Dye tracing investigations were conducted in Cades Cove and Tuckaleechee Cove, two carbonate fensters in the western Great Smoky Mountains. These investigations were conducted as part of a two-year study examining the karst hydrology in the carbonate fensters. Main objectives of the dye tracing investigations were to determine resurgences for cave systems, delineate recharge areas for major springs, and to compare travel times from sink (dye injection point) to resurgence (monitoring site) for the two coves. Over the two-year study period (2017-2018), four different rounds of dye injections were completed, and each round had four dye injection locations, with the exception of the fourth round in September 2018, which had only one injection location in Cades Cove. From these dye injections and the subsequent dye traces, a total of five different spring recharge areas were delineated in Tuckaleechee Cove ranging from 0.05 – 5.9 square miles in size. Data in the data release include: dye injection locations, types of dye and the amount injected, monitoring site locations, time of the first detection at a recovery site, positive traces, delineated recharge areas for springs, and recharge area boundaries. Dye injection methods are included as process steps within the metadata for the dataset.
