Assessing Point Groundwater Contamination Potential: Florida caves

Introduction

Where might caves in Florida be susceptible to potential point contamination sources such as hazardous material sites (HMS)? If there is leakage from these sites, which caves are more likely to be impacted?

Point contamination originates from readily identifiable contamination spots such as underground gasoline tanks, septic tanks, or industrial and municipal landfills. This lab assesses potential contamination of caves in Florida traceable to hazardous material sites.

Location

The study area is located along the Suwannee River, Florida.

Time to complete the lab

It should take approximately two hours for students to complete this lab.

Prerequisites

Students with intermediate GIS experience should be able to perform this assignment.

Data used in this lab

Raster data layers

cost_grid: Raster layer describing the cost of contaminant infiltration (i.e., contamination potential) to the Floridan aquifer.

Census county boundaries (U.S. Census Bureau)

Vector data layers

Caves (prepared by Can Denizman for the Florida Geological Survey)

Other

Locations of hazardous material sites in the study area as of 1997, provided in an Excel spreadsheet (Florida Department of Transportation)

Geographic coordinate system: GCS_North_American_1983_HARN

Datum: D_North_American_1983_HARN

Projection: Albers conical equal area (Florida Geographic Data Library)