SoKY’s Choice: Lost River Cave turns green for science and St. Patrick’s Day fun
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WNKY) – On St. Patrick’s Day, rivers turning green is nothing new. But in Bowling Green, the bright color at Lost River Cave comes with something a little deeper than holiday tradition.
Over the weekend, visitors watched as the cave’s river was dyed green, not just for festive photos, but as part of a demonstration of a scientific technique used to track how water moves underground.
The event is a collaboration between Lost River Cave and the Crawford Hydrology Laboratory at Western Kentucky University, where researchers specialize in dye tracing, a method used to follow water through underground cave systems and springs.
“It’s traditional that a lot of cities will dye their rivers green for St. Patrick’s Day,” said Caroline Galdi, education coordinator at Lost River Cave. “And here in Bowling Green, we just happen to have one of the world’s leading dye tracing labs. So they come out here and dye the river green the way they would if they were doing a scientific study.”
In karst regions like south-central Kentucky, where sinkholes and caves shape the landscape, water often travels through hidden underground pathways. Scientists use harmless fluorescent dyes to trace those routes and better understand where water flows and how long it takes to get there.
Ljubomir Risteski, a graduate research assistant with the Crawford Hydrology Lab, said the process allows researchers to measure more than just the direction of water flow.
“We’re able to not only figure out where water is going into the system and coming out of it, but we’re able to figure out how much of it and even some timing aspects with that as well,” Risteski said.
That information can be critical when tracking potential contamination or responding to environmental concerns.
“If it’s not rainfall and it’s a chemical spill, that can also help us figure out where it’s going and how long it’ll take to get there,” he said.
While the science behind the dye tracing is serious, the event also serves as a seasonal celebration for the park.
Justin Jennings, CEO of Lost River Cave, said the annual event helps welcome visitors back as the weather warms and the park begins its busy season.
“It’s kind of a great way to kick off our season,” Jennings said. “We spent a long winter here at the park, and it’s nice to welcome everybody out on a beautiful day to experience nature.”
The demonstration also gives visitors a chance to learn about the unique ecosystem beneath their feet. Karst landscapes, formed by dissolving limestone, make up a significant portion of the Earth’s surface and are considered particularly vulnerable to pollution because water moves quickly through underground channels.
By turning the river green, organizers say they hope people walk away with more than just photos.
They hope visitors gain a better understanding of how water moves through the region, and why protecting it matters.
