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The Scotia Barrens ARE the source of the ground water
flowing from Big Spring because . . .
- The soil in the area of the Scotia Barrens is very sandy so it has a high
infiltration capacity. Consequently almost all rainfall and snowmelt
infiltrates instead of running off, and there are very few flowing streams
in this area due to this high infiltration capacity.
- The Scotia Barrens area is underlain by a sandy dolomite bedrock which has
a very high permeability (ability to convey ground-water flow) and also has
a very high ability to store ground-water recharge in its pore spaces,
fractures, and solution openings.
- Connecting the Scotia Barrens area and the Big Spring is a fault zone
within the sandy dolomite bedrock which contains interconnected solution
openings and caverns. This fault zone is the conduit through which the
19 million gallons per day flows to the Big Spring.
- The ground-water recharge which occurs on the 25 square miles of the
Scotia Barrens is more than enough water to supply the 12 million gallons
per day flow of the Big Spring.
- The ratio of calcium to magnesium in the water flowing from Big Spring is the same
as the ratio found in the ground water under the Scotia Barrens. Return
to the Quiz.
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