Western Kentucky University

Groundwater Sensitivity Mapping in KY Using Geographic Information Systems

Institution

Western Kentucky University

Abstract

Groundwater sensitivity refers to the inherent ease with which groundwater resources can be impacted in the presence of uncontrolled release of contaminants in the environment. Within Kentucky these sources include not only point releases of chemicals, but widespread non-point source contaminants associated with agricultural land use. The major purpose of this research is to develop methods for digital mapping to better define areas of varying groundwater sensitivity within Kentucky at a scale of 1:100,000. In this project the 1:100,000 Beaver Dam and Campbellsville maps were analyzed--previously the most detailed such maps available are at 1:500,000 scale. In the analysis digital Tagged Vector Contours elevation data at a scale of 1:24,000 were combined with Digital Vectorized Geologic Quadrangles . These are computer maps that show detailed geology of an area (rock types, rock structures and landscape forms) in a form that can be used to do sophisticated analyses using Geographic Information Systems software. Regions were classified into one of five units depending on how easily the groundwater would be expected to be impacted in the presence of a contaminant spill, for example, based on rock type, permeability, fractures, and other considerations. Polygons of the areas with less sensitive rock that drained into areas assigned to the highest sensitivity level were drawn and added to a combined region entitled “Sensitive Drainage”. Land included in Sensitive Drainage may have wellprotected groundwater when vertical infiltration is considered but in most cases overland flow eventually drains into the most sensitive groundwater regions.

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Groundwater Sensitivity Mapping in KY Using Geographic Information Systems

Groundwater sensitivity refers to the inherent ease with which groundwater resources can be impacted in the presence of uncontrolled release of contaminants in the environment. Within Kentucky these sources include not only point releases of chemicals, but widespread non-point source contaminants associated with agricultural land use. The major purpose of this research is to develop methods for digital mapping to better define areas of varying groundwater sensitivity within Kentucky at a scale of 1:100,000. In this project the 1:100,000 Beaver Dam and Campbellsville maps were analyzed--previously the most detailed such maps available are at 1:500,000 scale. In the analysis digital Tagged Vector Contours elevation data at a scale of 1:24,000 were combined with Digital Vectorized Geologic Quadrangles . These are computer maps that show detailed geology of an area (rock types, rock structures and landscape forms) in a form that can be used to do sophisticated analyses using Geographic Information Systems software. Regions were classified into one of five units depending on how easily the groundwater would be expected to be impacted in the presence of a contaminant spill, for example, based on rock type, permeability, fractures, and other considerations. Polygons of the areas with less sensitive rock that drained into areas assigned to the highest sensitivity level were drawn and added to a combined region entitled “Sensitive Drainage”. Land included in Sensitive Drainage may have wellprotected groundwater when vertical infiltration is considered but in most cases overland flow eventually drains into the most sensitive groundwater regions.