University of South Florida Scholar Commons Graduate Theses and Dissertations Graduate School 4-26-2007 Application and Refinement of the Karst Disturbance Index in West Central, Florida Leslie A. North University of South Florida Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd Part of the American Studies Commons, and the Geography Commons Scholar Commons Citation North, Leslie A., "Application and Refinement of the Karst Disturbance Index in West Central, Florida" (2007). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/3765 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Application and Refinement of the Karst Disturbance Index in West Central, Florida by Leslie A. North A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Department of Geography College of Arts and Sciences University of South Florida Major Professor: Philip van Beynen, Ph.D. Robert Brinkmann, Ph.D. Philip Reeder, Ph.D. Date of Approval: April 26, 2007 Keywords: environmental indicators, human impact, tampa bay metropolitan area, anthropogenic change, pollution, sinkholes, caves © Copyright 2007, Leslie A. North Dedication This thesis could not have been completed without the loving and unwavering support of my friends and family. I would first like to dedicate this work to Jason Polk for lovingly supporting me without waver through the good times and the bad, the crying and laughter. You always listened patiently and provided words of encouragement regardless of how busy you were. Thanks Jas, I love you. I would also like to thank my loving parents, Ernest North and Patti Dorris, for supporting every imaginable facet of my education from preschool to a Master’s. Finally, I would like to acknowledge “Maverick,” starring Mel Gibson, without which I would not have been able to spend countless hours in front of the computer working on this document. Acknowledgements I would first like to thank the Department of Geography and Environmental Science and Policy at the University of South Florida for the opportunity to attend graduate school and earn a Master’s degree. I would like to also thank my major advisor Dr. Philip van Beynen for believing in my ability to analyze and refine the karst disturbance index and continually supplying guidance, support, and encouragement through this entire process. Special acknowledgement must be given to Dr. Robert Brinkmann and Dr. Philip Reeder, the remainder of my thesis committee, for continually supporting me, providing me with their knowledge of karst environments, and enhancing my thesis and writing techniques. I would like to thank Kaya Townsend for extending to me her knowledge of the IRB process and qualitative semi-structured, face-to-face interviews. I would also like to thank Robert DeGaff and remainder of the Southwest Florida Water Management District staff, for their opinions and suggestions, necessary for improving the applicability of the index, and continually supplying me with abundant data. Special thanks goes to George Kish and the remainder of United States Geological Survey for supplying topographic maps, GIS files, and other miscellaneous reports. I would also like to thank Nilda Feliciano and Kelly Wilson, former University of South Florida students, for use of their data regarding Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties. I conclude by thanking every interview participant for their in-depth analysis of the usefulness of the KDI, Laurie Roughton of the Florida Environmental Protection Agency for regulatory enforcement data, and the staff of Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, and especially Hernando Counties Government Offices for promptly supplying me with data on a regular basis. Table of Contents List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... iv List of Figures......................................................................................................................v Abstract............................................................................................................................. vii Chapter One – Introduction .................................................................................................1 Research Strategy.....................................................................................................3 Problem Statement.......................................................................................3 Research Purpose.........................................................................................4 Research Questions......................................................................................4 Research Objectives.....................................................................................5 Karst Environments .................................................................................................5 Evolution of Karst Terrains .........................................................................7 Evaluation of Karst Disturbances ............................................................................9 Chapter Two – Study Area ................................................................................................16 Florida Geography and Climate.............................................................................16 Florida Geology and Geomorphology ...................................................................19 Florida Karst..........................................................................................................26 West-Central Florida..............................................................................................30 Tampa Bay Metropolitan Area ..............................................................................34 Pinellas County..........................................................................................34 Hillsborough County..................................................................................36 Pasco County.............................................................................................37 Hernando County ......................................................................................38 Chapter Three – Methodology...........................................................................................40 Summary of Methodology .....................................................................................40 Assessment of Indicators .......................................................................................42 Geomorphology – Surface Landforms.......................................................46 Geomorphology – Soils.............................................................................46 Geomorphology – Subsurface Karst and Atmosphere – Air Quality ........47 Hydrology – Water Quality.......................................................................47 Hydrology – Water Quantity.....................................................................48 i Biota – Vegetation Disturbance and Subsurface Species ..........................48 Cultural – Stewardship of Karst.................................................................49 Cultural – Building Infrastructure..............................................................49 Participant Interviews............................................................................................51 Sample Interview Question Set..................................................................52 Disturbance Scoring System..................................................................................52 Level of Confidence...............................................................................................53 Chapter Four – Results.......................................................................................................54 Assessment of Indicators .......................................................................................63 Geomorphology – Surface Landforms.......................................................63 Quarrying/Mining ..........................................................................63 Flooding of Surface Karst..............................................................65 Stormwater Flow into Sinkholes....................................................69 Infilling of Sinkholes.....................................................................69 Dumping of Refuse into Sinkholes................................................71 Geomorphology – Soils.............................................................................72 Soil Erosion....................................................................................72 Soil Compaction.............................................................................74 Geomorphology – Subsurface Karst..........................................................77 Flooding .........................................................................................78 Decoration Removal/Vandalism....................................................78 Mineral Sediment Removal ...........................................................79 Floor Sediment Compaction of Destruction ..................................79 Atmosphere – Air Quality..........................................................................79