Water Resources of 

Randolph and Lawrence 

Counties, Arkansas

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 1879-B

Prepared in cooperation with the 

Arkansas Geological Commission
Water Resources of 

Randolph and Lawrence 

Counties, Arkansas

By A. G. LAMONDS, MARION S. MINES, and RAYMOND 0. PLEBUCH 

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 1879-B

Prepared in cooperation with the 

Arkansas Geological Commission

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1969
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

WALTER J. HICKEL, Secretary

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

William T. Pecora, Director

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Pr'nting Office 

Washington, D.C. 20402 - Price 30 cents (paper cover)
CONTENTS

Page

Abstract_ ----_-__--_--_--_-_-_--_-____-___----________-_____.-_- Bl

Introduction._____________________________________________________ 2

Purpose.__--_____--_-____-__--________________________-___-_- 2

Acknowledgments. _ ___________________________________________ 2

The area.____________________________________________________ ?

Surface-water resources.._-----____-_-_-_-___-_-_-_______________--_ ? 

Availability. __________________________________________________ fi

Low-flow frequency._______________________________________ 5

Flow duration___________________________________________ 10

Floods.__________________________________________________ 12

Quality. ________------______--_-____._---____._-__-____-_-_- 14

Chemical and physical quality.-_____-_-___-___-_-_-_____-__ 14

Bacterial quality-_________________________________________ 25

Ground-water resources.___________________________________________ 25

Coastal Plain province.________________________________________ 25

Availability.. _ _---___________-_-_____-_-_____-_-__-____--_ 25

Deposits of Quaternary age_____________________________ 25

Deposits of Tertiary age_________-_______---_-__-____- 33

Deposits of Cretaceous age.___-_____-_____-___--____-__ 33

Quality.....___--...-_____-._____..__._______--._._..._-_- 34

Chemical and physical quality._________________________ 34

Bacterial quality._____________________________________ 37

Interior Highlands.____________________________________________ 38

Availability. ______________________________________________ 38

Quality...________________________________________________ 39

Chemical and physical quality._________-___-_--_--_--_- 39

Bacterial quality._____________________________________ 42

Use of water._____________________________________________________ 42

Conclusions-______________________________________________________ 43

Selected references.________________________________________________ 45

ILLUSTRATIONS

Page 

FIGURE 1. Map showing location and physiographic divisions of

report area.______________-____-___-_---______--- B3

2. Map showing generalized geology_________-______-_-_- 4

3. Map showing location of stream-gaging and surfacewater sampling stations. ______ ____________________ 6

4-6. Graphs showing magnitude and frequency of annual low 

flows:

4. Black River near Corning (Clay County), Black 

River at Pocahontas, and Black River at Black 

Rock_______________---__-_____-__________ 7

5. Current River at Doniphan and Spring River at

Imboden__ _ _______________________________ 7

m
IV CONTENTS

Page

FIGURES 4-6. Graphs Continued

6. Eleven Point River near Raven den Springs and 

Strawberry River near Poughkeeps^'e (Sharp 

County)-______.___.___----.________ B8

7. Flow-duration curves for continuous-record gaging

stations.________________________________________ 11

8. Map showing dissolved-solids content and hardness as

CaCO3 at sampling stations during periods of low flow. _ 23

9. Dissolved-solids and temperature-duration curves for 

Spring River at Imboden and Black River ner.r Corning 

(Clay County)-_-----___-__._-----_____________ 24

10. Diagram showing well-numbering system._____________ 26

11-14. Maps showing:

11. Thickness of deposits of Quaternary age ________ 27

12. Configuration of the water table in deposits of

Quaternary age, spring 1966____-_-___-_-_-__ 29

13. Configuration of the water table in deposits of

Quaternary age, fall 1966_-__------___------- 30

14. Water-level declines in deposits of Quaternary

age, spring to fall 1966_________-_._____._- 31

15. Hydrographs of wells 19N-2E-9dbd, 18N-lE-34abd, and

15N-lW-llddd-__-__-______________-_--______--_ 32

16. Map showing areas of potential development of ground

water from the Wilcox Group and the Nacato?.h Sand. _ 33

17. Map showing dissolved-solids and combined iron and 

manganese content of water from selected wells in the 

Coastal Plain__-___-_____________________ 35

18. Map showing dissolved-solids content and hardness as 

CaCOa of water from selected wells in th^ Interior 

Highlands. __________________________ 40

TABLES

Page 

TABLE 1. Low-flow characteristics of streams___--_-___-______-_ B9

2. Magnitude and frequency of floods at continuous-record

gaging stations.___--____-____-___-_-__--_____--__ 13

3. Selected chemical analyses of water from streams.______ 16

4. Inventory of information on the quality of surface water 

in the vicinity of Randolph and Lawrence Counties, 

Ark__-___________________________-___--________- 22

5. Specific capacity of selected wells in deposits of CJ uaternary

age___________________________________________ 28

6. Chemical analyses of water from wells in Quaternary

and Tertiary deposits of the Coastal Plain.._________ 36

7. Chemical analyses of water from wells in Paleozoic rocks

of the Interior Highlands.__________-___---_-______ 41

8. Use of water in Randolph and Lawrence Courties, Ark.,

__---_---__--_-___---_-------_---_____---_ 42
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

WATER RESOURCES OF RANDOLPH AND 

LAWRENCE COUNTIES, ARKANSAS

By A. G. LAMONDS, MABION S. HINES, 

and RAYMOND O. PLEBUCH

ABSTRACT

Water is used at an average rate of almost 27 million gallons per dry in 

Randolph and Lawrence Counties, and quantities sufficient for any foreseeable 

use are available. Supplies for the large uses municipal, industrial, and irrigation can best be obtained from wells in the Coastal Plain part of the counties 

and from streams in the Interior Highlands part.

The counties have abundant supplies of hard but otherwise good-quality surface water, particularly in the Interior Highlands and along the western boundary of the Coastal Plain. Minimum recorded flows of four streams (Black, 

Current, Eleven Point, and Spring Rivers) exceeded 200 cubic feet per second, 

or 129 million gallons per day. Five other streams have flows in excess of 13 

cubic feet per second 95 percent of the time. Water supplies can be obtained 

without storage from the larger streams in the area. Many of the smaller strums 

in the Interior Highlands also have large water-supply potential because of the 

excellent impoundment possibilities.

Most of the water used in the two counties is obtained from ground-water reservoirs in the Coastal Plain. Wells that tap alluvial deposits of Quaternary age 

commonly yield 1,000 gallons per minute. However, the water often is unsuitable 

for many uses unless treated to remove hardness, iron, and manganese. V7ater 

possibly may be obtained in the southeastern part of the area from the Wilcox 

Group of Tertiary age and the Nacatoch Sand of Cretaceous age, but these 

formations have not been explored in the report area.

Wells in the Interior Highlands generally are less than 200 feet deep and yield 

10 gallons per minute, or less. It may be possible to obtain greater amour ts of 

ground water from two unexplored formations, the Roubidouix and the Gunter 

Sandstone Member of the Van Buren Formation, in the Interior Highlands. 

Ground water in the Interior Highlands is very hard and is more susceptil T «J to 

local bacterial contamination than is ground water in the Coastal Plain. However, 

with proper sanitary safeguards against contamination and with treatmert for 

reduction of hardness, ground water in the Interior Highlands is suitable for 

most uses.

Bl
B2 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

INTRODUCTION

PtTBPOSE

This report was prepared by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Arkansas Geological Commission, as a part of a statewide 

program of water-resources investigations in Arkansas. The purpose of 

the report is to provide a basic assessment of the location, quantity, and 

quality of water in Randolph and Lawrence Counties ar d to serve as a 

preliminary guide in the development and management of the water 

resources in the area.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors acknowledge, with thanks, the help received from the 

many landowners, well drillers, and city officials who supplied information during this project. Many individuals and establishments permitted use of their wells for water-level measurements and for 

collection of water samples. The writers are particular^ indebted to 

the members of the Arkansas Geological Commission, who gave freely 

of their time and knowledge, and to the Arkansas State Department 

of Health, which furnished technical assistance and performed the 

bacteriological analyses for this study.

THE AREA

Randolph and Lawrence Counties comprise an area of 1,229 square 

miles in northeastern Arkansas (fig. 1). This area is divided by the 

Fall Line (physiographic boundary between the Interior Highlands 

and the Coastal Plain) into two parts almost equal in size but 

distinctly different in physiographic characteristics. Figure 1 shows 

that the Fall Line extends approximately from the northeast corner 

of Randolph County to the southwest corner of Lawrence County.

The Coastal Plain is characterized by nearly flat topography. Landsurface elevations range from about 250 feet above sea level in southern 

Lawrence County, to about 280 feet above sea level in northeastern 

Randolph County. Because of the flat terrain the streams in the Coastal 

Plain are sluggish, and runoff is slow.

The Interior Highlands is characterized by hilly dissected uplands. 

Land-surface elevations range from about 400 feet to almost 1,000 feet 

above sea level. Streams in the Interior Highlands have steep gradients, 

particularly in their upper reaches, and runoff is fast.

The geologic formations exposed in Randolph and Lawrence Counties range in age from early Paleozoic to Quaternary. Northwest of 

the Fall Line, the area is underlain by the older rocks of Paleozoic age 

(fig. 2). These rocks consist chiefly of limestone and dolomite, which
WATER, RANDOLPH AND LAWRENCE COUNTIES, ARK. B3

94° 930 92. 91°

W /" Qrt.

33

100 MILES

FIGURE 1. Location and physiographic divisions of report area.

dip southeastward beneath the unconsolidated deposits in the Coastal 

Plain.

The Coastal Plain is underlain, in descending order, by strata of 

Quaternary, Tertiary, and Cretaceous age, which rest on a basement of 

Paleozoic rocks. Alluvial deposits of Quaternary age blanket most of 

the Coastal Plain area of Randolph and Lawrence Counties. Sand and 

gravel of Tertiary and Cretaceous age, which dip to the southeast, are 

exposed in small areas along the Fall Line in southwestern Lawrence 

County. In some places the Tertiary and Cretaceous deposits are overlain by deposits of windblown silt (loess) of Quaternary age.

SURFACE-WATER RESOURCES

Randolph and Lawrence Counties lie wholly within the White River 

basin and have numerous streams with excellent water-supply potential. The Interior Highlands and about half of the Coastal Plain areas 

of the counties are drained by the Black River and its tributaries; prin-
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PALEOZOIC CRETACEOUS
WATER, RANDOLPH AND LAWRENCE COUNTIES, ARK. B5

cipally the Current, Strawberry, and Spring Rivers, and the Eleven 

Point River, which is tributary to the Spring River. The rest of the 

area is drained by the Cache River and Village Creek, which are direct 

tributaries to the White River.

Streams in the two counties yield about 16 inches of runoff, about 

1,450 cfs (cubic feet per second), from an average annual precipitation 

of about 48 inches. About 8,500 cfs also enters the area from Missouri 

and adjacent counties in Arkansas. This means that, on the average, 

about 10,000 cubic feet of surface water leaves the area every second. 

This amounts to 6.46 bdg (billion gallons per day), or three times the 

average daily water use for the State of Arkansas (Halberg and 

Stephens, 1966).

AVAILABILITY

A map showing the major streams in Randolph and Lawrence Counties and the data-collection sites on these streams is shown in figure 3. 

Flow in these streams is derived from direct surface runoff of precipitation and from ground-water discharge (base flow). Most of the base 

flow in the Interior Highlands is derived from ground-water effluence 

in springs, most of which are outside the area of this report. In the 

Coastal Plain the base flow is derived from seeps rather than springs. 

Most of the streams flow during dry periods; but the base flows of 

streams in the Interior Highlands are generally greater than those of 

streams in the Coastal Plain.

Development of water supplies from streams in the Coastal Plain 

beyond the base flow is limited by the lack of suitable reservoir sites. 

In contrast, numerous reservoir sites are available in the Interior Highlands, and development beyond natural low flow is feasible. With adequate storage reservoirs the amount of water that could be made available for use approaches the average discharge of a stream. The average 

discharge at sites (station number in parentheses) on the major streams 

that supply or drain the area are: (7-0680) Current River at Doniphan, Mo., 2,710 cfs; (7-0640) Black River near Corning (Clay 

County), 1,730 cfs; (7-0690) Black River at Pocahontas, 5,550 cfs; 

(7-0725) Black River at Black Rock, 8,070 cfs; (7-0720) Eleven Point 

River near Ravenden Springs, 1,080 cfs; (7-0695) Spring River at 

Imboden, 1,320 cfs; and (7-0740) Strawberry River near Poughkeepsie (Sharp County), 510 cfs. These averages were computed from 

periods of record ranging from 28 to 48 years.

LOW-FLOW FREQUENCY

In the analysis of the water-supply potential of a stream, a dependable yield during periods of drought is one of the most important considerations. Analysis of the low-flow yield of streams can be made by

329-573 O 69 2
B6 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

3 91°15' 2 MISSOURI R. 1 W. 91 "00' R. IE. 2 R. 3 E.

rings

GREENE CO 

CRAIGHEAD CO

EXPLANATION

Continuous-record gaging station

Low-flow partial-record 

gaging station

Water-quality sampling station

7-0746

Station number

In downstream order as used by the Water 

Resources Division, U.S. Geological Survey

FIGURE 3. Stream-gaging stations and surface-water sampling stations.

use of low-flow frequency curves. These curves are based on the lowest 

annual flow for various selected periods of consecutive days and indicate the frequency with which these events may recur. Low-flow frequency curves for the seven long-term continuous-record gaging 

stations are shown in figures 4, 5, and 6. These curves can be used to
WATER, RANDOLPH AND LAWRENCE COUNTIES, ARK. B7

Black River at Pocationtas

1.1 1.2 1.5 5 10 

RECURRENCE INTERVAL, IN YEARS

50 70

FIGURE 4. Magnitude and frequency of annual low flows for Black Biver near 

Corning (Clay County), Black Biver at Pocahontas, and Black Biver at Black 

Rock.

U- 0

CD uj

10,000

8000

6000

4000

2000

1000

800

1.1 1.2

7-0630. Current River at Doniphan, Mo.

7 days

30 days

120 days

7-0 95. Spring River at lmbo< en,

5 10 

RECURRENCE INTERVAL, IN YEARS

30 50 70

FIGURE 5. Magnitude and frequency of annual low flows for Current B'ver at 

Doniphan and Spring Biver at Imboden.
B8 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

Point River near Ravenden

7-0740. Strawberry River near

.1 1.2 1.5 5 10

RECURRENCE INTERVAL, IN YEARS

30 50 70

FIGUBE 6. Magnitude and frequency of annual low flows for Eleven Point River 

near Ravenden Springs and Strawberry River near Pougl keepsie (Sharp 

County).

predict the average time interval between low flows of a particular 

magnitude and duration, provided the hydrologic and climatic conditions do not change. These curves show recurrence intervals for average 

low flows of periods of 7, 30, and 120 consecutive days. Recurrence 

intervals for periods other than those for which curves are drawn can 

be estimated by interpolating between existing curves. I tore complete 

information is given in a report by Hines (1965).

Interpretation of the low-flow frequency curves is illustrated in 

figure 4 by the data for Black River at Pocahontas (7-0690). The 

curves for this station indicate that an average flow cf 1,320 cfs or 

less for a period of 7 consecutive days will be experienced on the average of once each 5 years. This discharge is referred to as the 7-day 5- 

year low flow. An average discharge of 1,320 cfs, or lesp. for a 30-day 

period will occur on an average of once each 11 years. The recurrence 

intervals are long-term averages, not regular occurrences. The 7-day 

2-year low flow can be expected 10 times in 20 years; b^t it can occur 

in consecutive years during an extended drought.

Interpretation of the curves in figures 4, 5, and 6 emphasizes the 

excellent water-supply potential of the streams. For example, the 7- 

day 50-year low flows indicate that these streams have large sustained
WATER, RANDOLPH AND LAWRENCE COUNTIES, ARK. B9

flows, even during a drought having a recurrence interval of 50 years. 

The T-day 50-year low flows range from 37 cfs to 1,600 cfs, and all but 

one exceed 200 cfs.

Low-flow frequency data are presented in table 1. Frequency data 

for the low-flow and short-term gaging stations were based or a few 

base-flow measurements and should be considered only as estimates 

of the probable magnitude and frequency of low flows at the indicated 

locations.

TABLE 1. Low-flow characteristics of streams that traverse Randolph and Lawrence

Counties, Ark.

[Class of station: C, continuous-record; P, partial-record or short-term continuous-record]

Station 

No. Gaging station

Class Drainof age area

D ItCbf J.UU. V°*4 ALL*/

7-0640 

7-0680-..

7-0688.5..

7-0688.8..

7-0688.9. .

7-0690 

7-0690.1. .

7-0694....

7-0695 .

7-0719.8..

7-072 0....

7-0725 

7-0728.3..

7-0740 

7-0742.48.

7-0742.5. .

7-0742.6..

7-0746... .

7-0773.8.-

Black River near

Corning, Ark.'

Current River at

Doniphan, Mo. 2

Current River near

Pochanotas, Ark.

Mud Creek near

Ingram, Ark.

Fourche River above

Pocahontas, Ark.

Black River at

Pochantas, Ark. 

Little Running Water

Creek near Lesterville, Ark.

Janes Creek at

Ravenden Springs,

Ark.

Spring River at

Imboden, Ark.

Diles Creek near

Dalton, Ark. 

Eleven Point River

near Ravenden

Springs, Ark.

Black River at Black

Rock, Ark.

Big Running Water 

Creek near Alicia.

Ark.

Strawberry River

near Poughkeepsie,

Ark.«

South Big Creek

near Strawberry,

Ark.

Reeds Creek near

Strawberry, Ark.

Cooper Creek near

Smithville, Ark.

Village Creek at

Walnut Ridge, Ark.

Cache River at

Egypt, Ark.«

C

C

P

P

P

C

P

P

C

P

C

C

P

C

P

P

P

P

P

1,749

2,038

2,608

335

228

4,843

3 12

78.5

1,162

324

1,123

7,323

360

476

69.4

34.9

330

34.3

698

Annual low flow (cfs) for indicated 

period of consecutive days and 

indicated recurrence interval, in 

years

7-day

2-year

295

1,200

1,270

.6

19

1,520

.9

.07

320

.6

352

2,280

.07

48

17

13

1.1

0

21

10-year

240

880

920

.4

13

1,210

.7

0

265

.2

268

1,680

0

41

13

12

.5

0

6.1

Fkrv (cfs) 

equaled or exceeded for indicated percentage 

of time

30-day

nn

2-year

336

1,300

1,380

.8

21

1,710

.9

.1

340

1.0

410

2,500

.2

52

19

14

1.3

0

27

10-year

258

940

980

.5

16

1,330

.8

0

280

.3

286

1,800

.02

43

15

12

.9

0

9.6

0\J

333

1,120

970

1.0

25

1,660

l.C

.4

345

.6

361

2,440

.2

58

20

14

1.6

.02

25

QCyo

298

1,020

950

21

1,460

311

316

2,200

51

18

13

1.

0

18

8

9

1

4

07

3

' 24 miles upstream from the Clay-Randolph County line.

2 13.3 miles upstream from the Arkansas-Missouri State line.

3 Estimated.

4 11.2 miles upstream from the Lawrence County line.

 2.4 miles downstream from the Lawrence-Craighead County line.
BIO CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

To compare the low-flow characteristics of one stream with those 

of another, streamflow records at the gaging stations were adjusted to 

the period 1929-57 (Speer and others, 1966). The average precipitation for this period was nearly the same as the average precipitation 

since 1891. Streamflow data for continuous-record gaging stations with 

short periods of record were adjusted to this base perioc1 by regression 

analysis. At the low-flow partial-record stations, all available streamflow records were correlated with concurrent records of paging stations 

for which frequency data for this base period have been determined.

Most of the larger streams in Eandolph and Lawrence Counties 

receive high base flows from large springs outside the project area. 

Of the smaller streams in the area, South Big Creek and Reeds 

Creek, which are spring fed, have the largest ratios of discharge to 

drainage area. Owing primarily to the inflow of Reeds Creek and 

South Big Creek, the T-day 2-year low flow of Strawberry River near 

Strawberry is estimated to be almost twice that at Pbughkeepsie. Because of the high base flow, the lower part of the Strawberry River is 

important as a potential water supply.

FLOW DURATION

Flow duration, as well as low-flow frequency, is a valuable tool in 

analyzing the water-supply characteristics of a stream. Flow-duration 

curves, giving the percentage of time that certain discharges are 

equaled or exceeded at the seven long-term continuous-record gaging 

stations, are shown in figure 7.

The slope of a flow-duration curve is a measure of the variability of 

streamflow. A flat slope at the lower end of the duration curve indicates 

high base flow and good water-supply potential without storage. Conversely, a steep slope at the lower end of the curve indicates low base 

flow. A flat slope at the upper end of the duration curve indicates 

relatively low peak flows that are probably due to flat streambed slopes 

and large flood-plain storage. A steep slope at the upper end of the 

curve indicates relatively high peak flows, resulting from steep streambed slopes and narrow flood plains. Figure 7 shows that the flow-duration curve of Strawberry River near Poughkeepsie, which has the 

highest peak discharge and the lowest base flow per snuare mile of 

drainage area of the seven stations, has the steepest slor)e throughout 

its range of discharge.

Discharges which are equaled or exceeded for 90 and 95 percent of 

the time for all streamflow stations in the area, including the shortterm stations, are shown in table 1. The duration figures for stations 

other than the seven long-term continuous-record gaging stations are 

estimates. The duration and frequency figures in table 1 are useful in 

comparing the water-supply characteristics of the streams.
WATER, RANDOLPH AND LAWRENCE COUNTIES, ARK. Bll

40,000 

20,000

10,000 

8000

6000 

4000

2000

1000 

800

600 

400

200

100 

80

60 

40

 3(1

-

-

-

-

-

-

^

\

\ A\\\s NN\ \ \ \

7-0695.' ^ 

Spring River at 

Imboden, Ark. 

(drainage area, 

1162 sq mi)

-

-

-

-

s 1 

\

\

\

\

^

^

\

/

-0725. 

(

*

\

\

\ \ 

k'\J

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X

7-0720.' \ 

Eleven Point River \

near 

Ravenden Springs, 

Ark.

(drainag 

1123s

e area 

d mi)

,

B<

Irain

--7-I 

\

S

\

\

^

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ck 1 

ige

1690

\

\

\

<

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\\

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7-0740. Strawberry River nearj 

Poughkeepsie (Sharp County), Ark 

(drainage area, 476 sq mi)

-

-

-

iver 

irea

E 

dra

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s

\

s

^

^

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ea, 4£

k, Ark.

Pocah 

43 sq

intas, 

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Ark.

7-0680. Current River at 

Doniphan, Mo. 

(drainage area, 2038 sq mi)

X

x

-

_

\,

"^^

'-064C

Corning 

(drainaf

H

\N

^">^S N

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--^

 ~-~>.

. Bl?

^^^

-^_

ck River n

-

-

-

-

-

-

ear ~~

(Clay, County), Ark _ 

e area, 1749 sq mi)

^

^

****==,

\

-

-

-

-

-

0.1 1 5 10 50 90 95 99 99.9 

PERCENTAGE OF TIME INDICATED DISCHARGE WAS EQUALED OR EXCEEDED

FIGURE 7. Flow-duration curves for continuous-record gaging stations.
B12 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

Duration and frequency figures can be used also to determine the 

adequacy of streamflow for a given demand. For instance, if a water 

supply of 50 cfs is needed and an insufficient supply cr.n be tolerated 

for not more than 5 percent of the time, inspection of the $5-percentduration figures in table 1 indicates that the flow of the Plack, Current, 

Spring, Eleven Point, and Strawberry Rivers at the points where they 

were measured will meet that demand.

The flow-duration and low-flow-frequency values, however, are 

applicable only at the sites for which they were computed. Comparable 

figures may be estimated for other sites on the basis of drainage-area 

ratios; but care must be used in transferring data to ungaged sites 

because of variations in geology and hydrology within the stream 

basin. Good practice demands that supplemental base-flow measurements be made when gaging-station data are not available at or near 

the site.

FLOODS

Floods, which are more spectacular than low flows, present both a 

problem of damage and an opportunity to store water that ordinarily 

would be unavailable or wasted. Floods are more of a problem in the 

Coastal Plain than in the Interior Highlands. Owing to the lack of 

suitable sites for flood-control reservoirs in the Coastal Plain, the 

construction of levees and the improvement of drainage channels are 

the most effective means of controlling floods. Because cf the wide flat 

flood plains, large areas in the Coastal Plain are inundated by floods, 

and the water recedes slowly. However, because of the low floodflow 

velocities, destruction from the force of the water is slight, and flood 

losses are generally due to water damage and silt deposition.

In the Interior Highlands, stream gradients are much higher than 

those in the Coastal Plain, and floodflow velocities are often high 

enough to cause destruction from the force of the water. However, the 

effects of floods in the highlands are limited to relatively narrow 

stream valleys. The narrow valleys also enhance the feasibility of 

constructing flood-control and storage reservoirs.

The magnitude and frequency of floods at continuous-record gaging 

stations in and near the two-county area are given in table 2.

Reasonable estimates of magnitude and frequency of peak flows at 

ungaged sites can be computed from regional curves developed by 

Patterson (1964). Peak-flow characteristics of streams in the Interior 

Highlands differ widely from those of streams in the Coastal Plain. 

Peak flows of streams in the Interior Highlands of Randolph and 

Lawrence Counties are flashy, with rapid rises and recessions, due to 

the steep land slopes and the low permeability of the surface materials.
w

r 

TABLE 2. Magnitude and frequency of floods (annual-flood series) at continuous-record ga

Lawrence Counties, Ark.

[Flood-frequency relations computed from station data unless othe

Station 

No.

7-0680..... 

7-0688.9. - 

7-0690..-. 

7-0695... . . 

7-0720 .

7-0725..... 

7-0740..... 

7-0773.8. ..

Gaging station

Spring River at Imboden, Ark.. _ . _ ......

Eleven Point River near Ravenden Springs, 

Ark.

Strawberry River near Poughkeepsie, Ark.3 .. 

Cache River at Egypt, Ark.4 _ ..............

Elevation (ft) 

Drain- of bankage ful stage 

area above 

(sq mi) mean 

sea level

2,038 334 

228 274 

4,843 260 

1, 162 270 

1,123 306

7, 323 250 

476 318 

689 241

2

Elevation 

above 

mean 

sea 

level (ft)

334.5 

279.5 

263.0 

274.5 

305.5

253.0 

317.0 

243.0

Discharge 

(cfs)

26,000 

8,600 

22,000 

22,000 

10,000

40,000 

16,000 

6,300

5

Elevation 

above 

mean 

sea 

level (ft)

339.5 

281.5 

265.0 

278.5 

310.0

255.5 

321.0

Di

cha

(cf

50

18

39

44

23

67

27

9

1 13.3 miles upstream from Arkansas-Missouri State line.

2 Flood-frequency data computed from regional curves in Water-Supply Paper 1681, Patterson (1964).

* 11.2 miles upstream from Lawrence County line.

4 2.4 miles downstream from Lawrence-Craighead County line. Flood-frequency data computed from region

5 Stage-discharge relationship not denned in this range.
B14 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

In contrast, the flat topography of the Coastal Plain of the two 

counties and the higher permeability of the surface materials cause 

slow runoff, and streams in the Coastal Plain are somewhat sluggish. 

Examples of the characteristic floods in the Interior Highlands and 

Coastal Plain can be seen by examining table 2. The 50-year flood on 

Current River at Doniphan, Mo., in the Interior Highlands, has a 

greater discharge (100,000 cfs) than that of the 50-year flood 

(83,000 cfs) at the downstream station, Black River at Pocahontas, 

Ark., in the Coastal Plain. This occurs because the peak flows downstream from Doniphan are temporarily stored in the flood plain and 

are returned to the Current River as it recedes. As a result the peak 

discharges at Pocahontas are smaller, but of longer duration, than the 

flashy peak discharges at Doniphan, Mo.

QUALITY

CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL QUALITY

During the investigation 45 water samples were collected from 

streams in the vicinity of Randolph and Lawrence Counties. The 

chemical analyses of these samples and several analyses made prior to 

this investigation are shown in table 3. Samples were collected monthly 

at Black River near Corning, Black River at Pocahontas, and Cache 

River at Egypt. The averages of the analyses of samples collected at 

these stations represent approximations of time-weighted averages of 

the chemical constituents. Table 3 contains only the most recent chemi - 

cal analyses of surface water in the area. An inventory of additional 

information on the quality of surface water in the area is given in 

table 4.

The dissolved-solids content of surface water in the area generally 

is less than 300 mg/1 (milligrams per liter), well below the limit of 

500 mg/1 recommended by the U.S. Public Health Service (1962) for 

drinking water on interstate carriers. Dissolved-solids content of 

streams in the Coastal Plain is generally less than that of streams in 

the Interior Highlands. However, concentrations of iron and manganese in streams in the Coastal Plain often exceed the recommended 

limits of 0.30 and 0.05 mg/1 respectively. Although streams in the 

Interior Highlands occasionally contain concentrations of iron that 

exceed the recommended limit, they seldom contain significant concentrations of manganese. Concentrations of iron and manganese that 

are much greater than the recommended limits not only cause staining problems but often add to the color. Color, as well as iron and
WATER, RANDOLPH AND LAWRENCE COUNTIES, ARK. B15

manganese content, of streams in the Coastal Plain is greater than that 

of streams in the Interior Highlands. Almost one-third of tH water 

samples collected from the Black and the Cache Kivers had color in 

excess of 15 units, which is the recommended limit.

Although there is no suggested limit for the hardness of drinking 

water, hard water is inconvenient and troublesome. The hariness of 

water destroys the cleansing action of soaps and detergents, forms 

scale on boilers which reduces heat-transfer efficiency, and forms scale 

on water-system piping, thereby reducing the capacity of the system. 

Hardness, as CaCO3 , of water from streams in Randolph and Lawrence Counties ranges from about 10 to about 300 mg/1. A comparison 

of the classification of hardness in the following table with chemical 

analyses in table 3 shows that streams in the Coastal Plain generally 

contain water that is moderately hard to hard; whereas, streams 

draining the limestone and dolomite that underlie the Interior Highlands generally contain very hard water.

Hardness Rating Usability 

(mg/1)

0-60_____ Soft.________ Suitable for many uses without further

softening. 

61-120-._ Moderately Usable except in some industrial

hard. applications. Softening profitable

for laundries. 

121-180. _ Hard. _______ Softening required by laundries and

some other industries. 

181+____ Very hard____ Softening desirable for most purposes.

The hardness of surface waters in the area is due almost entirely 

to the concentrations of calcium, magnesium, and bicarbonate ions. 

The high ratios of calcium and magnesium ions to sodium ions in these 

waters indicate that the quality of surface water is excellent for the 

irrigation of most crops.

The dissolved-solids content and hardness of surface water generally 

are highest during periods of low flow, when the more mineralized 

ground water makes up a large part of the streamflow. The dissolved-solids content and hardness as CaCO3 of water from streams 

during periods of low flow are illustrated in figure 8. This figure shows 

that the Current River and that part of the Black River above the 

mouth of the Spring River, as well as other lowland streams, contain 

softer and less mineralized water than streams in the Interior Highlands and lower reaches of the Black River.
TABLE 3. Selected chemical analyses of water from streams that traverse R

[Chemical constituents in milligrams per liter except as ind

Mean Water Silica 

Date of collection discharge temper- (SiCh) 

(cfs) ature 

(°C)

Iron Manga- Calcium Mag

(Fe) nese (Ca) slu

(Mn) (M

7-0649 Black River near Corning 1

Oct. 6, 1965. ....-....... .

Nov. 9, 1965...................

Dec. 16, 1965.. ......... .......

Feb. 17, 1966 ...............

Mar. 31, 1966..................

July 13, 1966... ...............

Aug. 18, 1966..................

Sept. 22, 1966..................

Oct. 27, 1966..................

._....-.-.- 2,800

.............. 496

..-....-.....- 810

.............. 3,390

- .--.-.._. 3,190

.............. 945

.............. 3,140

..-.. ._-... 476 ..

.............. 684

.............. 440

...... .. 486

.............. 1,532

16 9.0 

16 8.8 

........ 8.0

........ 7.5

........ 6.5

........ 8.2

........ 7.7

........ 10.0

........ 12.0

........ 9.2

........ 8.6

........ 8.7

0.23 

.12 

.35 

.10 

.29 

.38 

.12 

.15 

.10 

.08 

.04

0.18

0.02 

.00 

.01 

.01 

.00 

.03 

.07 

1.2 

.04 

.04 

.02

0.13

17 

26 

22 

19 

7.8 

28 

17 

31 

28 

34 

30

24

7-0688.5 Current River near Pocahontas

July 26, 1966.................

i sun 24 ............ 35 

7-0688.8 Mud Creek near Ingrain

Nov. 17,1964. 1.20 9.0 0.00 67 

7-0688.9 Fourche River above Pocahontas

Sept. 10, 1963..................

Oct. 28, 1965.. ................

Tlllv 97 1OAA

............... 18

............... 50

............... 2,100

QA

13

17

8.9

9.0

8.1

0.01

.24

.10

0.00

.00

.00

55

55

30
Date of collection

Chloride Fluoride Nitrate 

(Cl) (F) (NOi)

Phosphate I 

(P04) a

Phos- Dissolved

Hardness 

as CaCOs

is PO< (residue Calcium- Nonc

at 180° C) magne- bon

slum 

7-0640 Black River near Corning >

Nov. 9, 1965.................

Dec. 16, 1965---.. ........ ...

Jan. 19,1966.................

Feb. 17, 1966................

Mar. 31, 1966................

July 13, 1966. ............. ..

Aug. 18, 1966................

Oct. 27, 1966................

1 2

......... 2.3

2 2

1.2

......... 2.2

2 5

......... 1.1

......... 3.3

2 1

......... 2.1

......... 2.0

......... 2.0

0.1 

.0 

.0 

.0 

.0 

.3 

.1 

.1 

.1 

.1 

.0

0.1

0.3 

.6 

.3 

1.0 

.4 

.0 

.0 

.5 

.0 .

.0 

.0 .

0.3

0.01 

.07 

.00 

.03 

.04 

.08 

.00 ..

.00 ..

.02 ..

0.03

0. 10 93 

. 10 172 

. 10 115 

.08 96 

.04 64 

.08 128 

........ 93

------- 150

........ 149

........ 156

0. 08 122

88 

131 

100 

86 

42 

120 

84 

131 

120 

147 

153

109

7-0688.5 Current River near Pocahontas

July 26, 1966................ ........ U65 162 

7-0688.8 Mud Creek near Ingram

Nov. 17,1964......................... 1.8 0.0 0.1 ........ 279 299 

7-0688.9 Fourche River above Pocahontas

July 27, 1966. ...............

......... 5.0

......... 2.7

......... 1.0

0.0 

.1 

.2

0.1 

.0 .

.5

........ 253

........ 273

0. 04 145 

........ 2222 ...

244 

269 

125

See footnotes at end of table. 
TABLE 3. Selected chemical analyses of water from streams that traverse Rando

Mean Water Silica 

Date of collection discharge temper- (SiO2) 

(cfs) ature

Iron Manga- Calcium Mag

(Fe) nese (Ca) siu

(Mn) (M

7-0690 Black River at Pocahontas

Oct. 7, 1965..... -------

Nov. 8, 1965. 

Dec. 15, 1965 

Jan. 18, 1966 ------------

Feb. 18, 1966........ ...........

Mar. 31, 1966.... -.

JuneS, 1966.. . ...

July 13, 1966.... .

July 27, 1966..... ... .... 

Aug. 19, 1966-. 

Sept. 23, 1966 .

Oct. 28, 1966-. -

.... .... 4,200

- -.-.- 1,820

.............. 2,890

- --. -. 10,700

............... 18,000 ..

.._- ____ 3,450

- .. . 6,160

 . . 2,160

9 "un

 . .... 3,920

...... ........ 1,850

.............. 2,010

... 4,960

16 8.8 

17 8.5 

........ 8.5

- 7.3

 ... 6.7

... .... . 6.9

..... ... 7.9

........ 11

.... ..- 7.3

.... 9.5

........ 8.4

........ 8.2

0.24 

.13 

.21 

.27 

.22 

.17 

.20 

.07

'.01 

.05 

.11

0.15

0.03 

.01 

.00 

.00 

.00 

.03 

.06 

.05

.00 

.01 

.01

0.02

22 

31 

31 

15 

15 

30 

24 

39 

25 

39 

32 2

27 

7-0694 Janes Creek at Ravenden Springs

Aug. 13, 1963-........ 

Oct. 28, 1965... .........

Apr. 25, 1966.. .............

July 27, 1966...... ............ .

 -- _ 7.19-

 - .... 7.75

 ... ..-. 430

 8.15 ..

------ 10 _-

16 8.9 

17 8.3

0.06 

.29

0.00 

.00

28 

58 

34 

7-0695 Spring River at Imboden

Sept. 10, 1963..... .............

July 27, 1966......... ..........

........ ...... 369

 .... 545

.. 8.7

26 .....

0.01 0.00 47 

48 2

7-0720 Eleven Point River near Ravenden Sprin

Sept. 9, 1963 _ ................

July 27, 1966....--------.

 ..-. . 424

- ... .... 653

........ 8.3

26 ............

0.00 0.00 53 

43 

7-0728.3 Big Running Water Creek near Alicia

July 26, 1966... ....................... «45 26 -.- .- 17 
Hardness 

Phos- Phos- Dissolved as CaCOa 

Date of collection (Cl) (F) (NO3) (POi) as PO< (residue Calcium Non

at 180" C) magne- bon

sium 

7-0690 Black River at Pocahontas

Nov. 8, 1965.... .... .........

Dec. 15, 1965....-...-...-.

Jan. 18, 1966.... ............ .

Feb. 18, 1966.. ..............

July 13, 1966.....-.--.-....-

T«lt7 *>7 IQfifi

Aug. 19, 1966 ........... ..

Sept. 23, 1966.. ..............

Oct. 28, 1966 ...........

Averaee . .

........ 1.6

.... .. 2.8

2 4

.-.. 1.3

.---.-.. 1.1

......... 1.8

......... 1.5

......... 2.7

......... 1.6

......... 2.1

......... 1.8

......... 1.9

0.0

.0

.1

.1

.0

.2

.1

.1

.0

.1

.0

0.1

0.3

.8

.5

.3

.3

.0

6.1

.5

.0

.0

.0 ..

0.8

0.04

.06

.01

.08

.03

.06

.01 ..

.02

.01 ..

.01 ..

0.03

0.08

.17

.05

.09

.10

.07

.07

0.09

130

170

146

88

95

145

113

155

2 137 ...

109

160

176

135

113

156

144

69

78

137

105

155

108

168

179

128

7-0694 Janes Creek at Ravenden Springs

Ang. 13, 1963.. ........

Oct. 28, 1965 . ..........

Apr. 25, 1966..... ......

July 27, 1966...... ..........

......... 1.4 0.2 0.2 ...

......... 1.6 .1 .0 ...

......... .9 .1 .8 ...

........ .......... 176

.................. 255

........ 0.04 150

.................. 2210 ...

177 

289 

151

7-0695 Spring River at Imboden

Sept. 10, 1963 ..........

July 27, 1966........ ........

Rftnt Q 1 Qfift

July 27, 1966..... ...........

......... 4.0 0.0 0.1 ...

7-0720

......... 3.0 0.0 0.6. ..

.................. 236

.................. "204

232 

235

Eleven Point River near Ravenden Sprin

.................. 208

.................. U76

202 

202

7-0728.3 Big Running Water Creek near Alicia

July 26, 1966.. . ............

2224 68 

See footnotes at end of table.
TABLE 6. Selecte'.d chemical analyses of water from sin

Mean Water Silica 

Date of collection discharge tempera- (SiCh) 

(cfe) ture (° C)

zams the

Iron ! 

(Fe)

it traverse Kandinp

tlanga- Calcium M

nese (Ca) nes

(Mn) (M

7-0742.48 South Big Creek near Strawberry

Nov. 17, 1964 ___- ..................... 21.4 .......... 7.5 .. 0.00 25 

7-0743 Strawberry River near Strawberry

Oct. 28, 1965...---.........

Apr. 26, 1966.... ........ ...

July 27, 1966...................

 ... 165

 . . 4,970

non

15 7.4 

17 7.5

0.14 

.16

0.00 51 

.00 26

7-0746 Village Creek at Walnut Ridge

Aug. 13, 1963........ ........ -.... . 4,67 ... ....... 28 - ........ 36 

7-0746.4 Village Creek near Minturn

July 26, 1966 . ..... MO 27 -.--... ........ 21 

7-0773.8 Cache River at Epypt «

Oct. 5, 1965-- 

Nov. 10, 1965 

Dec. 14, 1965 

Feb. 16, 1966--. ... ... .....

Mar 30, 1Q«6

Apr. 26, 19d6 ..--

July 12, 1966 

Titlv 9J? IQfifi

Sept. 20, 1966. 

Oct. 25, 1966-- 

fiftl

.............. 35.6

.... . 827

.. ....- 3,940

... 2,670

I7*?

--..... . 4,500

 ........ 1,170

 . 88.3 ...

. .. . 1,400

.............. 756

. . ... 131

.............. 54

. .... 1,360

16 7.6 

16 24 

....... 9.7

 3.8

....... 4.4

....... 21

18 4.7 ..

.... 2.3

....... 21

.... ... 11

.... ... 22

 18

 . 11

2.4 

.23 

.82 

.33 

.69 

.i5

1.5 

.21

1.4 

.18 

.91

0.83

0. 01 9. 5 

.00 41 

.00 7 

.00 1.3 

.00 2.9 

1. 0 *A 

.00 3.8 

.5 9.5 

.68 40

.13 9 

.22 36 

.04 26

0.22 18
Date of collection

Chloride Fluoride Nitrate 

(Cl) (F) (NOi)

Phos- Phosphate phorus 

(P04) as P0< (

a

Dis- Hardness as C

solids Calcium- No

residue magne- carb

t!80°C) sium a

7-0742.48 South Big Creek near Strawberry

Nov 17 1964 '.._-__-_- 1.7 0.0 0.1 153 157 

7-0743 Strawberry River near Strawberry

Oct. 28, 1966. . ..............

July 27, 1966 ............

.----..- 2.2

......... 1.0

0.2 

.2

0.1 

.6 .-._______ 0.04

214 

136 

2140 -----

227 

115

7-0746 Village Creek at Walnut Ridge

Aug. 13, 1963-- ......... . 0.6 0.3 0.6 201 152 

7-0746.4 Village Creek near Minturn

July 26, 1966 .......... 2230 85 

7-0773.8 Cache River at Epypt *

Oct. 5, 1965... ..............

Nov. 10, 1965-----.-.-.-.

Dec. 14, 1966.. ..............

Feb. 16, 1966....... .........

Mar. 30, 1966- 

Apr. 26, 1966-........ .......

June 7, 1966- . 

July 12, 1966 ..............

July 25, 1966 ...... -... 

Aug. 18, 1966------.-------.

Sept. 20, 1966 . 

Oct. 25, 1966---- . ....

........ 2.5

------ 6.0

......... 5.0

------- 1.2

.- ...- 1.7

------- 3.4

......... 1.4

.-- ... 1.4

......... 6.8

.--..--.. 1.3

......... 8.1

....--... 5.7

......... 3.6

0.1 

.2 

.2 

.2 

.2 

.2 

.3 

.2 

.2

.1

.2 

.2

0.2

0.8 

.3 

.6 

.5 

.5 

.1 

.8 

10 

.0

1.9 

.1 

.1

1.3

0. 05 0. 06 

.09 .19

.02 ..........

.04 .08

.08 ..... 

0. 06 0. 11

90 

220 

114 

76 

50 

162 

37 

50 

187 

268 -----

"66 

181 

163

113

44 

152 

28 

13 

16 

115 

14 

30 

136

34 

128 

104

68

1 24 miles upstream from Randolph-Clay County line.

z Calculated from specific conductance.

3 In solution when analyzed.

*Estimated.

8 2.4 miles downstream from Lawrence-Craighead County line.

6 Calculated value.
B22 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UFITED STATES

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WATER, RANDOLPH AND LAWRENCE COUNTIES, ARK. B23

3 91°15' 2 MISSOURI R. 1 W. 91°00' R. 1 E. 2 R. 3 E.

[LAWRENCE

INDEPENDENCE CO

*GREENE CO 

CRAIGHEAD CO

EXPLANATION

, 7-0694

Sampling station and station number 

In downstream order as used by 

the Water Resources Division, 

U.S. Geological Survey

300 

i I

 L J

Circle diameter

Represents dissolved-solids content typical during periods of 

low flow, in milligrams per 

liter

61-120 121-180 181-300 

Hardness as calcium carbonate during periods of low 

flow, in milligrams per 

liter

FIGURE 8. Dissolved-solids content and hardness as CaCO« at sampling stations 

during periods of low flow.
B24 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

Duration curves for dissolved-solids content and temperature of 

Spring River at Imboden and Black River near Corning are shown in 

figure 9. These curves are based on information collected daily from 

October 1, 1956, to September 30, 1959. Examination of the limited 

information available on the chemical quality of surface water in 

the area indicates that the temperature and dissolved-solids duration 

curves for streams that drain the Coastal Plain would be similar to 

those of Black River near Corning. Chemical analyses of water from 

streams in the Interior Highlands indicate that the temperature and 

dissolved-solids duration curves for highland streams would be similar 

to those of Spring River at Imboden.

The temperature-duration curves in figure 9 indicate that the temperature of surface water in the area ranges from near freezing to 

about 30°C. Intepretation of these curves also indicates that during 

warm weather water in the spring-fed steams of the Interior Highlands is probably several degrees cooler than that in the slower moving 

lowland streams.

275

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 

PERCENTAGE OF TIME VALUE WAS EQUAL TO OR LESS THAN THAT SHOWN

FIGTJEE 9. Dissolved-solids and temperature-duration curves for Spring River at 

Imboden and Black River near Corning (Clay County).
WATER, RANDOLPH AND LAWRENCE COUNTIES, ARK. B25

The turbidity of samples collected from the streams in the study 

area indicates that the silt load of many streams in the Coastal Plain 

may be a problem in developing the streams for water supply. However, insufficient data preclude an accurate evaluation of the sediment 

load of streams in the area.

BACTERIAL QUALITY

Bacterial analyses were made on samples collected at most of the 

surface-water sampling sites. These analyses, made by the Bureau of 

Environmental Engineering of the Arkansas State Department of 

Health, show the bacterial quality of water in the streams only at the 

instant the samples were collected. Several of the streams sampled 

were found to contain coliform bacteria in excess of the suggested limit 

for water used for public swimming. Coliform concentrations much in 

excess of this limit often indicate sewage pollution or pollution from 

animal wastes; but based on the one sampling, very few of the streams 

in the two counties would be classified as polluted streams.

GROUND-WATER RESOURCES

Ground-water reservoirs furnish nearly 80 percent of the total 

amount of water used in Randolph and Lawrence Counties. Eightyfour percent of the inhabitants of the two counties depend upon ground 

water for their domestic water supply. Ground-water supplies sufficient for household and nonirrigation farm use can be obtained from 

wells nearly everywhere in the two counties. Larger supplies of ground 

water generally can be obtained only from wells in the Coastal Plain.

Wells mentioned in this report are referred to by location numbers, 

which are based upon the Federal land-survey system as used in Arkansas. The system of locating and numbering wells is illustrated in 

figure 10.

COASTAL PLAIN PROVINCE 

AVAILABILITY

The Coastal Plain of Randolph and Lawrence Counties is underlain 

by alluvial deposits of Quaternary age, except for a small area in southwestern Lawrence County. This small area is immediately underlain 

by windblown silt of Quaternary age (loess), sand and gravel of 

Tertiary age, and deposits of Cretaceous age (Nacatoch Sand). The 

loess in Lawrence County is the only unit that does not yield water 

to wells.

DEPOSITS OF QUATEENABT AGE

The principal aquifer in the area of this report is the alluvial deposits of Quaternary age. In most places these deposits grade downward, from silt and clay at the surface to a basal sand and gravel.
B26 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

Well 18N-lE-34abd

R.5W. 432 R.1W. R.1E. 234 567 R.8E.

T.21 

20 

19 

18 

17 

16

15

14

13

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1

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1

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R. 1 E.

T. 

18 

N.

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7

18

19

30

31

5

8

17

20

29

32

4

9

16

21

28

33

3

10

15

22

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34

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R.9E. 1O 11 12 E

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Sec. 34

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35

, 1

12

13

24

<5

36

x

X

b a

 b ' 

c xa

X

o<

x" ** 

b a

 C 

c d

b a

c/J d

c d 

V 

b a

- cl -

c d

* . 1 mi IP *J

FIGURE 10. Well-numbering system.

Wells that have the largest yields are screened in the coarse gravel at 

the base of these deposits. The Quaternary deposits in Kandolph and 

Lawrence Counties generally increase in thickness to the southeast and 

reach a maximum thickness of about 180 feet; but well logs indicate 

that in most places the base of this aquifer is at depths of 80-130 feet 

below land surface. To utilize the full water-supply potential of the 

Quaternary deposits, wells should penetrate the thickness of the 

aquifer. The thickness of the Quaternary deposits is shown in figure 11.
WATER, RANDOLPH AND LAWRENCE COUNTIES, ARK. B27

35° R. 4 W 3 91°15' 2 MISSOURI R. 1 W. 91'00' R. I E.

LLAW

INDEPENDENCE OCfVOO

EXPLANATION

Western boundary of 

Quaternary deposits

In most places, coincides 

with Fall Line

Line of equal thickness of

Quaternary deposits 

Queried where doubtful. Interval 25 feet

FIGTJEE 11. Thickness of deposits of Quaternary age. (From Krinitzsky and

Wire, 1964.)

Irrigation wells in the Quaternary deposits generally range from 

10 to 14 inches in diameter and yield about 1,000 gpm (gallons per minute) , or more than 4.4 acre-feet per day. Well yields of as much as 1,300 

gpm were measured during this investigation, and some irrigation 

wells were reported to yield more than 2,000 gpm.
B28 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

The yield per foot of drawdown in the water level is a measure of 

the ability of the ground-water reservoir to yield water and of the 

efficiency of the well. The yields per foot of drawdown, or specific 

capacities, of five wells in the deposits of Quaternary age are given in 

table 5. The specific capacities of these wells range from 18 to 90 gpm 

per foot of drawdown. These specific capacities indicate that the 

Quaternary aquifer is moderately to highly permeable.

TABLE 5. Specific capacity of selected wells in deposits of Quaternary age in 

Randolph and Lawrence Counties, Ark.

Static measurements

Well location

16N-lE-lldbd......

16N-lE-26aad.__.__

16N-2E-6aac . ....

17N-2E-4abb. _ ...

20N-2E-13daa......

County

.......do.........

 ....do.. ....

.......do.........

Water level 

(feet below 

land 

surface)

»13

20.90 

120 

U8 

8.06

Date

4- -66 11-8-66 

4- -66 

4- -66 4-11-66

Pumping measurements

Water level 

(feet below 

land 

surface)

35.00 

28.40 

31.84 

32.60 

34.98

Date

7-14-66 

11-8-66 

7-27-66 

7-26-66 

7-26-66

Well yield 

(gpm)

900 

675 

875 

1,050 

480

Specific 

capacity 

(gpm per 

ft of drawndown)

41 

90 

74 

72 

18

1 Static water levels, spring 1966, taken from water-level contour map.

Water levels in the Quaternary deposits generally are less than 20 

feet below land surface and fluctuate only a few feet. The configuration of the water table in the spring and the fall of 1966 is shown in 

figures 12 and 13. Average surface-water elevations for 30 days prior to 

the water-level measurements were used to help define the water table 

near Black, Current, and Cache Rivers. Inasmuch as the movement of 

ground water is perpendicular to the contour lines, figures 12 and 13 

indicate that the large streams in the Coastal Plain, particularly the 

Black River, receive ground water from the Quaternary aquifer in 

most of the two-county area. In general, ground-water movement is 

both toward and with the major streams. Rate of movement depends 

upon aquifer characteristics and the gradient. In the area of this report, the rate of movement ranges from more than 100 feet per year 

near pumping wells and large streams to about 10 feet per year 

elsewhere.

Figure 14 shows the water-level declines from spring to fall 1966. 

In areas adjacent to the Black and Current Rivers where the decline 

was in response to the stage of the stream, the seasonal water-level decline exceeded 3 feet. Seasonal declines were generally less than 1 foot 

in the southeastern part of the area, where irrigation is greatest. Such 

declines are not unusual for the normally dry growing season. The fact 

that water levels generally recover during the wet winter and spring 

months is illustrated in figure 15, which shows long-term hydrographs
WATER, RANDOLPH AND LAWRENCE COUNTIES, ARK. B29

36° R. 4 W ___3 91*15' 2 MISSOURI R 1 W. _91*00' R. 1 E. 

30'I ~~ / ""1 ^KANSAS I~ 1 "*" 

T71 '

'0*45'

EXPLANATION

Western boundary of 

Quaternary deposits Water-table contour 

In most places, coincides Shows elevation of the water table. Dashed where 

urith Fall Line approximately located; queried where doubtful.

Contour interval 5 feet. Datum is mean sea

level 

Well used for control

FIGURE 12. Configuration of the water table in deposits of Quaternary age,

spring 1966.
B30 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

3 91"15' 2 MISSOURI R. t W. 91"00' R. 1 E 2 R. 3 E.

Western boundary of

Quaternary deposits

In most places, coincides

with Fall Line

EXPLANATION

Water-table contour

Shows elevation of the water table. Dashed where 

approximately located; queried where doubtful. 

Contour interval 5 feet. Datum is mean sea 

level

Well used for control

FIGURE 13. Configuration of the water table in deposits of Quaternary age,

fall 1966.
WATER, RANDOLPH AND LAWRENCE COUNTIES, ARK. B31

3 91°15' 2 MISSOURI R 1 W. 91°00' R. 1 E. R. 3 E.

_GREENE CO 

CRAIGHEAD CO

1 LAWKEN' 

INDEPENDENCE CO

EXPLANATION

Western boundary of Quaternary deposits 

In most places, coincides with Fall Line

 

Well used for control

1.00 or less 1.01-3.00 3.01-6.00 

Water-level decline, in feet

FIGUBE 14. Water-level declines in deposits of Quaternary age, spring to

fall 1966.
B32 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

5 10

J 20

I 5

ti 

co

w 10

15

10

20

A V

18N-lE-34abd

A.

v

ISN-'lW-l'lddd

1953 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 1966

YEARS

FIGURE 15 Hydrographs of wells 19N-2E-9dbd, 18N-lE-34abd, and 

15N-lW-llddd.

of three wells in deposits of Quaternary age. Although water levels in 

these wells have fluctuated as much as 20 feet during the period of record, the hydrographs indicate that there are no continuing declines 

due to pumpage. The largest fluctuations in these hydrographs are 

generally due to abnormal amounts of rainfall or to the influence of 

nearby streams. Although irrigation wells withdraw annually about 

6.8 billion gallons (20,868 acre-ft) of water from the ground-water 

reservoir, the small seasonal water-level declines and the lack of significant declines during the last 10 years indicate that there are no 

serious ground-water-supply problems in the Quaternary deposits of 

these two counties.

The Quaternary deposits are capable of supplying water to many 

more wells than are presently in use, but well spacing should be considered carefully before additional high-yield wells are installed. The 

greater the distance between wells, the smaller the influence one well 

has on another. The results of studies in Jackson and Independence 

Counties (Albin and others, 1967), which border the project area, indicate that high-yield wells in the Quaternary deposits should be spaced 

more than a thousand feet apart. This spacing would avoid excessive 

mutual interference between wells and would result in high pumping 

levels and lower pumping costs.
WATER, RANDOLPH AND LAWRENCE COUNTIES, ARK. B33

DEPOSITS OF TERTIARY AGE

Sands and Gravels. Sands and gravels of Tertiary age crc^ out in 

several small areas near the Fall Line in southwestern Lawrence 

County (fig. 2). These deposits are relatively thin and of limited areal 

extent and are utilized for small domestic supplies.

Wilcox Group. The Wilcox Group, which consists of silt, clay, 

and sand, and minor amounts of lignite, does not crop out in the report 

area. The unit, however, is present in the subsurface directly beneath 

the Quaternary alluvium in extreme southeastern Lawrence County, 

where the Wilcox is less than 200 feet thick. At the present time (1967), 

the Wilcox Group is not utilized as a source of water in th°. report 

area. However, a study by Hosman, Long, Lambert, and other? (1968) 

suggests that the Wilcox Group may be a potential source of water 

in southeastern Lawrence County (fig. 16). This study indicates that 

wells drilled into the Wilcox would be artesian and that water levels 

probably would rise to within about 60 feet of the land surface. Well 

yields cannot be predicted for the Wilcox in this area, but the unit 

probably contains some sand and should be investigated as a possible 

source of water.

DEPOSITS OF CRETACEOUS AGE

The Nacatoch Sand, of Late Cretaceous age, crops out in r, narrow 

band along the Fall Line in southwestern Lawrence County. The formation dips to the southeast at about 40 feet per mile. Sand increases

EXPLANATION

Outcrop of Nacatoch Sand

Area of potential use of 

Wilcox Group

20 MILES

FIGURE 16. Areas of potential development of ground water from the Wilcox 

Group and the Nacatoch Sand.
B34 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

in percentage downdip and makes up 40-60 percent of the formation in extreme southeastern Randolph and eastern Lawrerce Counties. 

The Nacatoch Sand is not utilized as a source of water in the project 

area except for some wells for domestic purposes in the outcrop. However, it yields substantial amounts of water to wells in northeastern 

Clay County, Ark., and in the bootheel of Missouri. A stndy by Boswell, Moore, MacCary, and others (1965) indicates that tH formation 

may be a potential source of water in southeastern Randolph and 

eastern Lawrence Counties (fig. 16). The top of the Nacatoch Sand 

is abount 400 feet below sea level in the southeast corner of Lawrence 

County and is near sea level at the west boundary of the ar^a of potential use. Wells drilled into the Nacatoch probably would be artesian, 

but water levels and well yields cannot be predicted at present.

QUALITY

CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL QUALITY

The Quaternary deposits yield a hard to very hard crlcium magnesium bicarbonate water that is moderately mineralized. The dissolved-solids content of 16 water samples from these deposits (table 6) 

ranged from 153 to 434 mg/1, and averaged 257 mg/1. The hardness as 

CaCO3 ranged from 50 to 349 mg/1, and averaged 174 mg/1. Iron and 

manganese concentrations, which averaged 2.0 and 1.0 mg/1, respectively, often exceeded the 0.30-mg/l limit for iron and tH 0.05-mg/l 

limit for manganese recommended by the U.S. Public Health Service 

(1962) for drinking water. Eight of the 16 samples had combined 

iron and manganese concentrations between 4.1 and 5.1 mg/1. High 

concentrations of iron and manganese cause stains on clothing and 

plumbing fixtures. Manganese is less common than iror in ground 

water, but it is more stable and more difficult to remove. Aeration of 

water containing high concentrations of iron and manganese will generally precipitate most of the iron and some of the manganese. There 

is no apparent pattern in the occurrence of these high concentrations 

of iron and manganese nor is there an apparent relation to the dissolved-solids content (fig. 17). The data in table 6 show that three 

samples (from wells 12,14, and 16) were found to contain abnormally 

high concentrations of nitrate and chloride ions. The relatively high 

concentrations of these ions did not exceed the limits recommended 

for drinking water; but they indicate the possible contamination of 

the ground water by sewage, drainage from barnyards, or by commercial fertilizers.

Although the quality of water from the deposits of Quaternary age 

is such that treatment is necessary to make the water suitable for 

public-supply purposes, the water is used without treatment through-
WATER, RANDOLPH AND LAWRENCE COUNTIES, ARK. B35

3 91°15' 2 MISSOURI R 1 W. 91°00' R. 1 E R. 3 E.

E CO

LLAW 

INDEPENDENCE CO

EXPLANATION

Western boundary of Quaternary deposits 

In most places, coincides with Fall Line

Location of well from which 

sample was collected and 

analyzed

0-1.0 1.1-4.0 4.1-5.5

Combined iron and manganese,

in milligrams per liter

(12)

Number in parentheses refers to complete chenical 

analysis in table 6

500 

, I

Circle diameter

Represents dissolved-solids content typical during periods of 

low flow, in milligrams per 

liter

FIGUBE 17. Dissolved-solids and combined iron and manganese content of water 

from selected wells in the Coastal Plain.
TABLE 6. Chemical analyses of water from wells in Quaternary and Tertiary deposi

Counties, Ark, 

[Results in milligrams per liter except as indicated. Dashed leaders indicate samp

Well 

No. 

(fig. 17)

Location

Depth 

Date of of well Silica Iron 

collection (feet) (SiO2) (Fe)

Manganese 

(Mn)

Cal- Mag- Socium nesium dium 

(Ca) (Mg) (Na)

Potas- Bicarsium bonate Sulfa

(K) (HCOa) (S0<)

Quaternary deposits

I... ........

2...........

3.. . ........

4

5. .......

6...........

7 .

8... ...... ..

9.. ......

10.. .-...

11... .......

12... .......

13... .......

14 .......

15..........

16. ......

15N-1E-13CCC... 

15N-lW-19dcc. . 

16N-lE-4dadL. 

-31ccc 

16N-2E-10bac... 

-34bdb_. 

17N-lE-12cbd.._ 

-33aaa__ 

-34aca 1 .. 

-34abdi. 

17N-2E-9cbC 

17N-lW-27adc... 

18N-lE-L5abb_- 

18N-2E-3cdd._. 

-26aaa._ 

20N-2E-36daa..

6-15-66 

6-16-66 

2- -65 .

6-16-66 

7-20-65 

6-15-66 

10-26-62 

6-15-66 

7- -64 

5- -64 

6-15-66 

6-15-66 

6-15-66 .

6-14-66 

7-20-65 

6-14-66

58 

50

35 

81 

60 

120 

38 

130 -

130 ..

28 

23

21 

105 

36

65

35 0.84 

41 3.4 

 ... 2.3

44 3.0 

34 4.8 

34 3.4 

19 .11 

40 3.0 

...... 2.4

...... .3

40 2.9 

21 .04 

33 1.4 

41 .54 

41 3.2 

43 .00

36 2.0

0.01 

1.7 

1.3 

1.9 

.01 

.34 

.01 

1.4 

2.6 

.7 

2.0 

.02 

2.7 

.14 

1.2 

.01

1.0

51 

38 

52 

35 

81 

51 

39 

40 

49 

63 

102 

37 

33 

47 

60 

12

49

12 

12 

15 

10 

19 

13 

9.8 

7.1 

11 

15 

23 

12 

12 

10 

15 

4.8

12

22 

7.7 

8 

9.6 

15 

12 

7.0 

3.7 

11 

16 

21 

26 

13 

27 

6.9 

14

14

2.5 

1.6 

1.7 

1.2 

1.8 

1.7 

2.0 

2.6 

1.5 

2.6 

2.5 

21 

3.8 

2.3 

1.4 

1.4

3.2

272 

178 

201 

172 

376 

260 

151 

156 

165 

200 

450 

122 

150 

140 

269 

30

206

0.6 

11 

15 

12 

1.6 

.0 

19 

13 

14 

40 

27 

44 

26 

43 

1.8 

18

18

T~rtiary depo-its

17... ...... . 15N-3W-3cca. 9-15-66 33 22 0.02 0.01 99 45 19 1.1 404 77 

1 Chemical analyses obtained from Bureau of Environmental Engineering, Arkansas State Department of Hea
WATER, RANDOLPH AND LAWRENCE COUNTIES, ARK. B37

out much of the area for domestic supplies, irrigation, fish farming, 

and some industrial purposes.

Table 6 also contains one chemical analysis of a water sample collected from a well in the outcrop of the Tertiary sands and gravels. 

Ground water from these sediments is higher in dissolved-solids content and hardness than is the water from the deposits of Quaternary 

age. The water is a calcium magnesium bicarbonate type and has a 

relatively high noncarbonate hardness and sulfate concentration.

The quality of water from the Wilcox Group in the area of potential 

use in southeastern Lawrence County is unknown. However, east of 

the project area the Wilcox yields a sodium bicarbonate water with a 

dissolved-solids content ranging from 100 to 150 mg/1. The iron content is variable, but it generally is much lower than the iron content 

of the water from the deposits of Quaternary age.

No chemical analyses of water from the Nacatoch Sand of Cretaceous age were available for the area of this report. However, studies 

of the Cretaceous aquifers in the Mississippi embayment indicate that 

the dissolved-solids content is fairly low in the outcrop in Missouri, 

and that the water is commonly of the calcium bicarbonate type. In 

the outcrop of Nacatoch Sand in Lawrence County, the water is probably soft and of the same type as that in Missouri. Downdip from the 

outcrop, the sodium chloride and dissolved-solids content probably 

increases, as is generally true in Missouri. Studies by Gushing (1966) 

indicate that in southeastern Eandolph and eastern Lawrence Counties, where the Nacatoch Sand is a potential source of water, tl °, water 

may have a high sodium chloride content and may have dissolvedsolids concentrations of more than 1,000 mg/1. Such highly mineralized 

water would be unsuitable for most uses.

Ground-water temperatures in the Coastal Plain are relatively constant. They fluctuate only a few degrees and normally range from 

16°C to 18°C in the shallower aquifers. Ground-water temperatures 

in the deeper aquifers are slightly higher.

BACTERIAL QUALITY

Samples of water from 11 of the private wells represented in table 

6 were analyzed for coliform bacteria by the Bureau of Environmental 

Engineering of the Arkansas State Department of Health. Samples 

from two of the 11 wells contained coliform bacteria and did not meet 

public-water-supply standards. The relatively small percertage of 

samples containing coliform bacteria indicates that the contamination 

generally is due to local conditions, such as the location and construction of the wells. Wells which are more than 50 feet from septic tanks 

or other sewage-disposal systems and which are protected against sur-
B38 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UFITED STATES

face contamination are normally free from pollution by coliform bacteria. The sand and gravel in the deposits of the Coastal Plain serve 

as a filter, and bacterial pollution generally is confined to areas near 

the sewage-disposal facilities.

INTERIOR HIGHLANDS 

AVAILABILITY

Ground water is not so plentiful in the consolidated rocks of the Interior Highlands part of Randolph and Lawrence Counties as it is in 

the Coastal Plain part. However, small quantities of water are available from wells nearly everywhere in the limestone anc1 dolomite of 

Paleozoic age that underlie the Interior Highlands. Because the limestone and dolomite are dense and consolidated, ground water is available only from the secondary openings, such as joints, fractures, and 

solution cavities. The successful completion of a well in the Interior 

Highlands depends almost entirely upon the number and size of the 

secondary openings that are penetrated. The occurrence of the secondary openings is difficult to predict; but these joints, fractures, and solution channels generally are more numerous near the surface. Where 

water is not obtained within depths of about 250 feet, a new location 

generally will present a better chance of finding water than will deepening of the hole. Most wells in the highlands are less than 200 feet 

deep, but some are as much as TOO feet deep.

Drilled wells in the highlands seldom exceed 6 inches in diameter, 

and most yield 10 gpm or less. Although some wells less than 200 feet 

deep in the highlands, in and near the area of this report, yield enough 

water for small municipal supplies, the only municipality in the two 

counties that depends upon ground water for its public supply is Black 

Bock, which obtains water from an abandoned mine shaft.

Water levels in the Interior Highlands differ considerably from one 

well to another, and there is no apparent areal relationship of water 

levels. In the spring of 1966, water-level measurements made in 20 

wells ranged from 5 to 83 feet below land surface and averaged about 

30 feet below land surface. Measurements made in the fall of that 

same year indicated that water levels had declined as much as 30 feet 

in some wells, and that the average seasonal decline was about 10 feet.

Two deeper formations, the Roubidoux and the Gunter Sandstone 

Member of the Van Buren Formation of Paleozoic age, are potential 

sources of ground water in the highlands. The water-supply potential 

of these formations has not been explored in the area of this report; 

but wells to the north and west of this area indicate that the top of 

the upper formation, the Rou'bidoux, is probably between 200 and 400 

feet above sea level in northern Randolph County and becomes pro-
WATER, RANDOLPH AND LAWRENCE COUNTIES, ARK. B39

gressively deeper to the southeast. The Gunter, if present, is probably 

600-800 feet below the Roubidoux. These formations may have waterupply potential throughout the report area, but in the southern part 

of Randolph County and in Lawrence County; these formations may 

be at depths that would make their use economically impractical for 

other than municipal and industrial water supplies.

QUALITY

CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL QUALITY

The mineral content of ground water in the Interior Highlands is 

related closely to the mineral content of the geologic formatior. Water 

in the limestone and dolomite of this area is primarily of the calcium 

and magnesium bicarbonate type and is very hard. Chemical analyses 

of water from 14 wells in the Interior Highlands are given in table 7. 

The dissolved-solids content of the ground-water samples (table 7) 

ranges from 324 mg/1 to 532 mg/1. The average dissolved-solids content of the 14 samples is 394 mg/1, which is considerably higHr than 

the average dissolved-solids content of water from the Qurternary 

deposits, given in table 6. The higher dissolved-solids content is due 

primarily to the fact that ground water in the highlands is much 

harder than that in the Quaternary deposits. The hardness as CaC03 

of the water samples in table 7 ranges from 283 mg/1 to 495 mg/1 and 

averages 368 mg/1. Four of the 14 ground-water samples listed in this 

table contained more than 400 mg/1 hardness as CaC03 . Figure 

18 shows that the hardness of ground water throughout the 

Interior Highlands varies randomly. Although the dissolved solids, 

iron, and manganese content of ground water in the highlands occasionally exceeds the limits recommended by the U.S. Public Health 

Service for drinking water, the hardness is the most troublesome property of the water. Ground water in the highlands is used withont treatment for rural, domestic, and some industrial uses; but to be suitable 

for municipal supplies and many industrial uses the water would 

require softening.

Ground-water temperatures in the Interior Highlands normally 

range from 16°Ctol8°C and reflect the average annual air temperature. Ground-water temperatures increase slightly with depth,

Wells that tap the Roubidoux and the Gunter to the north and west 

of the report area yield moderately mineralized calcium and magnesium bicarbonate type water which is hard and often contains high 

concentration of iron. The water in the report area will probably be of 

the same general type, but the lack of data precludes an accurate 

appraisal of its quality.
B40 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

36° R- 4 W 3 91°15' 2 MISSOURI R. t W. 91°00' R. 1 E. 

30'

GREENE CO 

CRAIGHEAD CO

> V 

[ LAWRENCE COA

EXPLANATION

(1)

Location of well from which 

sample was collected and 

analyzed

Circle diameter

Represents dissolved solids 

content, in milligrams per 

liter

Number in parentheses refers to complete chemical 

analysis in table 7

251-300 301-400 401-500

Hardness as calcium carbonate,

in milligrams per liter

FIGURE 18. Dissolved-solids content and hardness as CaCO3 cf water from 

selected wells in the Interior Highlands.
TABLE

Well No. 

(fig. 18)

1

2 ------

3-. -----

4

5 .... ...

6 -- 

7... ------

8 -----

9 ... 

10 

11 

12 

13. .

14.. -------

7. Chemical analyses of water from wells in Paleozoic rocks of the Interior Hig

[Results in milligrams per liter except as indicated. Color te

Location

17N-lW-19bbb 

-20daci... 

17N-3W-12dda - 

-32ada 

18N-lW-lccd ..

18N-2W-llaab....

-21ccb .. 

19N-lE-10baa .

19N-lW-lcad 

19N-2W-7aaa .. 

20N-2E-3aaa 

21N-1E-13CCC--..

-31dcb--_. 

21N-2W-36cdb -

Date of Depth Man- Cal- Mag- Sodi- Potas- Bicar- Su

collec- of Silica Iron ga- cium nesi- um slum bonate fat

tion well (SiO2) (Fe) nese (Ca) um (Na) (K) (HCOj) (SO

(feet) (Mn) (Mg)

9-15-66 250 17 0.05 0.00 101 40 6.7 1.3 476 12 

4- -65 300 ------ .3 .0 70 30 3 2.5 287 32

9-15-66 75 12 .19 .00 75 39 2.4 1.0 412 4.

9-15-66 80 9.1 .17 .01 99 39 1.3 7.4 498 12 

9-14-66 165 14 .41 .01 64 30 13 3.4 332 1.

9-14-66 135 12 .05 .00 79 40 4.7 .9 446 3.

9-14-66 220 12 .07 .00 71 39 3.6 2.8 408 14 

9-13-66 107 15 .01 .00 81 42 3.4 1.1 454 2.

9-13-36 65 20 .08 .00 65 32 7.0 1.0 334 6.

9-14-66 150 11 .11 .00 81 36 3.1 1.7 404 2.

9-13-66 150 16 .21 .71 85 42 32 2.1 449 56 

9-13-66 90 13 .02 .01 90 42 7.8 3.0 468 21 

9-13-36 ..- . 11 .07 .00 101 59 6.7 1.2 660 13

9-14-66 179 11 .02 .00 87 48 3.4 1.6 468 14

 .... 151 13 0.12 0.05 82 40 7.0 2.2 428 14

1 Chemical analyses obtained from Bureau of Environmental Engineering, Arkansas State Department of H
B42 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

BACTERIAL QUALITY

Water samples collected from 13 private wells in the Interior Highlands part of the area of the report were analyzed for colif orm bacteria 

by the Bureau of Environmental Engineering of the Arkansas State 

Department of Health. Of the 13 water samples analyzed, six were 

found to contain coliform bacteria and did not meet public-water-supply standards. Bacterial pollution of ground water generrlly is local in 

extent and may be due to contamination from nearby barnyards and 

sewage-disposal systems. Contaminated water often is carried from the 

surface into the ground-water supply by the fractures and solution 

channels which at depth constitute the local ground-water reservoir. 

When wells are constructed, safeguards against bacterial contamination such as the proper location and the proper construction of 

wells should be carefully considered.

USE OF WATER

Water was used in Randolph and Lawrence Counties p.t an average 

rate of 26.85 mgd (million gallons per day) in 1965. Of this total, 21 

percent was obtained from streams and surface-water reservoirs, and 

79 percent was obtained from wells. Data on the sources c f supply and 

the major uses of water for 1965 are shown in table 8. The greatest 

water use is of ground water for the irrigation of crop?. The second 

largest use of water is of surface water for irrigation. The irrigation 

of crops, mostly rice, averaged about 23.2 mgd, and 86 percent of all 

water used in the counties was for this purpose.

Surface water was used in 1965 at an average rate of 5.6 mgd in these 

two counties. About 80 percent of this water (4.5 mgd) was used for 

the irrigation of rice and other crops in the Coastal Plain of the two 

counties. The other principal uses of surface water were for the waterTABLE 8. Use of water in Randolph and Lawrence Counties, Ark., 1965

[By principal use and source, in million gallons per day. From Halberg and

Stephens (1966)]

Public supply. _ _ ___

Self-supplied industry. ___ 

Rural use:

Irrigation :

Fish and minnow farms. _

Randolph

Ground 

water

0 

. 02

. 32 

. 05

2.65 

. 32 

0

County

Surface 

water

0.45 

0

0 

.29

1. 12 

. 05 

0

Lawrence

Ground

water

0.71 

0

. 41 

. 05

10. 91 

4. 78 

1. 03

County

Surface 

water

0.02 

0

0

.28

2. 73 

.64 

.02

Percentage 

Total of total for 

all uses

1. 18 

. 02

.73 

.67

17.41 

5.79 

1. 05

4. 4 

0

2.7 

2.5

64. 9 

21. 6 

3. 9

Total_____-___- 3.36 1.91 17.89 3.69 2°. 85 100.0
WATER, RANDOLPH AND LAWRENCE COUNTIES, ARK. B43

ing of livestock (about 0.6 mgd) and for public supply at Poc^.hontas 

and Imboden (about 0.5 mgd combined). The 5.6 million gallons of 

surface water used each day is equal to about 8.7 cfs of streT.mflow. 

This amount of water is less than the 7-day 2-year low flows of nine 

streams in the two counties, four of which have 7-day 2-year k w flows 

greater than 200 cfs. However, only three of the nine streams are in the 

Coastal Plain, where crop irrigation uses large amounts of water.

Ground water was used in Randolph and Lawrence Counties in 1965 

at an average rate of 21.25 mgd. Approximately 20.8 mgd, or 98 percent 

of the ground water used in 1965', was withdrawn from the Quaternary 

deposits of the Coastal Plain. About 88 percent of the ground water 

used in the Coastal Plain was withdrawn for crop irrigation during the 

growing season. The second largest use of ground water in the Coastal 

Plain was for fish and minnow farming, which used about 1 mgd in 

1965.

Ground-water use in the Interior Highlands in 1965 amounted to 

about 0.37 mgd. This was about 2 percent of the ground water used in 

the two counties. The largest use of ground water in the Interior Highlands in 1965 was for rural-domestic and stock purposes. The largest 

single development of ground water was at Black Rock, which used 

about 0.04 mgd in 1965.

CONCLUSIONS

Water is used at an average rate of almost 27 mgd in Randolph and 

Lawrence Counties. Ground-water reservoirs supply 79 percert of the 

water used in the area. Supplies for the large uses municipal, industrial, and irrigation can best be obtained from wells in the Coastal 

Plain part of the counties and from streams in the Interior Highlands 

part.

Four streams, the Black, Current, Eleven Point, and Spring Rivers, 

have 7-day 50-year low flows greater than 200 cfs (129.2 mgd) and, 

without storage, can supply large amounts of water. Five additional 

streams in the project area have flows greater than 13 cfs (8.40 mgd) 

95 percent of the time. Surface-water use is limited in the Coastal 

Plain part of the counties by the lack of suitable reservoir sites, but 

streams in the Interior Highlands offer excellent impoundment possibilities. A comparison between the surface water used and the surface 

water available for use indicates that streams, particularl7 Black 

River and its western tributaries, are sources of large supplies of water 

that are practically untapped. Water from streams throughout the 

area of this report is of excellent quality for irrigation; and with treatment for the reduction of hardness, the water generally is suitable for 

public supply and most industrial uses.

Ground-water reservoirs in the Coastal Plain furnish almost 98 percent of the ground water used in Randolph and Lawrence Counties
B44 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES

and can supply much more water than is presently used. Virtually all 

ground water used in the Coastal Plain is supplied by wells in the 

Quarternary deposits. The irrigation and public-supply wells in this 

formation generally are 80 to 130 feet deep and commonly yield 1,000 

gpm. Water levels in the Quarternary deposits generally are less than 

20 feet below land surface and fluctuate only a few feet. Small seasonal 

water-level declines are common, but there are no long-term declines 

as a result of the annual seasonal withdrawal of about 6.8 billion 

gallons of water for irrigation. Ground water in the Coastal Plain 

part of the area is used without treatment for irrigation ?,nd for many 

domestic supplies, but generally it will require treatment for the 

removal of iron and manganese and for the reduction of hardness 

to make it suitable for municipal and many industrial uses. Two formations, the Wilcox Group and the Nacatoch Sand, both of which lie 

below the Quarternary deposits in the southeastern part of the area, 

are potential sources of water; but the Wilcox Group and Nacatoch 

Sand have not been explored in the area of this report. The quality 

of the water in these formations is unknown, but water in the Nacatoch 

may have a high dissolved-solids content.

In the Interior Highlands of Eandolph and Lawrence Counties, 

ground water occurs in the fractures and solution channels in the consolidated limestone and domolite rocks of Paleozoic age. These rocks 

can supply more water than is presently used; but well yields, which 

are dependent upon the number and size of openings penetrated, are 

generally small. Although some wells and springs in tH area yield 

moderate supplies, most wells yield 10 gpm or less. The v7 ater-bearing 

fractures and solution channels generally are more numerous near 

the surface, and most wells are less than 200 feet deep. Two unexplored formations, the Roubidoux and the Gunter Sandstone Member of the Van Buren Formation, which subcrop beneath the limestone 

and domolite, may be potential sources of water. However, in much of 

the area, the Roubidoux and the Gunter may be at depths that would 

make their use economically impractical except for municipal and 

industrial water supplies. Ground water in the Interior Highlands 

may be more susceptible to local bacterial pollution, due to the nature 

of the aquifer, than is ground water in the Coastal Plain. Ground water 

in the Interior Highlands is used without treatment throMghout much 

of the area, but the water is very hard and has a high dif solved-solids 

content. However, ground water in the Interior Highlar ds has lower 

concentrations of iron and manganese than does ground water in the 

Coastal Plain. With proper sanitary safeguards against bacterial 

pollution and with treatment for reduction of hardness, ground water 

in the Interior Highlands of Randolph and Lawrence- Counties is 

suitable for most uses.
WATER, RANDOLPH AND LAWRENCE COUNTIES, ARK. B45

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scale 1: 500,000. 

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aquifers in the Mississippi embayment, with discussions of Quality of the

Water, by H. G. Jeffery: U.S. Geol. Survey Prof. Paper 448-C, 37 p. 

Caplan, W. M., 1960, Subsurface geology of pre-Everton rocks in northern

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of the United States: U.S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Papers 1050, 1102,

1133, 1163, 1188, 1199, 1252, 1292, 1352, 1402, 1452, 1522, 1573, 1644, 1744,

1884, 1944, 1950. 

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report. 

U.S. Public Health Service, 1962, Drinking water standards: U.S. PubHc Health

Service Pub. 956, 61 p. 

U.S. Salinity Laboratory Staff, 1954, Diagnosis and improvement of saline and

alkali soils: U.S. Dept. Agriculture, Agriculture Handb. 60, 160 p

o