Graduation Year

2023

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

M.S.

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.)

Degree Granting Department

Geology

Major Professor

Jason D. Gulley, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Thomas Juster, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Joni Firat, Ph.D.

Keywords

Recharge, Discharge, Santa Fe River, Ichetucknee River

Abstract

Florida has one of the largest karst aquifers in the United States, with a significant portion of its water resources originating from the eogenetic karst system in north central Florida. Despite the importance of this system, eogenetic karst still needs to be studied compared to telogenetic karst. The hydrological behavior of karst aquifers is complex, with numerous factors influencing the timing, magnitude, and shape of spring hydrographs. One hypothesis, by Florea and Vacher (2006), suggests that matrix permeability is the primary control of spring hydrographs in karst systems. However, this thesis challenges this hypothesis by presenting evidence that the recharge mechanism plays a more significant role in controlling spring hydrographs in karst aquifers. The study focuses on Santa Fe River Rise and Ichetucknee River in north central Florida. They share similar rock types and matrix permeability but differ in their recharge mechanism. The Santa Fe River Rise is primarily recharged by a sinking stream, while the spring-fed Ichetucknee River is recharged via diffuse infiltration. Discharge and precipitation data were downloaded and analyzed from 2010 to 2021, to examine the behavior of Santa Fe River Rise and Ichetucknee River. The results demonstrate that the recharge mechanism primarily controls spring hydrographs in karst aquifers rather than matrix permeability. The study found that Santa Fe River Rise responds more rapidly to precipitation events, with high peak flows and short recession periods, like telogenetic karst in Florea and Vacher (2006). In contrast, the Ichetucknee River has a delayed response to precipitation, with lower peak flows, like most Florida springs in Florea and Vacher (2006). Thus, this thesis highlights the importance of considering the recharge mechanism when analyzing the hydrological behavior of karst aquifers. The findings have significant implications for managing water resources in karst regions, emphasizing the need for a more nuanced understanding of the complex hydrogeological processes that regulate spring hydrographs.

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