URBANIZING IMPACTS ON THE MAXWELTON SINK CAVE SYSTEM

As karst watersheds, those typified by caves, sinkholes, and sinking streams are increasingly urbanized, there exists a need for the evolution of accessible and inexpensive methods to evaluate and inventory human-environment impacts at various scales. These sensitive environs are progressively being disturbed and impaired by anthropogenic processes both economic and cultural, such as changes in land use and new development. Very little work has focused on these issues in West Virginia watersheds, particularly from a spatial perspective that examines the varied biological, social, and physical interactions that contribute to these impacts. Lewisburg, West Virginia lies in a well developed karst watershed of the Appalachian Basin and has experienced increased urban development and expansion of agricultural lands and built environment over the last ten years. This has resulted in the emergence of sinkholes, water table drawdown, sedimentation of surface and groundwater systems, changes in infiltration and runoff morphology, and negative impacts on cave biota. The Greenbrier Limestone (Big Lime) is a representative and extensive cave-forming unit in this region and creates many challenges for understanding the surface-subsurface links and resulting impacts of urbanization, as well as providing an abundance of opportunities for this exploration. This research addresses the recharge area for Maxwelton Sink Cave System and attempts to quantify and catalogue impacts from increasing development and changes in land use via a modified Karst Disturbance Index (KDI) that incorporates and ranks regional influences. Resulting scores allow for identification and discourse of impacted areas and can direct future research, evaluation, and protection measures.