Knierim, K.J., Wagner, D.M., Roland, V.L., and Nottmeier, A.M., 2015, Ozark Plateaus seepage run dataset, southern Missouri and northern Arkansas, 1982-2006: U.S. Geological Survey data release, http://dx.doi.org/10.5066/F7W9577Q.
Summary
This dataset compiled 24 years of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) seepage-run data from 15 studies covering southern Missouri and northern Arkansas in the Ozark Plateaus Physiographic Province (Ozarks). Previously these data were only available separately from the original USGS studies. The dataset can be used in surface-water and groundwater investigations assessing water quantity, quality, and availability in the Ozarks. The dataset includes "Ozark Plateaus seepage flow-line dataset, southern Missouri and northern Arkansas, 1982-2006" and "Ozark Plateaus seepage point dataset, southern Missouri and northern Arkansas, 1982-2006". Seepage-run data were collected by measuring discharge at points along a stream, as well as at tributaries [...]
Summary
This dataset compiled 24 years of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) seepage-run data from 15 studies covering southern Missouri and northern Arkansas in the Ozark Plateaus Physiographic Province (Ozarks). Previously these data were only available separately from the original USGS studies. The dataset can be used in surface-water and groundwater investigations assessing water quantity, quality, and availability in the Ozarks. The dataset includes "Ozark Plateaus seepage flow-line dataset, southern Missouri and northern Arkansas, 1982-2006" and "Ozark Plateaus seepage point dataset, southern Missouri and northern Arkansas, 1982-2006".
Seepage-run data were collected by measuring discharge at points along a stream, as well as at tributaries and springs contributing water to that stream. Any differences between the upstream and downstream discharge measurements (greater than the measurement error and taking tributaries/springs into account) were interpreted as gaining streams (if downstream discharge was greater than upstream discharge) or losing streams (if downstream discharge was less than upstream discharge).
The discharge data were originally collected as part of numerous USGS surface-water and groundwater studies to quantify the amount of water gained or lost by streams to aquifers; in some cases the data were collected as part of larger studies, such as groundwater modeling or stream water-quality monitoring. The Ozarks are one of the major karst provinces in the United States and karst geology is characterized by fractures and solution-enlarged conduits in soluble bedrock that allow intimate interaction between surface water and groundwater resources. Therefore, quantifying the interaction between surface water and groundwater is important for a better understanding of water quality and quantity in karst landscapes.
The seepage flow-line reaches are intended to be used with the “Ozark Plateaus seepage point dataset, southern Missouri and northern Arkansas, 1982-2006" and "Ozark Plateaus seepage flow-line dataset, southern Missouri and northern Arkansas, 1982-2006" because seepage-run studies include both point (that is, discharge measurements) and line (that is, stream flow lines between adjacent discharge points) data. Users are additionally encouraged to read the original reports (which are referenced in the “source” attribute field) to fully understand the data collection methods, results, and interpretations of individual seepage-run studies.
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Purpose
This dataset was compiled to summarize discharge measurements from several published groundwater and surface-water studies in the Ozarks of southern Missouri and northern Arkansas. The discharge measurements were part of numerous USGS studies to assess interaction between streams and groundwater aquifers. A gaining stream is described as a surface-water stream that gains water from the groundwater aquifer and a losing stream is described as a surface-water stream that loses water to the groundwater aquifer. This product is intended to be used in surface-water and groundwater investigations assessing water quantity, quality, and availability.
The product includes point data of discharge measurements and flow-line data digitized along National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) flow lines and between adjacent discharge measurements (that is, seepage flow-line reaches). The seepage flow-line reaches include a calculation to determine if discharge between the upstream and downstream measurement points is increasing (termed "Gain"), decreasing (termed "Lose"), or remaining neutral if the net change in discharge is not greater than the error (termed "Neutral"). Original seepage-run studies included estimates of discharge measurement error and some studies estimated error along the seepage flow-line reach; however, because of the variety of ways that error was calculated in the original studies and to create a consistent error estimation for the entire spatial dataset, error was assumed to be 10% of the largest discharge measurement along the seepage flow-line reach. Contribution of discharge from tributaries and springs that emerge before flowing into the stream was taken into account, such that the net change in discharge between the upstream and downstream measurement points was calculated as the downstream discharge minus the total discharge from the upstream measurement point and from tributaries/springs. This calculation quantifies the amount of groundwater flow entering the stream as diffuse or point discharge, presumably into the stream bed. The net change in discharge was additionally calculated as the downstream discharge minus the total discharge from both the upstream measurement point and from surface-water tributaries only. This calculation quantifies the amount of groundwater entering the stream as discrete springs adjacent to the stream and diffuse or point groundwater flow directly to the stream bed. A positive net change in discharge results in the seepage flow-line reach gaining discharge (that is, "Gain") and a negative net change in discharge results in the seepage flow-line reach losing discharge (that is, "Lose"). Designations of gaining, losing, or neutral streams may vary between this dataset and the original studies because of differences in how error was calculated and other interpretations made in the seepage-run studies. Users are encouraged to refer to the source reports for further details about data collection methods, results, and interpretations of stream-aquifer dynamics. This spatial dataset is meant to provide a digital compilation of seepage studies in the Ozarks and to create a consistent dataset across studies completed over 24 years.
