A mission of the Karst Waters Institute is to improve the fundamental understanding of karst water systems through sound scientific research and the education of professionals and the public. An important objective is to provide accessibility to karst information. As part of achieving that objective, this site will provide, as the information is developed, access to important karst data which could be used for research purposes.
Available Datasets and Publications (external sites)
The Karst Information Portal : An open-access digital library linking scientists, managers, and explorers to quality information resources in order to inform research, to enhance collaboration, and to address policy decisions concerning karst environments.
Karst in the United States: A Digital Map Compilation and Database : Produced by the U.S. Geological Survey, this report describes digital maps delineating areas of the United States, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, having karst or the potential for development of karst and pseudokarst. This report includes a GIS database with links from the map unit polygons to online geologic unit descriptions.
Available Free Downloads
Caution! Some of the files which can be downloaded are large.
Special Publication 13, Frontiers of Karst Research
This Special Publication is from the Frontiers of Karst Research workshop held in May, 2008, in San Antonio, Texas. The report contains three main parts: Part 1 is the summary of the Opportunities & Recommendations, The Future Frontier; Part II contains seven state-of-the-art, Today’s Frontier, papers presented by breakout leaders at the workshop; and Part III consists of the seven reports, Findings and Recommendations, from the workshop focus groups.
Updated terrestrial species list for the United States, a bibliography of taxonomic descriptions, and some general notes
(D.C. Culver, D. Fong, H.H. Hobbs, III, 2013)
Terrestrial Species List (Excel file), Terrestrial Species List References (Word file)
Subterranean Species Diversity Maps for obligate cave dwelling species of the Eastern United States (2003)
Combined Terrestrial/Aquatic Species
A list of cave-limited species in the United States and Canada
(Hobbs, H.H., D.C. Culver, and W.R. Elliott, 2003)
A Lexicon of Cave and Karst Terminology [pdf]
Malcom S. Field, PhD., National Center for Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Ground Water Monitoring in Karst Terrains [pdf]
James P. Quinlan, National Park Service, Mammoth Cave, KY
Application of Dye Tracing Techniques for Determining Solute-Transport Characteristics of Ground Water in Karst Terrains [pdf]
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Ground Water Protection Branch; U.S. Geological Survey, Water Resources Division; US Environmental Protection Agency