Research and Modeling

The list below provides summaries and links to many of the materials referenced on this site. It does not consititute a complete list of research and modeling of the Southern Hills Aquifer, and this page is periodically updated with additional research materials.

2019, USGS: Simulation of Groundwater Flow and Chloride Transport in the “1,500-Foot” Sand, “2,400-Foot” Sand, and “2,800-Foot” Sand of the Baton Rouge Area, Louisiana.

In 2019, Heywood et al., published an update of their modeling of the Southern Hills Aquifer System. In this particular study, the modeling focused on the 1,500-, 2,400-, and 2,800-foot sands, however the authors note that "Although the model is designed primarily to simulate saltwater encroachment in the “1,500-foot” sand, “2,400-foot” sand, and “2,800-foot” sand, simulation of groundwater flow through overlying and intervening hydrogeologic units improves the simulation in the aquifers of principal concern by accounting for flow between aquifers through confining units and multiaquifer wells, both of which affect aquifer water levels." This approach supports a greater understanding of the Southern Hills Aquifer System as a whole rather than as a sequence of distinct aquifers.

Three scenarios were evaluated for a period from 2017 through 2112. The first scenario simulated a status quo in which 2016 activities continue, the second simulated the effects of discontinuing 10,620 gallons per minute of withdrawals from the “2,800-foot” sand, and the third scenario simulated reallocating 2,000 gal/min of withdrawals from the “1,500-foot” sand to the “2,800-foot” sand. The modeling showed that the third scenario would have negligible effect on the aquifers, however scenario two would cause ground water levels three miles north of the industrial district to be 25–30 feet higher in 2047 than the status quo scenario.

2015, USGS: Simulation of Groundwater Flow and Chloride Transport in the “1,200-Foot” Sand With Scenarios To Mitigate Saltwater Migration in the “2,000-Foot” Sand in the Baton Rouge Area, Louisiana

Heywood and Lovelace's 2015 USGS report modeled six scenarios against a status quo scenario to understand the effects of a scavenger well on the saltwater plume and chloride concentrations in the Baton Rouge area. While reduced usage led the to the greatest modeled improvements in water level in the 2,000-foot sand. However, the simulated scavenger well scenarios provided the greatest modeled impact on the chloride concentrations and saltwater plume extent.

2013, USGS: Simulation of Groundwater Flow in the “1,500-Foot” Sand and “2,000-Foot” Sand and Movement of Saltwater in the“2,000-Foot” Sand of the Baton Rouge Area, Louisiana.

A 2013 USGS report by Charles E. Heywood and Jason Griffith, Simulation of Groundwater Flow in the “1,500-Foot” Sand and “2,000-Foot” Sand and Movement of Saltwater in the“2,000-Foot” Sand of the Baton Rouge Area, Louisiana detailed the results of modeling conducted by USGS in cooperation with the Capital Area Ground Water Conservation Commission, Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, and the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge. In this effort, USGS and partners developed a groundwater flow and saltwater-transport model to evaluate strategies to control saltwater migration, with a particular focus on wells that are placed in the industrial district three miles north of the Baton Rouge Fault.

Five hypothetical scenarios were used to simulate the effects of changes in groundwater withdrawal in the 1,500-foot and 2,000-foot sands. Under Scenario 1, groundwater remained steady at reported 2007 rates. In Scenario 2 the effects of closing seven industrial wells in northwest corner of East Baton Rouge were modeled, and it was predicted that water levels in the 1500-foot sand would be 15-20 foot higher than under Scenario 1. Scenario 3 modeled the use of a scavenger well placed to withdraw water from the base of the 2000-foot sand; this was predicted to reduce chloride concentrations at "all existing [2013] chloride-observation well locations." Scenario 4 modeled the effects of a reduction in withdrawals from the 2000-foot sand in the Baton Rouge industrial district. Modeling showed that a 3.6 Mgal/d reduction in total withdrawals from screened wells would lead to "median and mean plume concentrations [that] are slightly lower than in Scenario 1." Scenario 5 modeled the effects of a closure of all 2000-foot sand wells in the industrial district. Under this scenario, it was predicted that some saltwater intrusion would continue to impact areas of public supply water wells, but there would be a cessation of saltwater intrusion towards the industrial district.

2007, USGS: Chloride Concentrations in East and West Baton Rouge Parishes, 2005-2006

In 2007, USGS published the results of a study, led by John K. Lovelace, of chloride concentrations in the Southern Hills Aquifer System beneath East and West Baton Rouge Parishes. The report, Chloride Concentrations in East and West Baton Rouge Parishes, 2005-2006, used a background (that is, normal) level of chloride of less than 10 milligrams per liter in the aquifers north of the Baton Rouge Fault. Samples taken from one or more wells in Baton Rouge in each of the 600-foot, 1,000-foot, 1,200-foot, 1,500-foot, 1,700-foot, 2,000-foot, 2,400-foot, and 2,800-foot sands showed concentrations above 10 milligrams per liter in all sands tested. The authors then compared the 2004-2005 sampled data with historical data, and found chloride concentrations to be increasing in the 600-foot, 1,000-foot, 1,200-foot, 1,500-foot, 1,700-foot, 2,000-foot, 2,400-foot, and 2,800-foot sands under Baton Rouge.

In the 1,500-foot sand, 11 of 21 sampled well showed chloride concentrations above background levels. In the 2,000-foot sand three of the 25 wells sampled north of the Baton Rouge Fault showed chloride concentrations above background levels. All three of those wells were located between the Baton Rouge Industrial District and the Baton Rouge Fault.

USGS, 1955 Geology and Ground-Water Resources of the Baton Rouge Area

In 1955, when R.R. Meyer and A.N. Turcan Jr. authored the USGS report, Geology and Ground-Water Resources of the Baton Rouge Area, Louisiana, daily withdrawals had increased to about 65Mgal. Meyer and Turcan noted that their analyses of waters from wells just south of Baton Rouge's industrial district indicated contamination by saltwater intrusion within the 600-foot sand. At that time, "the exact location of the fresh water-salt water interface and its rate of movement" had not be ascertained. Much of the groundwater withdrawals were sourced from the 400- and 600-foot sand, with the 400-foot sand being "gradually dewatered" by accelerated pumping of ground water.

Meyer and Turcan advised that "to provide for industrial and municipal development and expansion, consideration should be given to the possibility of developing water from sands of Recent age and those less heavily developed sands. below the 400- and 600-foot aquifers," noting that the 1,200- and 200-foot sands likely offered the greatest potential supply. Additionally, the authors noted that "when new or replacement wells are installed proper spacing between wells is needed in order to prevent excessive mutual interference.

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

Baton Rouge Water: Our Past, Present, and Future

Baton Rouge Water provides public water supply from 65 wells in the Baton Rouge Area. Learn more about their past, present, and ongoing work to insure consistent delivery of fresh water.

Louisiana Department of Natural Resources Groundwater Program

Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality Aquifer Evaluation and Protection

USGS Lower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center

USGS Saltwater Instrusion

The USGS Water Resource's Division provides an overview of saltwater instrusion issues from a global persepective.

Water Institute Project Partners

The Capital Area Ground Water Conservation Commission

The Capital Area Ground Water Conservation Commission has jurisdictional authority over the groundwater resources of the Capital Area Ground Water Conservation District. Their mission is to provide for the efficient administration, conservation, orderly development and supplementation of groundwater resources in the parishes of Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Pointe Coupee, West Baton Rouge and West Feliciana. Their website includes detailed information regarding water usage and permitting and minutes for past meetings of CAGWCC.

United States Geological Survey

USGS has conducted significant modeling of the Southern Hills Aquifer System, particularly of the system's groundwater flow and saltwater intrusion. The USGS Lower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center is a project partner on the current CAGWCC project to develop a long-term strategic plan.

Louisiana State University

Researchers from LSU, led by Dr. Frank Tsai are developing the Groundwater Availability Model.