground-water levels and 

stream discharge in Louisiana: Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Water Resources Technical 

Report no. 68, 30 p.

Walters, D.J., 1992, Louisiana ground-water map no. 5: Potentiometric surface, 1990, and water-level changes, 1974-90, 

of the Evangeline equivalent/southeast Louisiana aquifer system: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources 

Investigations Report 92-4112, 2 sheets.

Whiteman, C.D., Jr., 1979, Saltwater encroachment in the "600-foot" and "1,500-foot" sands of the Baton Rouge area, 

Louisiana, 1966-78, including a discussion of saltwater in other sands: Louisiana Department of Transportation and 

Development, Office of Public Works Water Resources Technical Report no. 19, 49 p.

SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATIONS MAP 2862

Water-Level Trends--SHEET 2 OF 2

Prakken, L.B., 2004, Louisiana Ground-Water Map no. 17:

Generalized potentiometric surface of the Kentwood aquifer system and the “1,500-foot” and “1,700-foot” sands

of the Baton Rouge area in southeastern Louisiana, March-April 2003

Table 2. Water-level data used to construct the potentiometric-surface map of 

the Kentwood aquifer system and the “1,500-foot” and “1,700-foot” sands of the 

Baton Rouge area, southeastern Louisiana, March-April 2003.

1A negative depth below land surface indicates water levels above land surface.

[NGVD 29, National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929; aquifer code: 12115BR, “1,500-foot” sand of the 

Baton Rouge area; 12117BR, “1,700-foot” sand of the Baton Rouge area; 120ABIT, Abita aquifer; 

120CVGN, Covington aquifer; 120SLDL, Slidell aquifer; and 120KNTD, Kentwood aquifer]

Local well 

number

Aquifer

code

Altitude of 

land surface 

(feet relative 

to NGVD 29)

Depth of 

well (feet)

Date 

measured

Depth to 

water level 

(feet below 

land 

surface)1

Altitude of 

water level 

(feet relative 

to NGVD 29)

EB-168 12115BR 56 1,496 4-11-2003 148.72 -92.72

EB-392 12115BR 50 1,464 4-11-2003 108.14 -58.14

EB-561 12115BR 71.5 1,361 4-23-2003 133.06 -61.56

EB-655 12115BR 50 1,341 4-16-2003 107.67 -57.67

EB-657 12115BR 59 1,618 4-14-2003 199.67 -140.67

EB-771 12115BR 48.41 1,739 4-14-2003 154.12 -105.71

EB-773 12115BR 57 1,395 4-14-2003 136.41 -79.41

EB-804A 12117BR 46 1,950 4-11-2003 114.35 -68.35

EB-873 12117BR 50 1,884 4-14-2003 142.35 -92.35

EB-917 12115BR 46.56 1,736 4-11-2003 150.70 -104.14

EB-927 12115BR 47 1,511 4-14-2003 156.74 -109.74

EB-961 12115BR 50 1,541 4-14-2003 118.87 -68.87

EB-963 12115BR 80 1,054 4-28-2003 140.00 -60.00

EB-994 12117BR 52 1,710 4-17-2003 79.25 -27.25

EB-996 12115BR 60 1,374 4-11-2003 134.69 -74.69

EB-1152 12115BR 79 1,231 4-17-2003 132.77 -53.77

EF-210 12117BR 230 505 4-15-2003 107.53 122.47

EF-252 12115BR 240 550 4-22-2003 141.16 98.84

EF-295 12115BR 310 450 4-01-2003 174.22 135.78

EF-296 12115BR 280 585 4-01-2003 179.01 100.99

Li-52 12117BR 46 1,865 4-16-2003 -37.20 83.20

Li-83 12117BR 53 1,673 3-27-2003 76.10 -23.10

Li-87 12117BR 52 1,783 3-27-2003 68.29 -16.29

Li-89 12117BR 58 1,620 3-27-2003 47.84 10.16

Li-96 12117BR 38 1,745 4-02-2003 -31.50 69.50

Li-103 12117BR 42 1,796 4-02-2003 24.60 17.40

Li-131 12117BR 56 1,700 3-19-2003 -42.90 98.90

Li-132 12115BR 44 1,360 4-02-2003 -39.60 83.60

Li-137 12117BR 37 1,836 3-20-2003 -48.60 85.60

Li-177 12117BR 35 1,777 3-25-2003 -47.00 82.00

Li-178 12117BR 40 1,900 3-25-2003 -43.00 83.00

Li-193 12117BR 36 1,701 3-20-2003 -48.50 84.50

Li-199 12117BR 40 1,900 4-02-2003 -1.30 41.30

Li-323 12117BR 60 1,602 3-27-2003 78.54 -18.54

Li-327 12117BR 60 1,660 3-26-2003 68.83 -8.83

Li-336 12117BR 67 1,540 3-26-2003 38.45 28.55

Li-6110Z 12117BR 10 1,938 3-20-2003 -41.50 51.50

Or-179 120ABIT 4 2,434 4-17-2003 -48.90 52.90

PC-39 12115BR 41 460 4-14-2003 13.17 27.83

PC-176 12117BR 33 1,256 4-23-2003 81.54 -48.54

PC-195 12115BR 31 880 4-15-2003 28.62 2.38

PC-206 12115BR 34 975 4-17-2003 53.90 -19.90

PC-268 12115BR 36 990 4-23-2003 74.66 -38.66

PC-276 12115BR 25 1,178 4-17-2003 47.91 -22.91

PC-280 12115BR 42 630 4-16-2003 17.51 24.49

PC-325 12117BR 30 1,252 4-17-2003 63.56 -33.56

PC-334B 12117BR 25 1,250 4-16-2003 44.63 -19.63

PC-342B 12117BR 20 1,482 4-11-2003 29.17 -9.17

ST-552 120ABIT 10 1,606 4-03-2003 -50.60 60.60

ST-562 120CVGN 4 1,900 3-26-2003 -64.75 68.75

ST-563 120SLDL 10.24 2,411 4-17-2003 -44.20 54.44

ST-565 120ABIT 5 1,971 4-17-2003 -51.50 56.50

ST-571 120ABIT 30 1,505 3-28-2003 -36.20 66.20

ST-576 120SLDL 17 2,334 4-17-2003 -44.50 61.50

ST-581 120SLDL 22 2,342 4-17-2003 -39.00 61.00

ST-590 120SLDL 6 2,400 4-17-2003 -45.20 51.20

ST-648 120ABIT 22 1,707 3-26-2003 -40.00 62.00

ST-669 120CVGN 33 1,612 3-28-2003 -33.00 66.00

ST-672 120ABIT 13 1,956 4-01-2003 -40.50 53.50

ST-676 120ABIT 35 1,530 4-30-2003 -22.60 57.60

ST-688 120ABIT 25 1,302 3-25-2003 -47.25 72.25

ST-716 120SLDL 12 2,284 4-02-2003 -43.00 55.00

ST-746 120SLDL 12 2,280 4-17-2003 -38.00 50.00

ST-777 120CVGN 22.84 1,743 3-25-2003 -51.50 74.34

ST-790 120SLDL 20 2,132 4-03-2003 -38.40 58.40

ST-792 120SLDL 6.6 2,361 4-03-2003 -50.00 56.60

ST-803 120CVGN 15 1,973 4-22-2003 -46.20 61.20

ST-804 120SLDL 18 2,213 4-03-2003 -38.60 56.60

ST-807 120CVGN 30 1,712 3-28-2003 -35.60 65.60

ST-808 120ABIT 15 1,955 4-02-2003 -39.60 54.60

ST-832 120ABIT 20 1,760 4-22-2003 -36.60 56.60

ST-898 120CVGN 10 2,060 4-03-2003 -47.40 57.40

ST-900 120CVGN 13 1,900 4-03-2003 -43.10 56.10

ST-1000 120SLDL 7 2,322 4-02-2003 -47.30 54.30

ST-1007 120SLDL 15 2,432 4-17-2003 -46.00 61.00

ST-1017 120CVGN 7 1,977 4-03-2003 -49.40 56.40

ST-1093 120CVGN 22 1,910 4-22-2003 -35.10 57.10

ST-1094 120SLDL 15 2,150 4-03-2003 -49.20 64.20

ST-1102 120CVGN 28 1,785 4-02-2003 -33.00 61.00

ST-1106 120CVGN 21 1,920 4-22-2003 -49.50 70.50

ST-1110 120CVGN 20 1,820 4-22-2003 -48.00 68.00

ST-1114 120ABIT 10 1,945 4-03-2003 -45.40 55.40

ST-1124 120CVGN 21 1,865 4-22-2003 -39.60 60.60

ST-1128 120CVGN 25 1,930 4-22-2003 -35.00 60.00

ST-1129 120CVGN 30 1,810 3-28-2003 -24.40 54.40

ST-5012Z 120ABIT 13 1,932 4-01-2003 -38.80 51.80

ST-5059Z 120ABIT 60 1,134 4-16-2003 -6.75 66.75

ST-6345Z 120ABIT 22 1,492 3-25-2003 -42.50 64.50

ST-7296Z 120ABIT 50 1,247 4-30-2003 -8.40 58.40

ST-7807Z 120CVGN 34 1,798 4-30-2003 -24.90 58.90

Ta-244 120ABIT 98 1,300 3-21-2003 -8.20 106.20

Ta-258 120CVGN 22 1,962 4-29-2003 -53.00 75.00

Ta-264 120CVGN 30 1,728 3-21-2003 -56.80 86.80

Ta-278 120CVGN 52 1,430 4-15-2003 -46.60 98.60

Ta-407 120KNTD 210 531 4-15-2003 -15.50 225.50

Ta-420 120CVGN 47 1,650 3-25-2003 -49.50 96.50

Ta-440 120KNTD 220 603 4-15-2003 8.67 211.33

Ta-452 120KNTD 150 775 4-15-2003 -13.50 163.50

Ta-454 120KNTD 288 720 4-15-2003 75.51 212.49

Ta-493 120KNTD 312 647 4-11-2003 90.87 221.13

Ta-772 120CVGN 133 1,355 4-15-2003 13.20 119.80

Ta-833 120KNTD 202 630 4-10-2003 -12.70 214.70

Ta-835 120CVGN 25 1,905 4-16-2003 -56.20 81.20

Ta-9099Z 120CVGN 13 2,030 4-29-2003 -67.00 80.00

Wa-78 120ABIT 150 585 4-23-2003 -9.40 159.40

Wa-91 120KNTD 240 600 4-11-2003 20.62 219.38

Wa-100 120KNTD 125 400 4-24-2003 -2.00 127.00

Wa-5156Z 120KNTD 196 715 4-23-2003 -23.10 219.10

Wa-5210Z 120ABIT 91 752 4-25-2003 -16.30 107.30

Wa-7127Z 120ABIT 90 556 4-24-2003 -27.00 117.00

WBR-11 12117BR 27 1,450 4-04-2003 67.38 -40.38

WBR-100A 12117BR 29 1,888 4-15-2003 120.41 -91.41

WBR-139 12117BR 29 1,375 4-15-2003 71.72 -42.72

WBR-176 12117BR 20 1,458 4-14-2003 55.69 -35.69

WBR-177 12117BR 23 1,444 4-14-2003 55.73 -32.73

WF-254 12117BR 155 793 4-15-2003 109.46 45.54

Figure 4. Water-level trends for the Kentwood aquifer 

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

Baton Rouge area, southeastern Louisiana.

CONVERSION FACTORS AND DATUMS

Multiply By To obtain

foot (ft) 0.3048 meter (m) 

foot per year (ft/yr) 0.3048 meter per year (m/yr)

mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer (km)

million gallons per day (Mgal/d) 3,785 cubic meter per day (m3

/d) 

Vertical coordinate information in this report is referenced to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 

(NGVD 29)--a geodetic datum derived from a general adjustment of the first-order level nets of both the United States 

and Canada. 

Horizontal coordinate information in this report is referenced to the North American Datum of 1927.

Figure 3. Water-withdrawal centers where average daily withdrawals exceeded 0.5 million gallons per day from the Kentwood aquifer system and the “1,500-foot” and “1,700-foot” sands of the Baton Rouge area, 

southeastern Louisiana, April 2003.

”1,700-FOOT” SAND

1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005

-110

-100

-90

-80

-70

-60

-50

-40

-30

-20

-10

0

10

Well EB- 804A

Well WBR- 100A

YEAR

B

“1,500-FOOT” AND “1,700-FOOT” SANDS

YEAR

1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

Well WF- 254, “1,700-foot” sand

Well PC- 39, “1,500-foot” sand F

No data

1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Well EB-168

80

60

40

20

0

-20

-40

-60

-80

-100

-120

YEAR

“1,500-FOOT” SAND

Well EB-392

Well EB-917

A

No data

No data

No data

WATER LEVEL, IN FEET ABOVE (+) OR BELOW (-) LAND SURFACE

ABITA AND SLIDELL AQUIFERS

1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

50

60

70

80

90

100

110

120

130

Well Or-179, Abita aquifer

Well ST-563, Slidell aquifer 

Well ST-576, Slidell aquifer

2005

YEAR

C

No data

 

 

 

1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

202

204

206

208

210

212

214

216

218

220

KENTWOOD AQUIFER

YEAR

2005

Well Ta-440

Well Ta-454

No data

E

COVINGTON AQUIFER AND “1,700-FOOT” SAND

1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004

60

70

80

90

100

110

120

130

140

150

160

170

Well Ta- 278, Covington aquifer

Well ST- 562, Covington aquifer

Well Li- 52, “1,700-foot” sand

YEAR

D

No data

No data Base map modified from Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator, Office of the Governor, Louisiana GIS CD: A digital Map of the State, Version 2.0

BATON

ROUGE FAULT

P

E

A

R L

R I V E R

LAKE

PONTCHARTRAIN

LAKE 

BORGNE

LAKE 

MAUREPAS

R

I

V E

R

STUDY

AREA

FAULT--Shows approximate location of 

 fault at ground surface (modified from 

 Murray, 1961, fig. 4.33; Cardwell and 

 others, 1967, pl. 2; McCulloh, 1991, 

 pl. Ia-e; P.V. Heinrich, R.P. McCulloh, 

 and J.I. Snead, Louisiana Geological 

 Survey, written commun., 1997; Griffith, 

 in press, pl. 1)

WATER-WITHDRAWAL CENTER--Shows 

 withdrawals in million gallons per day. 

 Sites include multiple wells (B.P. Sargent, 

 U.S. Geological Survey, written commun., 

 2004) 

11.28

1.79

3.50

7.74

1.65

0.84

0.77

0.75

3.14

0.87

5.47

4.73