USGS Logo Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 1475-Q
Present and Future Water Supply for Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky
SUMMARY OF POTENTIAL SUPPLIES

The potential sources of water supply for Mammoth Cave National Park are listed in table 1. Quantity and quality of water and the advantages and disadvantages of each potential source are summarized and page references are given for more complete data on each source.

TABLE 1.—Evaluation of potential sources of supply for Mammoth Cave National Park

Potential sources
of supply (listed
in approximate
order of value)		 Refer
to
page		 Yield Chemical quantity Advantages Disadvantages
Green River613 30-year minimum daily discharge, 40 mgd. Chemical quality good; has met USPHS standards every day since November 1961. Use would require chlorination and removal of suspended sediment. Large supply; quality suitable with ordinary treatment could be used as principal supply or to augment existing supply; located near area of consumption. Needs ordinary surface-water and a treatment; 350-450 ft pump lift. Possibility of renewed pollution by oil-field brine.
Nolin River620 Minimum probable releases from reservoir, 97-129 mgd. Chemical quality good; moderately hard to hard, but well within USPHS standards. Use would require chlorination and removal of suspended sediment. Large supply and suitable quality. Needs ordinary surface-water treatment, a 350-450 ft pump lift, and long pipe line. Located on north side of Green River.
Perched water in Haney Limestone Member (7 springs on Flint Ridge of which 2 springs are part of existing supply). 633 Minimum observed flow, 101,500 gpd (121,700 gpd including Bransford well). Best quality of all potential sources; requires only chlorination. Minimum change to existing system; excellent quality; recharge area located mostly in park; minimum treatment needed. Inadequate quantity for future use.
Wet Prong Buffalo Creek.626 Probable minimum discharge, 300,000 gpd. Quality good; soft to moderately hard; requires only chlorination. Adequate supply; suitable quality; most of watershed within park; could also be used as a supply for future development in park north of Green River. Needs ordinary surface-water treatment and long pipeline (5 miles); located on north side of Green River.
Small streams (other than Wet Prong Buffalo Creek).621 Similar to Wet Prong Buffalo Creek but not as valuable as a potential source became of smaller flows, greater distances from point of consumption, location outside of park, or location at or near Green River flood level.
Basal ground water.629 Minimum yield of major underground streams not known; maximum recorded yield to drilled wells, 35 gpm unless well taps a major underground stream. Chemical quality good; moderately hard to hard; requires ordinary treatment. Poor quality if wells are drilled too deep. Can be developed near area of use; could be used to augment existing supply. Quality good with treatment. Minimum yield not known. Requires high pump lift and treatment for bacteria and sediment.
Water in alluvium adjacent to Green River.628 Yields only small supplies to wells. Similar to water from Green River. Quality good; can be developed near area of use. Low yield; requires ordinary surface-water treatment and 350-400 ft pump lift.
Perched water in Big Clifty Sandstone Member and Girkin Formation.639 Yields only small supplies to wells. Chemical quality good; subject to pollution. Good quality Low yield.

The sources are listed in their approximate order of value. It is recognized that any order of listing must take into consideration quantity, quality, and economics. In the listing the quantity is weighted heavily. In evaluating the several sources a maximum daily demand of 250,000 gallons is used as a yardstick if possible growth to 1980 is considered. It reflects a two-fold increase in the estimated number of visitors during the period 1962 to 1980.

Combinations of these supplies might be used, such as the present supply augmented by Green River during periods of peak demand. Another possibility is the use of one or more of these sources as a separate supply for a future development in another area of the park.


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Last Updated: 28-Jul-2007