Water-resources data for Indiana County, Pennsylvania

Abstract

Hydrologic data were collected during a water-resources study throughout Indiana County, Pennsylvania, from May 1986 through September 1988. Surfacewater data include average-daily discharges at 9 streamflow-gaging stations, water -quality data collected at 9 streamflow-gaging stations and 22 intermittent sites, seepage-run data for 20 subbasins in the South Branch Plum Creek basin and 23 subbasins in the Cherry Run basin, and daily precipitation amounts in the South Branch Plum Creek and Cherry Run basins. Ground-water data include well-inventory data for 517 wells, spring-inventory data for 133 springs, well-water quality for 300 wells, spring-water quality for 118 springs, observation-well hydrographs for 19 wells, and aquifer-test data for 22 wells. Maps of the county show the location of the townships and boroughs, the data-collection sites, and the 7-1/2-minute quadrangles used in the study. A glossary is provided for users of the report who are unfamiliar with hydrologic terminology. INTRODUCTION The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Topographic and Geologic Survey and the Indiana County Commissioners, conducted a water-resources investigation throughout Indiana County from May 1986 through September 1988. The investigation was conducted to describe the water resources of the County and determine the effect, if any, of coal mining and gas-well drilling on the water resources. Purpose and Scope This report provides a compilation of data collected during the investigation. Maps show county subdivisions with respect to 7-1/2-minute quadrangles (fig. 1), townships and boroughs, and the location of all datacollection sites. Data tables and illustrations are presented to show the surface-water, ground-water, and water-quality data collected at the datacollection sites. Study Area Indiana County is in west-central Pennsylvania and includes an area of 825 mi 2 (square miles) . The county is bordered on the north by Jefferson County, on the east by Clearfield and Cambria Counties, on the south by West more land County, and on the west by Armstrong County. The county has 24 townships and 15 boroughs (fig. 2). The two main population centers include Indiana, in the central part of the county, and Blairsville on the southcentral border of the county. The 1 to 50,000 scale map (plate 1) of Indiana County shows the location of all data sites. A network of surface-water and ground-water data-collection sites was established throughout the county to provide detailed data for the evaluation of its water resources (fig. 3). Most of Indiana County is drained by westward-flowing tributaries of the Allegheny River basin. The major streams include Mahoning Creek, Little Mahoning Creek, South Branch Plum Creek, Crooked Creek, Blacklegs Creek, Two Lick Creek, Yellow Creek, Blacklick Creek, and numerous smaller tributaries of the Conemaugh River. The Conemaugh River forms the southern boundary of the county. The northeastern corner of the county is drained by the headwaters of the West Branch Susquehanna River. Major tributaries include South Branch Bear Run, Gush Creek, and Gush Cushion Creek.