Abstract
 GIS Applied to Flood Mapping in Sinkhole Areas Track: Water Resources Author(s): C. Campbell Most of the flooding problems in Bowling Green, Kentucky, are associated with sinkholes. Flood elevations for four sinkholes were determined using standard methods approved by FEMA. However, calculated flood elevations for two of these sinkholes were much lower than those commonly observed. One possible source of the error was found to be spill-over from uphill sinkholes. Using ArcGIS and 3D Analyst, watersheds were delineated and volumes held by sinkholes up to the lowest spill point were determined. This analysis showed that no significant correlation exists between area draining directly to the sinkholes and volume held. Also, most of the sinkholes studied have spill-over during the 100-yr. flood. By accounting for spill-over, the watershed of one sinkhole grew from 10 hectares to more than 160 hectares. A calibrated model that accounted for both storage and spill-over of upstream sinkholes agreed with observations of a 1998 flood. C. Campbell Western Kentucky University Engineering Dept. 1 Big Red Way Bowling Green , KY 42101 US Phone: 270-745-8988 Fax: 270-745-5856 E-mail: warren.campbell@wku.edu |
|||||
