Vicksburg National Military Park
Hydrogeology
Water resources at Vicksburg National Military Park were by far a more serious matter in
the summer of 1863 than that of 2006. Following a ridge siege-line where Confederate
and United States forces squared off during the early summer of 1863, the park traces the
general form of a numeral 7. Situated within the loess bluffs high above the confluence of
the Mississippi and Yazoo Rivers, the ridge terminates at the “top” of the 7 above the
Yazoo to the north.
The park drains via three small, perennial streams: Mint Spring Creek, Glass Bayou, and Durden Creek (also known as Stouts Creek and Stout’s Bayou). The former two drain to the Yazoo while the latter flows to the Mississippi. It is important to note that although Mint Springs Creek is contained within the park to its confluence with the Yazoo River, the stream is divided into the Upper and Lower reaches by a six meter high waterfall over the loess escarpment. This waterfall, located adjacent to the National Cemetery, forms a natural impediment for fish. The Lower reach can be adversely affected by the multitude of land and water uses on the Yazoo during times of flooding.
Although the park tour road crosses each of the three streams, there are no interpretive signs or public access to the streams. Each stream was at, or near, summer base flow (on the order of two to five l/s) during the morning of the site visit, but all responded immediately to a 1 cm rainfall event. Discharges increased by an order of magnitude, and although there are no disturbed lands upstream, all were very turbid – the product of steep slopes and loess soils.
Sample Site Locations
Mint Spring Creek (VICK_UPMS Coordinates 32 22 22.5 90 52 02.3 NAD 83 ) Located 100 m above the waterfall, the upper reaches of Mint Spring Creek can besampled at the crossing of Connecting Avenue. This location, which is easily and safelyaccessed in all conditions, is removed from downstream influences of the Yazoo Riverand thus a better reflection of water quality draining the largely park-managed watershed.
Glass Bayou (VICK_UAGB Coordinates 32 21 46.3 90 50 25.8 NAD 83 ) Glass Bayou will be sampled as the stream enters the park along the Jackson Road , as it crosses under Union Avenue . Site access is easy and safe at all times. The sampler may find access more favorable from the Jackson Road .
Durden Creek (VICK_UADC Coordinates 32 20 41.0 90 50 51.0 NAD 83 ) Stouts Creek is sampled just before it leaves the park as it crosses under Union Avenue . Upstream of this location, Stouts Creek is fully contained within the park and should be reflective of water quality of undisturbed lands. The site is easily and safely accessed in all conditions.
Parameters Collected
Field Data
Site ID code
Sample Collection Date
Sample Collection Time
Days since last significant rainfall
Air Temperature (C)
Specific Conductance (µS)
Dissolved Oxygen (mg/l)
Dissolved Oxygen (% saturation)
Flow Severity
pH (SU)
Water Temperature (C)
Data Folder Tree
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