Characterizing Perennial Bedrock Springs in the Low-Yield Aquifer Region of Southwest-Central Indiana

Abstract

Groundwater in the rural southwest central region of Indiana has been used for a variety of purposes, including drinking water, agricultural, livestock, & commercial use, all of which make the springs important features for the communities in rural Southwest- Central Indiana. There is a gap in the understanding of the spatial relationships between these springs as well as the changes in spring quality over time. To fill that gap in understanding, the Indiana Geological Water Survey (IGWS) is partnering with the Center for Rural Engagement (CRE) to investigate a subset of the 360 known springs in the Southwest-Central Indiana region.

This presentation, given as a part of the "Locating and Characterizing Important Springs of the Indiana Uplands" project, explains the goals of this investigation, the preliminary findings and spatial analysis of the springs, and future goals for the project. This project will culminate in a publicly accessible and crowdsourced online geospatial tool that combines contemporary results with historical data to contribute to knowledge of the springs and foster community engagement.