Thickness of the Surficial Aquifer, Delmarva Peninsula, Maryland and Delaware

This map is a digital map of the thickness of the surficial unconfined aquifer and was produced to improve understanding of the hydrologic system and the potential for transport of soluble nutrients and other chemicals from groundwater to streams in the Maryland and Delaware portions of the Delmarva Peninsula. The map is intended to be used in conjunction with other environmental coverages (such land use, wetlands, and soil characteristics) to provide a subsurface hydrogeologic component to studies of nitrate transport that have historically relied on maps of surficial features.The purpose of this dataset is to inform resource managers and the public about the thickness of the surficial aquifer of the Delmarva Peninsula. Thickness of the surficial aquifer can impact nutrient transport and characteristics of groundwater flow paths which can in turn effect the fate and transport of contaminants.