(12) Groundwater Flow in the Karst Aquifer System of Lost Cove, Sewanee, TN as Determined Through Dye Tracing Studies

     Lost Cove is a large solution valley near Sewanee, Tennessee, with an extensive karst system developed in Mississippian limestones. Dye trace studies were conducted in order to establish subterranean flow routes... [ view full abstract ]

     Lost Cove is a large solution valley near Sewanee, Tennessee, with an extensive karst system developed in Mississippian limestones. Dye trace studies were conducted in order to establish subterranean flow routes within the karst system. The first dye trace was conducted by injecting fluorescein dye into the Big Sink, which serves as the presumed drain for the entire cove. The dye reemerged at Buggytop Cave within 50 minutes, suggesting that the connection between the two locations is a cave passage system with few pools. In 1980, Crawford had a similar result with the dye emerging at the cave 1.5 hours after injection, but at a time when the stream had a lower flow rate. This further suggests that at higher flow rates the stream is able to overcome pools and obstructions more quickly. A second dye injection was conducted beneath Natural Bridge, and results are still pending at the time of this writing.