Karst hydrologic systems are important resources in the state of Tennessee both as drinking water resources and as centers for possible biological diversity. These systems are susceptible to contamination due to the inherent connectivity between surface water and groundwater systems in karst systems. A partnership between the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Tennessee Department of Conservation (TDEC) was formed to investigate karst spring systems across the state utilizing fluorescent groundwater tracing, particularly in areas where these resources may be used as drinking water sources. In fall 2021, USGS and TDEC staff identified possible vulnerabilities or complexities that may exist within karst spring systems based upon maturity of karst development, underlying geology, and uncertainties related to estimated recharge areas. Based upon initial research, several study areas were selected. Dye tracing efforts began in March 2022 in the communities of Woodbury, Cowan, Jasper, and Vanleer. In Water Year 2023 (10/1/2022-9/30/2023) fieldwork concluded on these initial communities and new dye tracing efforts were started in Caryville, Morristown, and Lafayette. Collectively these communities span multiple physiographic regions including the western and eastern Cumberland Plateau escarpments, the Western and Eastern Highland Rim, and the Valley and Ridge Province. All these communities rely on karst groundwater as a drinking water source and in areas where the hydrology has been significantly altered by karst processes and thus the groundwater pathways are complex and unpredictable. The community of Vanleer is in Dickson County, Tennessee. The town drains west to Yellow Creek, a tributary of the Cumberland River. Mississippian St. Louis and Warsaw limestone units are dominant in the entire Vanleer area. These areas of mostly carbonate strata are altered by karst processes resulting in most surface water sinking underground and discharging at springs at lower reaches. In Water Year 2023, a total of nine dye injections were conducted over three rounds. The monitoring network consisted of 46 monitoring sites where charcoal packets were deployed. This data release contains shapefiles that relate to dye injection locations, monitoring sites, and dye traces conducted in the Vanleer area during the 2023 Water Year (10/1/2022-9/30/2023). All files were created in ArcGIS Pro and each shapefile contains associated attributes for the features contained within. Layer files are included with the datasets to match symbology found in figures in the accompanying report. All shapefiles and layers were created and modified in ArcGIS software. For a full description of the methods to create these files, see Process Steps in "VN23_Metadata.xml" metadata file. Data within each child item of this data release are named with a two-letter abbreviation unique for the community where the tracing occurred and the water year the work was conducted (e.g. WD23). Abbreviations for the communities are as followed: CR = Caryville, CW = Cowan, JS = Jasper, LF = Lafayette, MR = Morristown, VN = Vanleer, WD = Woodbury.

Karst hydrologic systems are important resources in the state of Tennessee both as drinking water resources and as centers for possible biological diversity. These systems are susceptible to contamination due to the inherent connectivity between surface water and groundwater systems in karst systems. A partnership between the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Tennessee Department of Conservation (TDEC) was formed to investigate karst spring systems across the state utilizing fluorescent groundwater tracing, particularly in areas where these resources may be used as drinking water sources. In fall 2021, USGS and TDEC staff identified possible vulnerabilities or complexities that may exist within karst spring systems based upon maturity of karst development, underlying geology, and uncertainties related to estimated recharge areas. Based upon initial research, several study areas were selected. Dye tracing efforts began in March 2022 in the communities of Woodbury, Cowan, Jasper, and Vanleer. In Water Year 2023 (10/1/2022-9/30/2023) fieldwork concluded on these initial communities and new dye tracing efforts were started in Caryville, Morristown, and Lafayette. Collectively these communities span multiple physiographic regions including the western and eastern Cumberland Plateau escarpments, the Western and Eastern Highland Rim, and the Valley and Ridge Province. All these communities rely on karst groundwater as a drinking water source and in areas where the hydrology has been significantly altered by karst processes and thus the groundwater pathways are complex and unpredictable. The community of Vanleer is in Dickson County, Tennessee. The town drains west to Yellow Creek, a tributary of the Cumberland River. Mississippian St. Louis and Warsaw limestone units are dominant in the entire Vanleer area. These areas of mostly carbonate strata are altered by karst processes resulting in most surface water sinking underground and discharging at springs at lower reaches. In Water Year 2023, a total of nine dye injections were conducted over three rounds. The monitoring network consisted of 46 monitoring sites where charcoal packets were deployed. This data release contains shapefiles that relate to dye injection locations, monitoring sites, and dye traces conducted in the Vanleer area during the 2023 Water Year (10/1/2022-9/30/2023). All files were created in ArcGIS Pro and each shapefile contains associated attributes for the features contained within. Layer files are included with the datasets to match symbology found in figures in the accompanying report. All shapefiles and layers were created and modified in ArcGIS software. For a full description of the methods to create these files, see Process Steps in "VN23_Metadata.xml" metadata file. Data within each child item of this data release are named with a two-letter abbreviation unique for the community where the tracing occurred and the water year the work was conducted (e.g. WD23). Abbreviations for the communities are as followed: CR = Caryville, CW = Cowan, JS = Jasper, LF = Lafayette, MR = Morristown, VN = Vanleer, WD = Woodbury.

Karst hydrologic systems are important resources in the state of Tennessee both as drinking water resources and as centers for possible biological diversity. These systems are susceptible to contamination due to the inherent connectivity between surface water and groundwater systems in karst systems. A partnership between the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Tennessee Department of Conservation (TDEC) was formed to investigate karst spring systems across the state utilizing fluorescent groundwater tracing, particularly in areas where these resources may be used as drinking water sources. In fall 2021, USGS and TDEC staff identified possible vulnerabilities or complexities that may exist within karst spring systems based upon maturity of karst development, underlying geology, and uncertainties related to estimated recharge areas. Based upon initial research, several study areas were selected. In late winter 2021, fieldwork began in areas surrounding the Tennessee communities of Cowan, Jasper, Vanleer, and Woodbury. These communities are in three physiographic provinces; Cowan and Jasper are near the Cumberland Plateau while Vanleer and Woodbury are located on the Western and Eastern Highland Rim, respectively. These systems are in areas where the hydrology has been significantly altered by karst processes and thus the groundwater pathways are complex and unpredictable. The community of Vanleer is in Dickson County, Tennessee. The town drains west to Yellow Creek, a tributary of the Cumberland River. Mississippian St. Louis and Warsaw limestone units are dominant in the entire Vanleer area. These areas of mostly carbonate strata are altered by karst processes resulting in most surface water sinking underground and discharging at springs at lower reaches. In September 2022, a total of three dye injections were conducted over one round. The monitoring network consisted of 16 monitoring sites where charcoal packets were deployed. Data within each child item of this data release are named with a two-letter abbreviation unique for the community where the tracing occurred and the water year the work was conducted (e.g. VN23). Abbreviations for the communities are as followed: CW = Cowan, JS = Jasper, VN = Vanleer, WD = Woodbury. This data release contains shapefiles that relate to dye injection locations, monitoring sites, and dye traces. All files were created in ArcGIS Pro and each shapefile contains associated attributes for the features contained within. Layer files are included with the datasets to match symbology found in figures in the accompanying report. All shapefiles and layers were created and modified in ArcGIS software. For a full description of the methods to create these files, see Process Steps in "VN22_metadata.xml."

Karst hydrologic systems are important resources in the state of Tennessee both as drinking water resources and as centers for possible biological diversity. These systems are susceptible to contamination due to the inherent connectivity between surface water and groundwater systems in karst systems. A partnership between the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Tennessee Department of Conservation (TDEC) was formed to investigate karst spring systems across the state utilizing fluorescent groundwater tracing, particularly in areas where these resources may be used as drinking water sources. In fall 2021, USGS and TDEC staff identified possible vulnerabilities or complexities that may exist within karst spring systems based upon maturity of karst development, underlying geology, and uncertainties related to estimated recharge areas. Based upon initial research, several study areas were selected. In late winter 2021, fieldwork began in areas surrounding the Tennessee communities of Cowan, Jasper, Vanleer, and Woodbury. These communities are in three physiographic provinces; Cowan and Jasper are near the Cumberland Plateau while Vanleer and Woodbury are located on the Western and Eastern Highland Rim, respectively. These systems are in areas where the hydrology has been significantly altered by karst processes and thus the groundwater pathways are complex and unpredictable. The community of Vanleer is in Dickson County, Tennessee. The town drains west to Yellow Creek, a tributary of the Cumberland River. Mississippian St. Louis and Warsaw limestone units are dominant in the entire Vanleer area. These areas of mostly carbonate strata are altered by karst processes resulting in most surface water sinking underground and discharging at springs at lower reaches. In September 2022, a total of three dye injections were conducted over one round. The monitoring network consisted of 16 monitoring sites where charcoal packets were deployed. Data within each child item of this data release are named with a two-letter abbreviation unique for the community where the tracing occurred and the water year the work was conducted (e.g. VN23). Abbreviations for the communities are as followed: CW = Cowan, JS = Jasper, VN = Vanleer, WD = Woodbury. This data release contains shapefiles that relate to dye injection locations, monitoring sites, and dye traces. All files were created in ArcGIS Pro and each shapefile contains associated attributes for the features contained within. Layer files are included with the datasets to match symbology found in figures in the accompanying report. All shapefiles and layers were created and modified in ArcGIS software. For a full description of the methods to create these files, see Process Steps in "VN22_metadata.xml."

Karst hydrologic systems are important resources in the state of Tennessee both as drinking water resources and as centers for possible biological diversity. These systems are susceptible to contamination due to the inherent connectivity between surface water and groundwater in karst landscapes. A partnership between the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Tennessee Department of Conservation (TDEC) was formed to investigate karst spring systems across the state utilizing fluorescent groundwater tracing, particularly in areas where these resources may be used as drinking water sources. In fall 2021, USGS and TDEC staff identified possible vulnerabilities or complexities that may exist within karst spring systems based upon maturity of karst development, underlying geology, and uncertainties related to estimated recharge areas. Based upon initial research, several study areas were selected. In late winter 2021, fieldwork began in areas surrounding the Tennessee communities of Cowan, Jasper, Vanleer, and Woodbury. These communities are in three physiographic provinces; Cowan and Jasper are near the Cumberland Plateau while Vanleer and Woodbury are located on the Western and Eastern Highland Rim, respectively. These systems are in areas where the hydrology has been significantly altered by karst processes and thus the groundwater pathways are complex and unpredictable. Data within each child item of this data release are named with a two-letter abbreviation unique for the community where the tracing occurred and the water year the work was conducted (e.g. WD23). Abbreviations for the communities are as followed: CW = Cowan, JS = Jasper, VN = Vanleer, WD = Woodbury. This data release contains shapefiles that relate to dye injection locations, monitoring sites, and dye traces. All files were created in ArcGIS Pro and each shapefile contains associated attributes for the features contained within. Layer files are included with the datasets to match symbology found in figures in the accompanying report. All shapefiles and layers were created and modified in ArcGIS software. For a full description of the methods to create these files, see Process Steps in "AllData22_metadata.xml."

Karst hydrologic systems are important resources in the state of Tennessee both as drinking water resources and as centers for possible biological diversity. These systems are susceptible to contamination due to the inherent connectivity between surface water and groundwater systems in karst systems. A partnership between the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Tennessee Department of Conservation (TDEC) was formed to investigate karst spring systems across the state utilizing fluorescent groundwater tracing, particularly in areas where these resources may be used as drinking water sources. In fall 2021, USGS and TDEC staff identified possible vulnerabilities or complexities that may exist within karst spring systems based upon maturity of karst development, underlying geology, and uncertainties related to estimated recharge areas. Based upon initial research, several study areas were selected. Dye tracing efforts began in March 2022 in the communities of Woodbury, Cowan, Jasper, and Vanleer. In Water Year 2023 (10/1/2022-9/30/2023), fieldwork concluded on these initial communities and new dye tracing efforts were started in Caryville, Morristown, and Lafayette. Collectively these communities span multiple physiographic regions including the western and eastern Cumberland Plateau escarpments, the Western and Eastern Highland Rim, and the Valley and Ridge Province. All these communities rely on karst groundwater as a drinking water source and in areas where the hydrology has been significantly altered by karst processes and thus the groundwater pathways are complex and unpredictable. This data release contains shapefiles that relate to dye injection locations, monitoring sites, and dye traces conducted throughout Tennessee, in communities that utilize karst groundwater as a drinking water source, during the 2023 Water Year (10/1/2022-9/30/2023). All files were created in ArcGIS Pro and each shapefile contains associated attributes for the features contained within. Layer files are included with the datasets to match symbology found in figures in the accompanying report. All shapefiles and layers were created and modified in ArcGIS software. For a full description of the methods to create these files, see Process Steps in "TN_WY23_Metadata.xml" metadata file. Data within each child item of this data release are named with a two-letter abbreviation unique for the community where the tracing occurred and the water year the work was conducted (e.g. WD23). Abbreviations for the communities are as followed: CR = Caryville, CW = Cowan, JS = Jasper, LF = Lafayette, MR = Morristown, VN = Vanleer, WD = Woodbury.

Karst hydrologic systems are important resources in the state of Tennessee both as drinking water resources and as centers for possible biological diversity. These systems are susceptible to contamination due to the inherent connectivity between surface water and groundwater systems in karst systems. A partnership between the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Tennessee Department of Conservation (TDEC) was formed to investigate karst spring systems across the state utilizing fluorescent groundwater tracing, particularly in areas where these resources may be used as drinking water sources. In fall 2021, USGS and TDEC staff identified possible vulnerabilities or complexities that may exist within karst spring systems based upon maturity of karst development, underlying geology, and uncertainties related to estimated recharge areas. Based upon initial research, several study areas were selected. Dye tracing efforts began in March 2022 in the communities of Woodbury, Cowan, Jasper, and Vanleer. In Water Year 2023 (10/1/2022-9/30/2023), fieldwork concluded on these initial communities and new dye tracing efforts were started in Caryville, Morristown, and Lafayette. Collectively these communities span multiple physiographic regions including the western and eastern Cumberland Plateau escarpments, the Western and Eastern Highland Rim, and the Valley and Ridge Province. All these communities rely on karst groundwater as a drinking water source and in areas where the hydrology has been significantly altered by karst processes and thus the groundwater pathways are complex and unpredictable. This data release contains shapefiles that relate to dye injection locations, monitoring sites, and dye traces conducted throughout Tennessee, in communities that utilize karst groundwater as a drinking water source, during the 2023 Water Year (10/1/2022-9/30/2023). All files were created in ArcGIS Pro and each shapefile contains associated attributes for the features contained within. Layer files are included with the datasets to match symbology found in figures in the accompanying report. All shapefiles and layers were created and modified in ArcGIS software. For a full description of the methods to create these files, see Process Steps in "TN_WY23_Metadata.xml" metadata file. Data within each child item of this data release are named with a two-letter abbreviation unique for the community where the tracing occurred and the water year the work was conducted (e.g. WD23). Abbreviations for the communities are as followed: CR = Caryville, CW = Cowan, JS = Jasper, LF = Lafayette, MR = Morristown, VN = Vanleer, WD = Woodbury.

Karst hydrologic systems are important resources in the state of Tennessee both as drinking water resources and as centers for possible biological diversity. These systems are susceptible to contamination due to the inherent connectivity between surface water and groundwater systems in karst systems. A partnership between the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Tennessee Department of Conservation (TDEC) was formed to investigate karst spring systems across the state utilizing fluorescent groundwater tracing, particularly in areas where these resources may be used as drinking water sources. In fall 2021, USGS and TDEC staff identified possible vulnerabilities or complexities that may exist within karst spring systems based upon maturity of karst development, underlying geology, and uncertainties related to estimated recharge areas. Based upon initial research, several study areas were selected. Dye tracing efforts began in March 2022 in the communities of Woodbury, Cowan, Jasper, and Vanleer. In Water Year 2023 (10/1/2022-9/30/2023) fieldwork concluded on these initial communities and new dye tracing efforts were started in Caryville, Morristown, and Lafayette. Collectively these communities span multiple physiographic regions including the western and eastern Cumberland Plateau escarpments, the Western and Eastern Highland Rim, and the Valley and Ridge Province. All these communities rely on karst groundwater as a drinking water source and in areas where the hydrology has been significantly altered by karst processes and thus the groundwater pathways are complex and unpredictable. The community of Cowan is in Franklin County, TN at the western base of the Cumberland Plateau. The town is located along Boiling Fork Creek, a tributary to the Elk River. The nearby Cumberland Plateau is capped by Pennsylvanian siliciclastic strata with the lower flanks of the plateau underlain by layers of Mississippian strata including the Pennington Formation, Bangor Limestone, the Hartselle Formation, and Monteagle and St. Louis Limestone units. The areas underlain by carbonate strata have been altered by karst processes, resulting in most surface water sinking underground. Groundwater is discharged from springs in small valleys and “coves” including Hawkins and Keith Coves. Three rounds of dye injections occurred in the 2023 Water Year, with dye being injected in a total of nine locations. The monitoring network consisted of 36 monitoring sites where charcoal packets were deployed. Data within each child item of this data release are named with a two-letter abbreviation unique for the community where the tracing occurred and the water year the work was conducted (e.g. WD23). Abbreviations for the communities are as followed: CR = Caryville, CW = Cowan, JS = Jasper, LF = Lafayette, MR = Morristown, VN = Vanleer, WD = Woodbury. This data release contains shapefiles that relate to dye injection locations, monitoring sites, and dye traces conducted in the Cowan area during the 2023 Water Year (10/1/2022-9/30/2023). All files were created in ArcGIS Pro and each shapefile contains associated attributes for the features contained within. Layer files are included with the datasets to match symbology found in figures in the accompanying report. All shapefiles and layers were created and modified in ArcGIS software. For a full description of the methods to create these files, see Process Steps in "CW23_Metadata.xml" metadata file.

Karst hydrologic systems are important resources in the state of Tennessee both as drinking water resources and as centers for possible biological diversity. These systems are susceptible to contamination due to the inherent connectivity between surface water and groundwater systems in karst systems. A partnership between the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Tennessee Department of Conservation (TDEC) was formed to investigate karst spring systems across the state utilizing fluorescent groundwater tracing, particularly in areas where these resources may be used as drinking water sources. In fall 2021, USGS and TDEC staff identified possible vulnerabilities or complexities that may exist within karst spring systems based upon maturity of karst development, underlying geology, and uncertainties related to estimated recharge areas. Based upon initial research, several study areas were selected. Dye tracing efforts began in March 2022 in the communities of Woodbury, Cowan, Jasper, and Vanleer. In Water Year 2023 (10/1/2022-9/30/2023) fieldwork concluded on these initial communities and new dye tracing efforts were started in Caryville, Morristown, and Lafayette. Collectively these communities span multiple physiographic regions including the western and eastern Cumberland Plateau escarpments, the Western and Eastern Highland Rim, and the Valley and Ridge Province. All these communities rely on karst groundwater as a drinking water source and in areas where the hydrology has been significantly altered by karst processes and thus the groundwater pathways are complex and unpredictable. The community of Morristown is located in Hamblen County, Tennessee. The Morristown area is in the Valley and Ridge physiographic province and the area straddle a watershed divide between Cherokee Lake, to the north, and the Nolichucky River to the south. The town is underlain by Cambrian and Ordovician strata, the vast majority of which are carbonate units of dolomite or limestone. The geology of the area is complicated by faults which extend through the area NE-SW in parallel faults and have created anticlinal and synclinal structures in the underlying strata. The areas underlain by carbonate strata have been heavily altered by karst processes resulting in a landscape where most surface water sinks underground, either directly into sinkholes or in sinking streams. From March 2023 through July 2023, a total of six dye injections were conducted in two rounds. The monitoring network consisted of 34 monitoring sites where charcoal packets were deployed. This data release contains shapefiles that relate to dye injection locations, monitoring sites, and dye traces conducted in the Morristown area during the 2023 Water Year (10/1/2022-9/30/2023). All files were created in ArcGIS Pro and each shapefile contains associated attributes for the features contained within. Layer files are included with the datasets to match symbology found in figures in the accompanying report. All shapefiles and layers were created and modified in ArcGIS software. For a full description of the methods to create these files, see Process Steps in "MR23_Metadata.xml" metadata file. Data within each child item of this data release are named with a two-letter abbreviation unique for the community where the tracing occurred and the water year the work was conducted (e.g. WD23). Abbreviations for the communities are as followed: CR = Caryville, CW = Cowan, JS = Jasper, LF = Lafayette, MR = Morristown, VN = Vanleer, WD = Woodbury.

Karst hydrologic systems are important resources in the state of Tennessee both as drinking water resources and as centers for possible biological diversity. These systems are susceptible to contamination due to the inherent connectivity between surface water and groundwater systems in karst systems. A partnership between the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) was formed to investigate karst spring systems across the state utilizing fluorescent groundwater tracing, particularly in areas where these resources may be used as drinking water sources. In fall 2021, USGS and TDEC staff identified possible vulnerabilities or complexities that may exist within karst spring systems based upon maturity of karst development, underlying geology, and uncertainties related to estimated recharge areas. Based upon initial research, several study areas were selected and fieldwork started in March 2022. In Water Year 2024 (10/1/2023-9/30/2024) dye tracing was conducted in the communities of Caryville, Lafayette, Morristown, Mount Pleasant, and Vanleer. Collectively these communities span multiple physiographic regions including the Western and Eastern Highland Rim, and the Valley and Ridge Province. Each of these communities rely on karst groundwater as a drinking water source. Additionally, these are all areas where the hydrology has been significantly altered by karst processes and thus the groundwater pathways are complex and unpredictable. The community of Morristown is located in Hamblen County, Tennessee. The Morristown area is in the Valley and Ridge physiographic province and the area straddle a watershed divide between Cherokee Lake, to the north, and the Nolichucky River to the south. The town is underlain by Cambrian and Ordovician strata, the vast majority of which are carbonate units of dolomite or limestone. The geology of the area is complicated by faults which extend through the area NE-SW in parallel faults and have created anticlinal and synclinal structures in the underlying strata. The areas underlain by carbonate strata have been heavily altered by karst processes resulting in a landscape where most surface water sinks underground, either directly into sinkholes or in sinking streams. In Water 2024 a total of eight dye injections were conducted in the Morristown area over three rounds. The monitoring network consisted of 46 monitoring sites where charcoal packets were deployed. This data release contains shapefiles of dye injection locations, monitoring sites, and dye traces conducted in the Morristown area during the 2024 Water Year. All files were created in ArcGIS Pro and each shapefile contains associated attributes for the features contained within. Layer files are included with the datasets to match symbology found in figures in the accompanying report. All shapefiles and layers were created and modified in ArcGIS software. For a full description of the methods used to create these files, see Process Steps in the metadata file, "MR24_Metadata.xml". Data within each child item of this data release are named with a two-letter abbreviation unique for the community where the tracing occurred and the water year when the work was conducted (e.g. LF24). Abbreviations for the communities are as follows: CR = Caryville, LF = Lafayette, MR = Morristown, MP = Mount Pleasant, and VN = Vanleer.