What are ? Sinkholes collect water Does the What if a on my Sinkholes are depressions on the but where does it go? filter the water? property is getting bigger? surface of the land caused by water Water funneled into sinkholes either No. Water moves very rapidly once it Open sinkholes are very sensitive to moving downward into cracks and disturbance and can be difficult to passages in the limestone below. seeps downward through the if the enters the underlying limestone sinkhole is closed or quickly drains into passages and is filtered very little. remedy once they become unstable. Why do we have such a great the sub-surface limestone cracks if the This means that any pollutant that Prevention is the least expensive way to stop sinkhole and involves not number of sinkholes around? sinkhole is open. Either way, water enters a sinkhole may move a great collecting in sinkholes soon finds its distance in a relatively short time. For disturbing an open sinkhole or the Just beneath the soil of southern way to underground passages that example, in Harrison County surrounding soil in the first place. Indiana lies a band of limestone form the extensive, yet largely unseen, hydrologists have shown that water However, if a sinkhole begins to grow it bedrock that has cracked and dissolved system below us. Eventually the can move underground from the Sinks is best to call your soil conservationist through time. Because of this our area water re-emerges as springs. Two - of Indian Creek to Harrison , a for assistance. Each eroding sinkhole is is characterized by an abundant known streams in our area, Blue River surface distance of over four miles, as different and requires close inspection number of sinkholes, springs, and and are fed by spring water. quickly as one hour! to correct the problem. Do not attempt . Geologically, these areas are to plug the with debris yourself known as regions. Southern because it may lead to further problems. Indiana has two such regions, the Does anything live south-central karst area having more down there? prominent sinkholes. Yes. Within the darkness of the caves and cracks beneath sinkholes is a whole group of animals who are adapted to a world without light. The most recognizable of these animals is the northern , an eyeless, three-inch long fish, almost ghost-like in appearance. Found nowhere else in the world except parts of Indiana and , this uncommon animal is sensitive to the quality of water in its underground home. What if my sinkhole is full of trash? Any effort to remove trash from a sinkhole is worthwhile. It will lead to cleaner water and a safer, more attractive homestead with increased re- sale value. Use caution when removing trash from an open sinkhole and be sure to dispose of it properly at a licensed landfill. How can I protect This brochure made possible by a Guide to Local Assistance partnership of these organizations For or other natural resource my ? conservation needs contact your local Indiana • Never dump anything into a sinkhole. Conservation Partnership SINKHOLES, • Soil and Water Conservation District Not only is this practice illegal, but • Natural Resources Conservation Service dumping chemicals or dead animals • IDNR Division of Soil Conservation GROUNDWATER, into a sinkhole can contaminate well Crawford 812-338-3224 water and springs used by both people Floyd 812-945-9936 & other and livestock. Even small amounts of Harrison 812-738-8124 waste can impact groundwater quality. Lawrence 812-275-4365 For example, one quart of motor oil can Monroe 812-334-4325 MYSTERIES affect the taste of 250,000 gallons of Orange 812-723-2979 water. “Clean” materials such as hay Washington 812-883-3704 below your feet and wood can also negatively affect the For drinking water and septic system information cave system below. call your county health department in Southern Indiana Crawford 812-338-2302 • Check and maintain your septic system Floyd 812-948-4726 regularly. Although conserving Harrison 812-738-3237 household water use will help to extend Lawrence 812-275-3234 the life of your septic system, an Monroe 812-349-2543 average household of four should have Orange 812-723-7112 their checked or pumped Washington 812-883-5603 every three years. Waste from For waste disposal and recycling questions overburdened septic systems can easily call your Solid Waste Management District seep through the soil and into the Crawford 812-365-9419 groundwater below. Floyd 812-948-4733 Harrison 812-738-8415 • Maintain forest cover or a grass filter Lawrence 812-277-9190 strip wide enough around the open Monroe 812-349-2020 sinkhole to filter runoff, the distance Orange 812-723-3600 will vary from site to site. Fencing to Washington 812-883-3039 prevent access by livestock will also For cave management information call or write improve water quality at the same time Indiana Karst Conservancy, PO Box 2401, it protects livestock from harm. Indianapolis, Indiana 46206 www.caves.org/conservancy/ikc • Always read and follow the directions The Nature Conservancy of Indiana on the label when using household, P.O. Box 5, Corydon, Indiana 47112 lawn, or farm chemicals. Using more 812-738-2087 cleansers, fertilizers, or pesticides than www.nature.org the label recommends is not useful and American Association can cause problems with our PO Box 409, Horse Cave, Kentucky 42749 groundwater. Avoid use of these www.cavern.org products near open sinkholes.

Please don’t throw this brochure in a sinkhole LINE DRAWINGS BY BARRY CARPENTER