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Karst News Stream – KNS
May 01, 2004 #0001
CONTENTS:
1) Characterization and Representation of Flow Through Karst Aquifers
2) The Nature Conservancy Purchases the "Walls of Jericho"
3) April has been designated by the State of Florida as Water Conservation Month
4) Florida Geological Survey (FGS) has gathered data on Florida karst (sinkholes, caves, springs, etc.)
5) What Aquifer in the US is approximately 160 miles long, varies in width from 5 to 40 miles, and is designated by the EPA as a "sole source" drinking
water supply for the 1.5 million people?
__________________________
1) Characterization and Representation of Flow Through Karst Aquifers
Dr. Al Woodbury & Ron Green are seeking original contributions in new modeling tools, guidelines for applications of either new or existing tools, and improved understanding
of data collection needs to support modeling efforts. Both Dr's Woodbury and Green are chairing a session at the Geological Society of America (GSA) www.geosociety.org
Annual Meeting in Denver this year.
CHARACTERIZATION AND REPRESENTATION OF FLOW THROUGH KARST AQUIFERS
Karst subsurface formations host some of the most prolific and economically important aquifers. In 1990, the Floridian aquifer alone supplied an estimated 3.4 billion gallons of
fresh water per day. Approximately 25 percent of the world's population lives above or depends on karst aquifers for potable water. Many regions, including arid coastal areas and
the island nations of the Caribbean, depend almost entirely on water from karst aquifers. These aquifers are particularly vulnerable to inadequate or poor groundwater management
practices because of rapid recharge and fast groundwater flow through conduits characteristic to karst aquifers.
In general terms, karst aquifers contain complex, interconnected networks of solution-enlarged conduits (e.g., bedrock fractures or openings) that permit high-velocity groundwater
flow over large distances in relatively short periods of time. Because of these flow characteristics; the U.S. EPA has recognized that karst aquifers are highly susceptible to
bacterial contamination.
Although a wide variety of numerical models has been successfully used to predict the dynamics of granular aquifers, numerical modeling of karst aquifers is more problematic. Although
modeling tools with the needed capabilities have recently appeared, the experience base to support applications is lacking. Most importantly, methods for quantitative parameter
estimation (calibration) of hydrological properties are largely undeveloped, and data needs are not fully understood.
The overall theme of the session is to examine enhanced capabilities for karst aquifer characterization and flow representation to support the quantitative evaluation and management
of the water resources of karst systems. We seek original contributions in new modeling tools, guidelines for applications of either new or existing tools, and improved understanding
of data collection needs to support modeling efforts.
For further information, contact the conveners directly
Dr. Allan D. Woodbury, P.Eng.
Professor
University of Manitoba
Department of Civil Engineering
246C Engineering Building
15 Gillson Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Canada R3T 5V6
woodbur@cc.umanitoba.ca
or
Ronald T Green, PhD, PG
Staff Scientist
CNWRA
Southwest Research Institute
6220 Culebra
San Antonio, Texas 78238
(210) 522-5305
(210) 522-5184 fax
rgreen@swri.edu
To contact KWI:
Dr. Ira D. Sasowsky,
Karst Waters Institute Vice-President for Communications
Dept. of Geology
University of Akron
Akron, OH 44325-4101
email:
ids@uakron.edu
http://www.karstwaters.org
phone: (330) 972-5389
fax: (330) 972-7611
__________________________
2) The Nature Conservancy Purchases the "Walls of Jericho"
A unique natural area, once the home of Davey Crockett's family, known throughout Tennessee and Alabama as the "Walls of Jericho" was purchased in late December 2003
by The Nature Conservancy. Northeast Alabama contains legendary and scenic wilderness areas known for their unique karst topography and waterfall formations associated with the
southern portions of the Cumberland Plateau Escarpment. Both the Tennessee and the Alabama portions of this 21,453 acre purchase contain large karst areas, significant caves systems,
major rivers, forested uplands, and an extraordinarily diverse array of plants and animals. The "Walls of Jericho" will be preserved and opened to the public thanks to
a joint effort by The Nature Conservancy and Alabama's Forever Wild Program.
Forever Wild intends to purchase the 12,510 acres from the Nature Conservancy of Alabama at the March 2004 Board meeting. A subsequent public use and protection plan will then
be developed. The Tennessee Chapter of the Nature Conservancy will hold its 8,943 acre portion, with hopes that Forest Legacy federal funding can be secured to implement a transfer
to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
Not only will the purchase of this area restore public access to the "Walls of Jericho," it will protect the headwaters of the Paint Rock River, home to 100 species of
fish and about 45 different mussel species. Five globally imperiled mussels and 12 globally rare mussels are also found in the Paint Rock and its tributaries. The Doris Duke Charitable
Trust and the Lyndhurst Foundation have supported the Nature Conservancy's efforts to protect this important and precious watershed.
For more information about this history making project, please contact Mark Driskill, Nature Conservancy at 205-251-1155 ext.101. For a more information:
http://nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/alabama/
__________________________
3) April has been designated by the State of Florida as Water Conservation Month
The Florida state Legislature has designated April as Water Conservation Month. The average Floridian uses 130 gallons of water each day, so if you haven't thought about conserving
water, now is a great time to start! By taking a few simple steps, you can reduce your water consumption, both inside and outside. For more information, please visit our water
conservation page at:
http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/watercon/conservation.htm
In the Monthly update of Southwest Florida Water Management District is a good basic definition of an aquifer and information on rainfall and related aquifer levels. The Water
Resource Monthly Update can be found at:
http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/news/files/wrmu0404.pdf
__________________________
4) Florida Geological Survey (FGS) has gathered data on Florida karst (sinkholes, caves, springs, etc.)
Since its inception in 1907, the Florida Geological Survey (FGS) has gathered data on Florida karst (sinkholes, caves, springs, etc.) This information is primarily used to more
fully understand the unique relationship between karst and the state's groundwater resources and aquifer systems.
Florida Geological Survey - Karst Data
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/geology/geologictopics/sinkhole/sinkhole_history.doc
__________________________
5) What Aquifer in the US is approximately 160 miles long, varies in width from 5 to 40 miles, and is designated by the EPA as a "sole source" drinking
water supply for the 1.5 million people?
The first known reference to the Edwards Aquifer groundwater resource was made in 1898 when geologists Robert Thomas Hill and Thomas Wayland Vaughn hypothesized that the Edwards
limestone was water bearing. They also established the Edwards limestone name to define the rock from other formations in the area. Edwards limestone was first discovered in Edwards
County which was named for Hayden Edwards, the "empressario of West Texas" in the 1820's. In the 1930's it was known as the groundwater resources of the Edwards limestone.
The Edwards Aquifer began to formally get its identity in the late 1950's when the Texas Board of Water Engineers (now the Texas Water Development Board) called it the Edwards
Underground Reservoir. Over time, the name gradually became the Edwards Aquifer.
For a nicely done map of the Aquifer:
http://www.atmos.umd.edu/~owen/CHPI/IMAGES/EA-location.html
The Edwards Aquifer Authority Site:
http://www.edwardsaquifer.org/
__________________________
Informative Links:
Cave and Karst Science in the UK
http://www.bcra.org.uk/candks/v27_2.html
Conservation of Karst in Belize
http://www.caves.org/pub/journal/PDF/V58/V58N2-Day.pdf
"Inside Earth" Newsletter - A Federal Perspective
http://csweb.winona.edu/semnwrb/files/nps/newsletter/inside/insideearth1.pdf
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The Karst News Stream is published by The Karst Conservancy. Permission is granted to use, forward, or publish information only to further the protection of caves and karstlands.
Subscription: Go to www.karstconservancy.org and join The Karst Conservancy. There is no charge and you'll automatically receive the Karst News Stream. To view previous
issues of KNS, go to http://www.karstconservancy.org/KNS/KNS.asp
To Unsubscribe: You can manage your subscription to this and other TKC mailings by following this link:
http://www.karstconservancy.org/other/subcriptions.asp
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