Mapping Karst Groundwater Flow Paths and Delineating Recharge Areas for Springs in the Little Sequatchie and Pryor Cove Watersheds, Tennessee
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- Document: Report (89.8 MB pdf) , HTML , XML
- Plate: Plate 1 (30.5 MB pdf)
- Figure: Figure 6, 11" X 17" (pdf)
- Data Releases:
- USGS Data Release - National Land Cover Database (NLCD) 2019 products
- USGS Data Release - Mapping karst groundwater flow paths and delineating recharge areas for springs in the Little Sequatchie and Pryor Cove watersheds, Tennessee
- USGS water data for the Nation - USGS NWIS database
- Version History: Version History (txt)
- Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core
Abstract
The Little Sequatchie River and Pryor Cove Branch, in southern Tennessee, drain the eastern escarpment of the Cumberland Plateau to the Sequatchie River near the southern end of the Sequatchie Valley. The Little Sequatchie River is the largest tributary to the Sequatchie River by drainage area, covering over 120 square miles. The hydrology of the two drainage areas has been largely altered by karst processes, which has caused the majority of the streams to sink at the contact between the Mississippian Pennington Formation and the underlying Mississippian Bangor Limestone. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, initiated a study in 2021 to map the karst groundwater pathways in both watersheds in order to delineate recharge areas for several springs. One of these springs, Sequatchie Cave, represents a significant habitat for two Species of Greatest Conservation Need, the Glyphopsyche sequatchie (Sequatchie caddisfly) and the federally endangered Marstonia ogmorhaphe (royal marstonia). Springs and springflow-dominated streams in the Little Sequatchie River valley and Pryor Cove also provide water for agricultural practices and serve as a drinking water source for nearby communities. During the study, a total of 25 dye injections were conducted over eight rounds from January 2022 through March 2023. Dye traces from these injections helped to delineate recharge areas for six major springs, ranging from 7.3 to 65.2 square miles in area. The majority of the dye traces remained subsurface (from sinkpoint to recovery site) for long distances, with karst groundwater travelling nearly 8 miles before resurfacing. The dye traces also had rapid traveltimes, often travelling hundreds to thousands of feet per hour. The goal of this project was to provide scientific data related to karst groundwater pathways and spring recharge areas to aid State and Federal agencies in making informed decisions to protect and preserve this unique and vulnerable karst system.
Suggested Citation
Miller, B.V., 2024, Mapping karst groundwater flow paths and delineating recharge areas for springs in the Little Sequatchie and Pryor Cove watersheds, Tennessee (ver. 1.1, December 2024): U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2024–5089, 67 p., 1 pl., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20245089.
ISSN: 2328-0328 (online)
ISSN: 2328-031X (print)
Study Area
Table of Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Methodology
- Results
- Discussion
- Summary
- References Cited
Publication type | Report |
---|---|
Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
Title | Mapping karst groundwater flow paths and delineating recharge areas for springs in the Little Sequatchie and Pryor Cove watersheds, Tennessee |
Series title | Scientific Investigations Report |
Series number | 2024-5089 |
ISBN | 978-1-4113-4590-4 |
DOI | 10.3133/sir20245089 |
Edition | Version 1.0: November 22, 2024; Version 1.1: December 10, 2024 |
Year Published | 2024 |
Language | English |
Publisher | U.S. Geological Survey |
Publisher location | Reston, VA |
Contributing office(s) | Lower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center |
Description | Report: viii, 67 p.; 1 Plate: 28.82 x 39.26 inches; 1 Figure: 11.00 x 17.00 inches; 3 Data Releases |
Country | United states |
State | Tennessee |
Online Only (Y/N) | N |
Additional Online Files (Y/N) | Y |
Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |