WKU Research On Groundwater Published In International Environmental Journal

April 23, 2008

Bowling Green, Ky. - The May 2008 issue of “Environmental Geology,” an international journal showcasing research on environmental and geoscience issues, features a report on groundwater research at Western Kentucky University’s Hoffman Environmental Research Institute.

The article was written by Dr. Chris Groves, Hoffman Institute director, and Andrea Croskrey, a graduate of WKU’s master’s in geoscience program. Croskrey works for the geologic resources division of the National Park Service in Denver.

Croskrey’s innovative graduate thesis research used digitally vectorized geologic quadrangles (DVGQs) to better understand groundwater sensitivity in Kentucky.

Groundwater sensitivity refers to the ease with which groundwater can be contaminated based on hydrogeologic characteristics. The research project developed digital methods for identifying areas of varying groundwater sensitivity for a 10-county area of south-central Kentucky at a scale of 1:100,000.

The study area includes extensive limestone karst sinkhole plains, with groundwater extremely sensitive to contamination. Digitally vectorized geologic quadrangles (DVGQs) were combined with elevation data to identify both hydrogeologic groundwater sensitivity regions and zones of “high risk runoff” where contaminants could be transported in runoff from less sensitive to higher sensitivity (particularly karst) areas.

While future work will fine-tune these maps with additional layers of data (soils for example) as digital data become available, using DVGQs allows a relatively rapid assessment of groundwater sensitivity for Kentucky at a more useful scale than previously available assessment methods.

According to Geography and Geology Department Head David Keeling, “this research is an excellent example of how WKU is helping both the state and local communities address critical environmental issues such as groundwater contamination.”

“A cornerstone of the MS Geoscience program at WKU is research that identifies problems in local communities both in south-central Kentucky and around the world.  Andrea’s research on groundwater sensitivity is a great practical example of this philosophy,” he said.

The Hoffman Environmental Research Institute (http://hoffman.wku.edu/) is part of WKU’s Applied Research and Technology Program within Ogden College of Science and Engineering.
               
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For information, contact Chris Groves at (270) 745-5974.