An Examination of Perennial Stream Drainage Patterns within the Mammoth Cave Watershed, Kentucky

A major emphasis in geomorphology over the past six decades has been on the development of quantitative physiographic methods to describe the evolution and behavior of surface-drainage networks (Horton 1945; Leopold & Maddock 1953; Leopold & Wolman 1957; Abrahams 1984). These parameters have been used in various studies of geomorphology and surface-water hydrology, such as flood characteristics, sediment yield, and evolution of basin morphology (Jolly 1982; Ogunkoya et al. 1984; Aryadike & Phil-Eze 1989; Jensen 1991; Breinlinger et al. 1993). Many well-developed karst aquifers display drainage characteristics that appear similar to surface networks. The degree of similarities and their consistency throughout the whole of the karst drainage network are, however, generally unknown. Quantitative descriptors, known as morphometric parameters, have long been used to describe and predict stream network behavior for surface-flow systems. The purpose of this investigation was to explore techniques by which quantitative methods of drainage-network analysis can be applied to shed light on the evolution, organization, and flow patterns in the Mammoth Cave Watershed. Since an estimated 7-10% of the world’s land surface is underlain by karst aquifers (Ford & Williams 1989), understanding the processes and behaviors of karst landscapes and their subterranean stream networks may help humankind to better utilize and manage the earth’s natural resources. STUDY AREA: TURNHOLE BEND GROUNDWATER BASIN