QUANTITATIVE DYE TRACING AND FLUOROMETRY TO DETERMINE SUBSURFACE FLOW PATHS IN THE CLEAR CREEK AREA, NORTHWEST GREENE COUNTY, MISSOURI

Population growth and development in southwestern Missouri have stressed the water resources and affected the water quality of this region. Rapid growth and development have focused attention on water management issues in Greene County where urban areas and major transportation corridors are located in recharge areas of karst aquifers. More detailed information concerning groundwater basin boundaries and flow paths is needed to efficiently evaluate and manage water resources in this region.

However, the complexity karst bedrock adds to ground water flow mechanisms makes hydrogeological studies in karst regions uniquely difficult. The use of qualitative dye-tracing techniques in conjunction with quantitative dye-tracing techniques is helpful to accurately delineate the boundaries of karst ground water basins and determine ground water flow characteristics.

In order to investigate the groundwater basin in the Clear Creek area of northwest Greene County, this study will use both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Qualitative dye-tracing with fluorescent dye and passive dye detectors will be conducted to identify point-to-point connections between sinkholes, which are groundwater recharge points, and springs or gaining streams, which are groundwater discharge points. Quantitative analysis with automatic samplers and a fluorescence spectrophotometer will be used to conduct fluorometric analysis and quantify the passage of the dye cloud at select locations. These results will be used to determine the travel time for the leading edge of the dye cloud, peak dye concentration, trailing edge, and persistence of the dye cloud at the selected discharge points.