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Use of Seismic Stratigraphy to Identify Conduits for Saltwater Intrusion in the Vicinity of Raritan Bay, New Jersey

2002; Geological Society of America; Volume: 8; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.2113/8.3.209

1558-9161

Stephanie B. Gaswirth, Gail M. Ashley, Robert E. Sheridan,

Methane Hydrates and Related Phenomena

Research Article| March 01, 2002 Use of Seismic Stratigraphy to Identify Conduits for Saltwater Intrusion in the Vicinity of Raritan Bay, New Jersey STEPHANIE B. GASWIRTH; STEPHANIE B. GASWIRTH 1Department of Geological Sciences, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854 Current address: Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado–Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309-0399 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar GAIL M. ASHLEY; GAIL M. ASHLEY 1Department of Geological Sciences, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar ROBERT E. SHERIDAN ROBERT E. SHERIDAN 1Department of Geological Sciences, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information STEPHANIE B. GASWIRTH Current address: Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado–Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309-0399 1Department of Geological Sciences, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854 GAIL M. ASHLEY 1Department of Geological Sciences, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854 ROBERT E. SHERIDAN 1Department of Geological Sciences, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854 Publisher: Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1558-9161 Print ISSN: 1078-7275 Copyright © 2002 Geological Society of America Environmental & Engineering Geoscience (2002) 8 (3): 209–218. https://doi.org/10.2113/8.3.209 Article history First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation STEPHANIE B. GASWIRTH, GAIL M. ASHLEY, ROBERT E. SHERIDAN; Use of Seismic Stratigraphy to Identify Conduits for Saltwater Intrusion in the Vicinity of Raritan Bay, New Jersey. Environmental & Engineering Geoscience 2002;; 8 (3): 209–218. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/8.3.209 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyEnvironmental & Engineering Geoscience Search Advanced Search Abstract Saltwater intrusion into the Potomac-Raritan-Magothy aquifer in the central New Jersey Coastal Plain has contaminated the groundwater in the vicinity of Raritan Bay and resulted in the closing of wells that provide potable water to numerous towns in the region. An understanding of the geologic composition of this region, in particular the three-dimensional geometry, permeability, and physical relationships of adjacent lithologic units, can be obtained from geophysical and coring techniques and sequence stratigraphic data. A meandering Pleistocene channel filled with glacial outwash (sands and gravels) is delineated near the southern shoreline of Raritan Bay using high-resolution seismic data and VibracoresTM. The coarse-grained buried Pleistocene channel deposits and Holocene fine-grained estuarine muds beneath the bay are in contact with the Cretaceous Coastal Plain stratigraphy. Buried channel deposits have high permeability and are adjacent to the Cretaceous aquifer. Estuarine muds form an aquitard, preventing the intrusion of salt water into the aquifer. However, overpumping of Coastal Plain wells had resulted in excessive drawdown and intrusion of saline waters into the Cretaceous aquifer through buried channel deposits. This study has delineated the hydraulic conduit by which polluted estuarine water may be pumped into municipal water wells. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.