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I II e:> I N w 00 I ~ I I' ',I I I I I I il II I I . I I counties arc low in quantity and mediocre in quality.19 Sof twood and hardwood produc tion ia insuff ic ient to support a pulpwood operation in the area, and it is doubtful if shipment to a pulp mill would be economically feasible. The Newton-Jasper County area has abundant fresh water re- sources which will support projected needs beyond this century if it is properly developed.20 Water is available from both surface and ground supplies. Groundwater is presently extracted from both deep and shallow aquifers. The deep Ordovician and Cambrian lime- stones and dolomites yield 50-500 g.p.m. at depths ranging from 800-1,800 feet below the surface. A certain amount of water enters the deep aquifer locally and there is additional recharge from lateral movement and vertical movement due to breakage in the aquiludes separat- ing the shallow and deep aquifers. Contamination of the deep aauifers ia therefore a local possibility and an occurence which Can usually be prevented. Proper casing of wells is a necessary practice and state law. The shallow aquifers are Mississippian formations that outcrop and extend to about 500 feet deep. They yield good domestic sup- plies in other than the mined areas, producing less than 50 g.p.m. Solution channels and areas of broken chert, called breccia, can yield more than 500 g.p.m.21 Surface drainage and percolation are the main aource of recharge for theae aquifers. In many placea, aprings flow into the streams where the strata are exposed. The streama of the area and theae ahallow aquifers are cloaely interconnected. On Shoal Creek many aprings contribute to streamflow while in aeveral places the surface water disappears to the shallow aquifer, to reappear downstream. Surface water is a major water resource of the area. The groas amount of water in streams would serve all needs for many years if the supply were steady. However, rainfall in the region is variable to the point of unpredictability. The water year of 1962 showed a total precipitation of 48 inches, while 1964 was only 18 inches. Seasonal variations are also very lsrge.22 Streams leaving the Newton-Jasper County srea drain about 2,253 squa~e miles. Principal streams are Spring River with a drainage area of about 1,180 square miles, Shoal Creek draining about 440 square miles and Center Creek draining about 300 square miles. Flow durability of the area streams is supported by consider- able fresh spring water which materially improves low flow characteristics. 100