A Compilation of Provisional Karst Geospatial Data for the Interior Low Plateaus Physiographic Region, Central United States

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A Compilation of Provisional Karst Geospatial Data for the Interior Low Plateaus Physiographic Region, Central United States Ground-Water Resources Program A Compilation of Provisional Karst Geospatial Data for the Interior Low Plateaus Physiographic Region, Central United States Data Series 339 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Cover. Screen-capture image showing example of plotted dye-tracer flow paths (yellow), internally drained catchments (multi-colored polygons), and locations of inventoried karst springs (blue dots) in a portion of the White River Hydrologic Unit (05140104IN) in south-central Indiana. A Compilation of Provisional Karst Geospatial Data for the Interior Low Plateaus Physiographic Region, Central United States By Charles J. Taylor and Hugh L. Nelson Jr. Ground-Water Resources Program Data Series 339 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior DIRK KEMPTHORNE, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Mark D. Myers, Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2008 For product and ordering information: World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment: World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report. Suggested citation: Taylor, C.J., and Nelson Jr., H.L., 2008, A compilation of provisional karst geospatial data for the Interior Low Plateaus physiographic region, central United States: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 339, 26 p. iii Contents Abstract ...........................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................1 Regional Study Area .............................................................................................................................2 Methods of Data Compilation ......................................................................................................................4 ArcReader Data Folders and Files .....................................................................................................5 Mapped Karst Features ..............................................................................................................................10 Sinkholes and Internally Drained Catchments ..............................................................................10 Karst Springs .......................................................................................................................................13 Sinking Streams ..................................................................................................................................14 Karst Flow Paths .................................................................................................................................16 Relic Streams.......................................................................................................................................16 Summary........................................................................................................................................................19 Acknowledgments .......................................................................................................................................20 References Cited..........................................................................................................................................20 Appendix 1. Process for delineation of internally drained catchments using ArcGIS .................24 Appendix 2. Process for delineation of relic stream valleys using ArcGIS ....................................26 Figures 1. Map showing geographic boundaries of the Interior Low Plateaus regional study area and major regional karst terranes. ........................................................................2 2. Map showing locations and boundaries of eight-digit Hydrologic Units and their identifying codes within the regional study area ...........................................................5 3–13. Screen-capture images showing: 3. The ArcReader user interface used for viewing and manipulating karst geospatial data files ............................................................................................................7 4. The two topographic base maps available with the ArcReader datasets: (A) shaded-relief topography, and (B) contoured-map topography ...........................8 5. Example of digital-map image plotted in ArcReader data frame, including locations of identified sinkhole depressions and surficial bedrock units in a portion of the Blue River Hydrologic Unit (05140104IN) in south-central Indiana .................................................................................................................................11 6. Example of plotted dye-tracer flow paths, internally drained catchments, and locations of inventoried karst springs in a portion of the White River Hydrologic Unit (05140104IN) in south-central Indiana. ..............................................11 7. The difference in symbols used to denote sinkhole-depression locations in Kentucky and Tennessee, in a portion of the Red River eight-digit Hydrologic Unit (05130206), Kentucky–Tennessee ................................................12 8. Example of plotted internally drained catchments in a portion of the Red River eight-digit Hydrologic Unit (05130206), Kentucky–Tennessee .................13 9. Example of sinking streams delineated by highlighting disconnected stream reaches identified in part of the Lower East Fork White River eight-digit Hydrologic Unit (05120208), in south-central Indiana ...............................15 iv 10. Catchments for sinking streams delineated in a portion of the Lower East Fork White River eight-digit Hydrologic Unit (05120208), south-central Indiana ........................................................................................................15 11. The apparent close correlation between relic streams and tracer-inferred subsurface flow paths in a portion of the Sinking Creek/Otter Creek Hydrologic Unit (05140104KY), in north-central Kentucky ...........................................17 12. Catchments for a portion of the Red River Hydrologic Unit (05130206), Kentucky–Tennessee, with traces of relic streams delineated by Geographic Information System (GIS)-terrain-processing methods: (A) relic streams “on” and (B) same area shown with relic streams “off” .............18 13. An unnatural linear delineation of relic streams ..........................................................19 Tables 1. List of major regional karst terranes and their general hydrogeologic features ...............3 2. List of eight-digit Hydrologic Units in the regional study area, major named streams, States, and karst terranes ..........................................................................................6 3. General contents of ArcReader geospatial data folders .......................................................9 Conversion Factors Multiply By To obtain Length meter 3.281 foot foot 0.3048 meter Area square mile (mi2) 2.590 square kilometer (km2) A Compilation of Provisional Karst Geospatial Data for the Interior Low Plateaus Physiographic Region, Central United States By Charles J. Taylor and Hugh L. Nelson Jr. Abstract features to regional-to-local scale hydrogeology. Recent advances in Geographic Information System (GIS) technol- Geospatial data needed to visualize and evaluate the ogy and the increased accessibility of geospatial data such as hydrogeologic framework and distribution of karst features in Digital Elevation Model (DEM) datasets have greatly simpli- the Interior Low Plateaus physiographic region of the central fied the tasks required for hydrogeologic framework mapping, United States were compiled during 2004–2007 as part of the and GIS methods have been successfully applied in a variety Ground-Water Resources Program Karst Hydrology Initiative of studies as an effective means of mapping the distribution (KHI) project. Because of the potential usefulness to environ- of sinkholes, caves, and springs, and examining the relation- mental and water-resources regulators, private consultants, ships between karst features and other physical environmental academic researchers, and others, the geospatial data files characteristics (Florea and others, 2002; Gao and others, 2005; created during the KHI project are being made available to Veni, 1999, 2003; Weinreich and others, 2005). However, the public as a provisional regional karst dataset. To enhance geospatial data needed to map and examine the distribution of, accessibility and visualization, the geospatial data files have and relationship between, karst features and their hydrogeo- been compiled as ESRI ArcReader data folders and user- logic settings are lacking in much of the United States because interactive Published Map Files (.pmf files), all of which are much of the existing data are scattered among various State catalogued by the boundaries of surface watersheds using
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