New Surficial Geologic Mapping Along the I-65 Corridor in Bullitt, Hardin, and Nelson Counties, Kentucky

The Kentucky Geological Survey is an independent research institute at the University of Kentucky, which is founded upon a land-grant mission to serve the citizens of the Commonwealth of Kentucky by providing unbiased information about geologic resources, environmental issues, and natural hazards affecting Kentucky. Although Kentucky is fortunate to have a complete set of 1:24,000-scale geologic maps focused on bedrock (Paleozoic in Kentucky), surficial materials (typically Quaternary) were either undifferentiated on these maps or completely ignored. However, as current trends of economic development and urbanization continue to rise, detailed surficial geologic mapping is necessary to support geotechnical planning and engineering, environmental management and mitigation, and hazard assessment. As such, the Kentucky Geological Survey aims to complete and disseminate detailed surficial geologic maps and digital data in areas of the state likely to experience the most rapid economic development. County-wide compilation maps of surficial geologic quadrangles have recently become a secondary goal so that county GIS offices may also distribute data and maximize publicity. Constituents of the KSGMAC echo these duties, as summarized in the attached letter from the Chair. This proposal requests $162,854 to support new surficial geologic mapping that will address immediate societal needs and support new scientific discovery in an area of west-central Kentucky prioritized with the guidance of the Kentucky State Geologic Mapping Advisory Committee (KSGMAC). The proposed project supports our long-range mapping plan and will provide detailed surficial geologic data to the public in counties located along the actively developing I-65 corridor south of the Louisville metropolitan area. The study area is situated in a geologically unique area that will provide an opportunity to examine relationships of surficial deposits to groundwater resources, geologic hazards (radon, sinkholes, and landslides), and the landscape evolution of the Midwest United States throughout the Quaternary. Four new 7.5-minute surficial geologic quadrangle maps will be completed that build onto existing coverage to the north and will also provide datasets for county compilation maps.