Hydrology of Mammoth Cave National Park
Water continues to play a critical role in shaping Mammoth Cave National Park.
Karst systems are important sources of aquifers that can be vulnerable to contamination from human activities. Aquifers are groundwater reservoirs contained in permeable rock and are important sources of freshwater for drinking and other uses. It is important to understand the flow of water in these systems to track contamination and stay informed about water availability. One way to do this is to use dye tracers. In this method, researchers inject a colorful dye (that will not react with other substances or cause harm to ecosystems) into a point where water enters the underground system (a sinkhole or disappearing stream, for example), and monitors where the dye reappears above ground in springs or wells. This helps analyze the flow of water below ground (where it can’t be directly observed) and find the sources of drinking water. For example, water in a spring that may be used for drinking might originate in a contaminated area, and this would be important to know to change management practices.
