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Room 203 In Federal Building Holds Mystery For Cullmanites But Purpose Of Office Is Vital Part Of Conserving ResourcesRoom 2u3 In the new Federal Building i:. occupied by nine persons, and many ( ullmanites are not aware of its existence nor of it.*, function. The (oilmanSub* district Office of the Geological Survey, Water Resources Divi-slon, i situated In thi building* Exactly what goe on within these walls? What differencedoes it make to Inhabitants In this county whether or not these personnel continue their work?According to Joe R. Harkins, hyrlrotogtst in charge at the CullniiUi Shbdi,strict Office, the main function of this division is to measure and appraise tin? water resources in this area. Work handled through this office is related to economic r programs and involves problems of streams, lakes andgr* ter in the area. Workers crlbe the water situation in area, potential for developrm of water supplies and econom uses of available water.This division works with face water, ground water andStaff Members Unite In WorkI hose men are working hard on a problem concerning water resources in this area. Pictured from loft to right are-. Wiley F. Harris, Joe R. Harkins (seated), Joe R. Wilmon, and Robert Faust. Photo by Barbara Gootee.Williams ReportsAs AgronomistAUBURN, Ala. — Lewis D Williams recently reported for duty as Conservation Agronomist for Alabama, according to W. B. Lingle, State Conservationist, Williams will assist Soil Conservation Service Technicians throughout the State on agronomic work that pertains to soil and water conservation. He will be headquartered at the State Office of the Soil Conservation Service at Auburn.W illiam., is a native of Tennessee. He received his B.X. in Agronomy from ‘lie University of Tennessee in 1951.Williams is a native of Tennessee. He received his B.X. in Agronomy from the Universf ty of Tennessee in 1951.W illiams worked as a Soil Scientist with the Tennessee Agricultural Experiment Station from 1951 to 1953. He tias worked with the Soil Conservation Service since l'.»53 as a Soil Scientist, Conservation Agronomist, and Soil Conservationist in a number of locations in Tennessee. He i married and the father of three children.Stout MountainBy Mrs. H. C. BurdetteRev. Guthery was guest speaker at the Sunday morning serve '• of Stout Mountain Church.Testing The Chemiral Quality Of WaterDoug Bateman uses an instrument familiar around the water resources division as he tests the chemical quality of the water in the jar for its specific conductance. Photo by Barbara Gootee.tlty of water. Previous to 1904, the division, which has Its .iin district office located in #osa, was divided Into branches, with each anch dealing with each type if water separately. Sinew that , however, they have been combined for economical and practical purposes. This combination provides for an overall view if water resources In any area.Surface water work determines the flow lt;if water in the streams, studies and measures floods, records lake levels, and many aspects of hydrology related to surface water, Ground-water studies include the location and description of water-bearing rocks and determination of the yield and quality of ground water.Work dealing with the quality of water includes sampling and analysis of water and interpretation of the significance of chemical and physical quality of ground and surface waters and sediment carried by streams.The state is divided into two geographical areas for convenience. The Cullman Subdistrict Office covers the northern portion of the state and also includes Tuscaloosa and Pickens Counties. Members of the Cullman office are*. Joe R. Harkins, hydro-logist in charge; Robert J. I-aust, geologist; Paul W. Cole, hydraulic engineering-technician; Joe R. Wilmon, hydraulic engineer, Wiley F. Harris, physical science technician; Tommy It. Duvall, hydraulic engineering technician; Doug D. Baternon, hydraulic engineering aide; Jonathan D. Hayes, hydraulic engineering aide; and Mrs. J.G. McHenry, hydraulic engineering aide. Each person has a specific job and is well trained and extremely knowledgeable in his field.This type of work falls under the Jurisdiction of civil service and is subject to the rules and regulation of civil service.Many different operations am; skills are involved in water investigation. in the appraisal of underground water supplies,geologists determine the character and extent of tie- icmk torm»-tlon in which water occurs. Engineers measure and study strearnflow, floods and changes in steam channels, Chemists analyze the water to determine its chemical quality and suitability for particular uses.The geological survey is presently operating 45 gaging stations in this area, 35 observation wells and 24 partial record stations* The Rage (level) charge (flow) of rivers and |streams is recorded at the gaging stations, which are divided into two groups: primary and secondary stations.Sampling of trends in the gross surface-water supply is done at primary tat ions, a long-term network. One »uch station is located at the county line near Garden City. This type of gaging station has been operated continuously for many years on a stream relatively free of regulation, diversion or other effects of developm mt* Relt; oid. .it the «• sites furnish a long-time account of floods, droughts, and other hydrolic events needed to define variations of strearnflow caused by natural differences in weather from year to year.Geographic variations are def-ned at secondary stations, each operated for about five to ten years and correlated with one or more primary stations. Secondary stations are periodically discontinued and new ones established in order to obtain as wide a distribution of geographic samples of water as possibleThe Survey also maintains partial-record sites at which stage and disuharg*records are collected at intervals to provide addit-ivnal information on floous and lroughts.Observation wells are also maintained to monitor changes in ground-water conditions. At these measurements of depth to water and samples of water are collected continuously or jafriod-ically in order to assess changes in ground-water conditions produced elRmr.by natural causes or by man’s development of the water. Cullman houses one of these well..Generally the work done by this division does not interest the average mm directly. The major parts of the program of work are carried out cooperatively with theFiles, Files, FilesThoughts Worth ThinkingRecords compiled in the water resources division mount daily, and a good filing system, as well as a large one, is demanded. Jonathan Hayes checks up on back information concerning work lie is presently engagd in. Photo by Barbara Gootee.following state and municipal age- I ncies: Geological Survey of Ala- |bama, State Highway Department, State Water Improvement Commission, State Conservation Department and the City of Mobile.Additional water resources work is done in collaboration with the following Federal agencies: ,U.S. Army, Corp of Engineers, , U.S. Public Health Service, Tennessee Valley Authority and the Federal Power Comm ission (A la-bama Power Co.). ISurface water records are used I by consulting engineering firms I for the purpose of designing wat- I er supplies. However, the water I resources division does handle I requests for people who are try- I ing to develop ground-water sup- I plies. Mr. Fast, geologist at I the Cullman office, said that the I division worked with Holly Pond I in 1963 in helping that city loc- 1 ate a ground-water supply.He added that the division has | just completed a study of the wa- 1 ter resources ofCullmanCounty. 1 This two year report included 1 mapping geology, which is a J study of rocks, distinguishing be- I tween those which will hold wat- I er and yield it to wells,and .hose J which won’t yield water. Also in- I eluded in the study is a sur- * vey of ground-water, which shows how much water is available, where it can be obtained and the quality of the water.The nine workers located in Room 203 of the new Federal Building are among many thousands of such workers located across the county. They are doing a job vital in solving basic problems in hydrology, geology, geochemistry, and geophysics, * and in developing new techniques and methods of appraising and conserving minerals and water. « As a Federal agency concerned with water, the Survey’s role is unique; it provides the main bulk of data on which practically . all development and management acitivites related to water are based.Water is one of the vital ingredients necessary for life. The «* work being done by the personnel in this relatively unknown office in the Federal Building is helping put local water resources to their best usage. Maintenance and expansion of such offices are the foundation of intelligent planning for water resources development and conservation.FOR RE
Newspaper Details
Cullman Times Democrat
Cullman, Alabama, US
Sun, Feb 26, 1967
Page 7
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 31 May 2024
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