Honors College Theses

Publication Date

2024

Major

Geology (B.S.)

Document Type and Release Option

Thesis (open access)

Faculty Mentor

Jacque Kelly

Abstract

Since the late 1800s, the oldest cities on the Georgia coast have been withdrawing water from the confined Floridan Aquifer System. As the population has grown, a cone of depression has formed extending from Savannah, GA to St. Catherines Island, GA, a barrier island 50 km southeast of Savannah. On St. Catherines Island, the cone of depression has reversed the lateral and horizontal groundwater flow gradients causing saltwater intrusion into the Upper Floridan Aquifer from the Lower Floridan Aquifer through joints, faults, or solution collapse features. Previous studies from the southern and central areas of the island have found evidence that joints and solution collapse features have formed which may have to do with a fault that cuts across the island. A thorough investigation of the north end of the island has yet to be conducted using electrical resistivity tomography. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to combine ground penetrating radar and electrical resistivity tomography, to see if a fault and other saltwater intrusion pathways are present on the north end of St. Catherines island.

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