Karst
Applied Research Studies Through Geologic Mapping (KARST) Project
KARST
HOMEPAGE
Societal
issues related to karst have been increasing over the years due to
increased urban, industrial, and agricultural development and
associated ground-water contamination, ground-water availability, and
subsidence hazards. Nearly 25 percent of the United
States
is in karst terrain and a large segment of this area is undergoing
rapid urban and industrial development. To best understand the impact
of karst development, a geologic framework is necessary. Geologic
mapping forms the foundation for the three dimensional, integrated
mapping and hydrogeologic studies that will show how fractures, faults,
and stratigraphy control sinkhole and conduit development. The
KARST project integrates mapping and hydrogeology at local, regional,
and national scale to address issues related to ground-water and
subsidence hazards in karst terrains where urban, industrial, and
agricultural development is increasing. It is critical to understand
the geologic controls (stratigraphy, lithology, and structure) on
conduit development that triggers sinkhole collapse and forms the
avenues for ground-water movement. Local studies will be used to form
the regional synthesis of karst in different geologic settings and will
be used to delineate karst areas for a national karst map. The
geologic framework will be used for interdisciplinary research on how
ground-water enters and moves through the aquifer systems. It will also
delineate areas prone to sinkhole collapse.
The
project is producing geologic maps at 1:24,000 and 1:100,000 scale that
will be integrated into the National
Geologic Map Database . Derivitive maps and
scientific papers address specific karst ground-water and subsidence
issues at national, regional, and local levels. Results
from the project are used by Federal and local land-use managers for
addressing specific karst issues. This
project is interdisciplinary and includes support from the USGS Water
Resources Discipline, USGS Geography Discipline, National Park Service,
and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Project
Tasks:
Locations of USGS
KARST Project tasks
Project Staff:
David Weary dweary@usgs.gov (Project Chief)
Wilma Aleman-Gonzalez waleman@usgs.gov
Daniel Doctor dhdoctor@usgs.gov
Jack Epstein jepstein@usgs.gov
Herbert Pierce hpierce@usgs.gov
John Repetski jrepetski@usgs.gov
U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey