Date of Graduation
Fall 2025
Degree
Master of Science in Geography & Geology
Department
School of Earth, Environment & Sustainability
Committee Chair
Mélida Gutiérrez
Abstract
Karst landscapes are abundant in Missouri, with features such as caves, springs, and sinkholes that form through the dissolution of limestone. Leith Creek is a small stream in Polk County, Missouri fed by two springs and the shallow unconfined Springfield Plateau aquifer, a highly karstified aquifer which is made up of limestone and minor interbedded shale-mudstone units. To determine if Leith Creek is gaining or losing, stream flow, water chemistry and temperature sensors were monitored. Stream flow results required multiple visits to take measurements while temperature sensors required two visits, one to install the dataloggers and another to remove the dataloggers. Aside from characterizing the stream, another objective of this study was to determine if Leith Creek was being contaminated by sewage, fertilizers, and manure since Polk County has the 2nd largest number of cattle in Missouri. Water samples were collected from September 2023 to April 2025. Total dissolved solids, nitrate-nitrogen, alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, sulfate, and chlorides were analyzed. Discharge was measured on each sampling date using the velocity-area method, and discharges ranged from approximately zero to one m3 /s. A losing stream would have decreasing discharges further downstream, while a gaining stream would have increased discharges further downstream. Results of this study show that Leith Creek is a losing stream with a negligible degree of contamination by animal waste, with nitrate-nitrogen concentrations below 2.0 mg/L. XRF analysis of sediment confirmed that there was no metal contamination. The water quality reflects dissolution of limestone and contains little sulfates.
Keywords
karst, springs, water quality, losing stream, nitrate-nitrogen, discharge monitoring, temperature sensors
Subject Categories
Applied Statistics | Atmospheric Sciences | Biogeochemistry | Climate | Environmental Chemistry | Environmental Engineering | Fresh Water Studies | Geochemistry | Geological Engineering | Geology | Hydrology | Other Engineering Science and Materials | Speleology | Statistical Methodology | Stratigraphy
Copyright
© Elizabeth Jones
Recommended Citation
Jones, Elizabeth, "Evaluation of Practical Methods to Determine if a Karst Creek Is Gaining or Losing: Case Study of Leith Creek" (2025). Graduate Theses/Dissertations. 4141.
https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/4141
Open Access
Included in
Applied Statistics Commons, Atmospheric Sciences Commons, Biogeochemistry Commons, Climate Commons, Environmental Chemistry Commons, Environmental Engineering Commons, Fresh Water Studies Commons, Geochemistry Commons, Geological Engineering Commons, Geology Commons, Hydrology Commons, Other Engineering Science and Materials Commons, Speleology Commons, Statistical Methodology Commons, Stratigraphy Commons
