Abstract
Ongoing work by the Missouri Geological Survey (MGS) is refining the known recharge areas of a number of major springs in the Ozarks. Among the springs being investigated are: Mammoth Spring (Fulton County, Arkansas), and the following Missouri springs: Greer Spring (Oregon County), Blue Spring (Ozark County), Blue/Morgan Spring Complex (Oregon County), Boze Mill Spring (Oregon County), two different Big Springs (Carter and Douglas County) and Rainbow/North Fork/Hodgson Mill Spring Complex (Ozark County). Previously unpublished findings of the MGS and United States Geological Survey (USGS) are also being used to better define recharge areas of Greer Spring, Big Spring (Carter County), Blue/Morgan Spring Complex, Rainbow/ North Fork/Hodgson Mill Complex, Wilder Spring (Ozark County) and Althea Spring (Ozark County). MGS is applying a graphical method of data analysis using spectrofluorometric scan results. Comparing the dye peak intensity to the intensity of the valley preceding the peak yields a ratio that can be used to standardize and quantify water traces. This method can be applied to current and some legacy traces with comparable results. In some cases, past tracer injection sites were utilized in attempts to replicate older traces from those locations. The data clearly show that there is value in applying spectrofluorometric dye detection techniques in attempting to replicate older traces. Some repeat injections and subsequent monitoring confirmed earlier traces. Other replication efforts revealed multiple recovery points that were undetected by the legacy traces, thus expanding known recharge areas. Still other replication efforts indicate that some older traces are not repeatable. The effect of the replication efforts significantly changes the logical interpretation of a number of recharge area boundaries. Among the findings of the overall study to date: Mammoth Spring and Greer Spring share a portion of their recharge, with the majority of Greer Spring’s flow apparently passing under a gaining segment of the 11 Point River, ultimately emerging more than four kilometers to the southeast. This and other findings raise questions about how hydrology in the study area may be controlled by deep-seated mechanisms such as basal faulting and jointing. Research and understanding would be improved by 1:24,000 scale geologic mapping and increased geophysical study of the entire area.
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DOI
http://dx.doi.org/10.5038/9780991000951.1051
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Recharge Area of Selected Large Springs in the Ozarks
Ongoing work by the Missouri Geological Survey (MGS) is refining the known recharge areas of a number of major springs in the Ozarks. Among the springs being investigated are: Mammoth Spring (Fulton County, Arkansas), and the following Missouri springs: Greer Spring (Oregon County), Blue Spring (Ozark County), Blue/Morgan Spring Complex (Oregon County), Boze Mill Spring (Oregon County), two different Big Springs (Carter and Douglas County) and Rainbow/North Fork/Hodgson Mill Spring Complex (Ozark County). Previously unpublished findings of the MGS and United States Geological Survey (USGS) are also being used to better define recharge areas of Greer Spring, Big Spring (Carter County), Blue/Morgan Spring Complex, Rainbow/ North Fork/Hodgson Mill Complex, Wilder Spring (Ozark County) and Althea Spring (Ozark County). MGS is applying a graphical method of data analysis using spectrofluorometric scan results. Comparing the dye peak intensity to the intensity of the valley preceding the peak yields a ratio that can be used to standardize and quantify water traces. This method can be applied to current and some legacy traces with comparable results. In some cases, past tracer injection sites were utilized in attempts to replicate older traces from those locations. The data clearly show that there is value in applying spectrofluorometric dye detection techniques in attempting to replicate older traces. Some repeat injections and subsequent monitoring confirmed earlier traces. Other replication efforts revealed multiple recovery points that were undetected by the legacy traces, thus expanding known recharge areas. Still other replication efforts indicate that some older traces are not repeatable. The effect of the replication efforts significantly changes the logical interpretation of a number of recharge area boundaries. Among the findings of the overall study to date: Mammoth Spring and Greer Spring share a portion of their recharge, with the majority of Greer Spring’s flow apparently passing under a gaining segment of the 11 Point River, ultimately emerging more than four kilometers to the southeast. This and other findings raise questions about how hydrology in the study area may be controlled by deep-seated mechanisms such as basal faulting and jointing. Research and understanding would be improved by 1:24,000 scale geologic mapping and increased geophysical study of the entire area.
