Is that a sinkhole in my back yard?

Q: Over time, I have noticed an area of my backyard that keeps getting lower. I'm concerned about sinkholes in our area because of the number of caves we have in this area. There is a large sinkhole in a nearby field even. Who do I contact for help in determining if there is a sinkhole forming in my back yard. -- M.B., Republic, Mo.

Answered by Bob Schultheis, natural resource engineering specialist with University of Missouri Extension. Schultheis is headquartered in Webster County and can be reached by telephone at (417) 859-2044 or by email at schultheisr@missouri.edu.

In Greene County, these questions can be referred to the Resource Management Department at http://www.greenecountymo.org/resource_management/staff.php, which maintains a GIS record of all known sinkhole locations.

As a second contact, or in counties other than Greene, landowners can contact the MoDNR's Geological Survey Program at Rolla, MO at http://dnr.mo.gov/geology/geosrv/envgeo/sinkholes.htm or call 573-368-2100. They are good about timely follow-up to concerned landowners.

It is also possible to do some research on your own using the GeoStrat program at http://dnr.mo.gov/geology/geosrv/