Karst Hydrogeologic Investigation for Proposed Kentucky Trimodal Transpark

Abstract

The proposed Kentucky Trimodal Transpark is a 1,619 ha (4,000 ac) commercial/industrial park combining highway, railroad and possibly an airport to be built at Bowling Green, Kentucky. Concerns about groundwater contamination, possible groundwater flowing into nearby Mammoth Cave National Park (MCNP) and sinkhole collapses resulted in a grant from the Inter-Modal Transportation Authority, Inc. of Bowling Green to the Center for Cave and Karst Studies (CCKS) to investigate these potential karst hydrogeologic problems. A fourteen-month investigation that included numerous dye traces, water level measurements, continuous groundwater level monitoring and hydrograph analysis confirmed the previous work by Quinlan and Ray that groundwater from the site flows to Graham Springs at Bowling Green. The research indicates that even during major floods, groundwater from the Transpark site does not flow over its headwater divide with the Turnhole Spring Groundwater Basin and then into MCNP. The investigation included mapping the structural geology and a sinkhole inventory in the vicinity of the proposed Transpark runway. It also included a hydrogeologic investigation of the existing Bowling Green Airport. This airport would be moved to the Transpark if approved by FAA. The investigation concludes that the risk of groundwater contamination, sinkhole flooding and regolith collapse sinkholes can be greatly reduced by a storm water runoff collection and treatment system that would collect all storm water from buildings, parking lots, streets and the airport runway, directing it through storm sewers into a treatment system consisting of filtration and wetlands underlain by synthetic liners. The proposed synthetic liners and storm sewer system would also greatly reduce the risk of induced regolith collapse sinkholes.