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Sinkholes: Impacts
Flooding and collapse of sinkholes are naturally occurring phenmona related to
the climate of the Barren River Area. When flooding or the collapse of
sinkholes occurs in rural areas, the economic impacts are minimal. In areas of
urban development, the impacts can be substantial.
Buildings and other urban infrastructure developed in the floodplains of
sinkholes are at risk from flooding and the collapse of sinkholes. When heavy
rainfall occurs, localized flooding can block roads and disrupt the delivery of
services (Figure 10-5). Heavy rainfall also contributes to the occurrence of
sinkhole collapse, particularly in locations where urban development has altered
patterns of stormwater runoff (Figure 10-6).
Figure 10-5. Sinkhole flooding in a neighborhood of Bowling Green. (Photo Credit: Center for Cave and Karst Studies/Western Kentucky University)
Figure 10-6. A collapsed sinkhole in the parking lot at the Greenwood Mall in Bowling Green. (Photo Credit: Center for Cave and Karst Studies/Western Kentucky University)
There are numerous examples across the Barren River Area of structural damage
to buildings caused by the collapse of sinkholes. The example in Figure 10-7 shows
a collapsed sinkhole that threatened the structural integrity of a large
apartment building in Bowling Green in the mid 1980s. There was little or no
indication that a problem was imminent before a sinkhole opened near the
building. The hole continued to grow as soil and debris were eroded away until
the possibility of foundation failure forced the owners to take corrective
measures. This included digging out the sinkhole down to the crevice responsible
for the sink and plugging the crevice appropriately . While actual damage to
the structure was limited, the cost of excavation and fixing the open crevice
was substantial.
Figure 10-7. Mitigation of a collapsed sinkhole near an apartment building Bowling Green. (Photo Credit: Center for Cave and Karst Studies/Western Kentucky University)
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