Geology and Karst Feature Distribution Map
of the Frederick Valley (Plate 1)

This map is included as an oversized plate inserted into Report of Investigations No. 75, Stratigraphy of the Frederick Valley and Its Relationship to Karst Development, by David K. Brezinski. Maryland Geological Survey (MGS) published the map, which was created jointly by MGS and Towson University Center for Geographic Information Sciences.

This composite map of Frederick Valley was developed from a series of six component GIS maps, including GPS locations of sinkholes, as an in-house, print-on-demand map for the report. Prepared in cooperation with the Maryland State Highway Administration, the karst study examined geological factors that control the distribution of soil cover collapse sinkholes in the Frederick, Maryland, region. The study concluded that when unlined drainage, storm water management areas, drainage diversions, or quarries are in proximity to high karst susceptibility bedrock units, they produce sinkhole activity.

A relative scale of karst susceptibility was developed to assist with recognizing areas of high karst susceptibility, representing sites that could be dangerous to build upon. The map and the Report of Investigation No. 75 help land use planners, developers, and the public recognize and better manage areas prone to karstification.