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At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources
USGS1963

Two pollen diagrams from southeastern Minnesota: Problems in the regional late-glacial and postglacial vegetational history

Kirchner Marsh and Lake Carlson are located 3 miles apart in Dakota County about 15 miles south of Minneapolis in the St. Croix moraine, which was formed by the Superior lobe during the Gary phase of the Wisconsin glaciation. During the Mankato phase that followed, the Des Moines lobe advanced to within a few miles of the sites. The region today is in a mixed-oak forest, with a maplebasswood forest 15 miles to the west and a re-entrant of the prairie on the sand plain south of the moraine. The general limit of coniferous trees is about 50 miles northeast of the sites, although outliers, especially of Pinus strobus, may be found along the Mississippi Valley a few miles to the east. One sediment core 12-13 m long from each site was analyzed for pollen content at 5-25-cm intervals. Diagrams based on percentage of total pollen (trees, shrubs, wind-pollinated herbs) show essentially identical sequences at the two sites, starting with the late-glacial phase of ice retreat. The diagrams have been subdivided into pollen zones according to the A-B-C sequence introduced by Deevey for New England. The late-glacial pollen record starts at Kirchner Marsh with a short Picea-Cyperaceae-Gramineae phase (Zone K), believed to represent a spruce parkland. Its C-14 date of 13,270 BP and the stratigraphy indicate a pre- Two Creeks and post- Gary correlation. Apparently the Kirchner site did not become established as a lake until this time owing to persistence of dead ice in the moraine. The absence of pollen of specific tundra indicators and the presence of pollen of such thermophilous plants as Fraxinus, Quercus, Corylus, Ambrosia, Humulus, and Typha latifolia imply that the climate was cool rather than cold. Zone A-a, which follows, correlates with the Two Creeks interstade. It is marked by the dominance of Picea, with appreciable percentages of Fraxinus and Ambrosia and with minor amounts of other thermophilous plants and the normal boreal associates of spruce like Betula, Larix, and Salix. Zone A-b, starting 12,050 C-14 years ago, correlates with the Valders ice advance. It is represented at both Kirchner and Carlson and shows the withdrawal of Fraxinus and Ambrosia and the slight rise of Artemisia. Except for the absence of pine in the late-glacial assemblage the vegetation implied by these three zones seems to have its closest modern counterpart in the southern fringe of the Boreal Forest of the Riding Mountain region of southwest Manitoba. It is concluded that pine did not migrate southward with the spruce during the Wisconsin glaciation, at least in the western Great Lakes region, and was thus eliminated from this region. During the lateglacial phases of ice retreat, herbs and spruce pioneered on the deglaciated terrain; pine did not follow until the destruction of the spruce forest at the end of the late-glacial phase. Zone B introduces postglacial time. It represents the time of rapid Vegetational succession following the deterioration of the spruce forest. Simultaneous maxima of Betula, Alnus, Fraxinus, and Abies occurred 10,230 years ago at Kirchner Marsh. These were followed rapidly by a Pinus maximum and then a rise of Ulmus, Quercus, and other deciduous types, dated as 9300 years ago at the correlative site of Madeha. This succession may represent differential rates of migration from refuges south and east of Minnesota . Deciduous trees dominate the C Zones. Zone C-a shows Ulmus and Ostrya /Carpinus followed by Quercus; it probably represents principally a mesic maple-basswood forest changing to oak. Zone C-b represents the advance of prairie into the region at the expense of the oak woodland or savanna. The large and abrupt fluctuations in the curves for Ambrosia-type and Chenopodiineae, especially at the Carlson site, may record encroachment of annual weeds onto intermittently dried lake bottoms. C-14 dates place Zone C-b between 7100 and 5100 years ago. In Zone C-c the Quercus again dominates until the abrupt increase in Ambrosiatype and Chenopodiineae that marks the time of forest clearance and land settlement 50-75 years ago.

Minnesota↗
USGS1994

Hydrology and water quality of Whitewater and Rice lakes in southeastern Wisconsin, 1990-91

The hydrology and water quality of Whitewater and Rice Lakes was studied by the U.S. Geological Survey during November 15, 1990November 14, 1991, in cooperation with the Whitewater-Rice Lakes Management District, Walworth County, Wis. Whitewater and Rice Lakes are small, shallow lakes; surface areas are 697 and 162 acres and mean depths are 8.4 feet and 5.8 feet, respectively. Although both lakes have surface outlets, water levels were below the dam crests during the study, and no water left the lake through the outlets. The drainage basin of Whitewater Lake is 10.9 square miles and that of Rice Lake is 11.8 square miles; but, because of large amounts of depressional areas, only 1.4 square miles and 0.2 square mile, respectively, contribute surface runoff to the lakes. Whitewater Lake is an artificial lake created in 1947 by the damming of three smaller lakes. Rice Lake is an artificial lake created in 1954 by the damming of Whitewater Creek, which drains Whitewater Lake. Maintaining the lake levels at the elevations of their dam crests has been difficult since the lakes were created. For most years, water levels were below the lakes' dam crests. Ground water, precipitation, and evaporation are important components in the hydrologic budgets of the lakes. For Whitewater Lake, ground water was the dominant source of water, accounting for 57 percent of the inflow budget; precipitation accounted for 26 percent. Ground water also dominated the outflow, accounting for 81 percent of the outflow budget. The remaining 19 percent of the outflow budget was evaporation. For Rice Lake, precipitation was the dominant source of water, accounting for 88 percent of the inflow budget; ground water accounted for 8 percent. Evaporation dominated the outflow budget, at 70 percent, whereas ground water accounted for 30 percent. The external phosphorus budget for Whitewater Lake showed that shoreline drainage was the largest source of phosphorus to the lake42 percent of the total input of 558 pounds. Other sources of phosphorus were septic systems, 19 percent of the total; precipitation, 18 percent; a spring inlet at base flow, 13 percent; and ground water, 8 percent. The external phosphorus budget for Rice Lake showed that shoreline drainage also was the largest source of phosphorus to the lake-59 percent of the total input of 63 pounds; other sources were precipitation, 38 percent of the total; and ground water, 3 percent. Application of Vollenweider's phosphorus loading model fairly accurately predicted the lakes' spring turnover phosphorus concentrations and suggested that the external loading of phosphorus would result in mesotrophic to eutrophic conditions for Whitewater Lake and mesotrophic conditions for Rice Lake. Dillon and Rigler's model further suggested additional phosphorus from internal recycling was required to result in the high chlorophyll-a concentrations experienced in both systems during summer. Internal recycling of phosphorus in addition to external loading seems to also cause waterquality problems in both lakes. The amount of phosphorus recycled from the lake sediments was estimated from a mass-balance approach for April 1-November 14, 1991. For Whitewater Lake, the internal load of 582 pounds was slightly greater than the annual external load of 558 pounds. For Rice Lake, the internal load of 295 pounds far exceeded the annual external load of 63 pounds.

Wisconsin↗
USGS2012

Luna B. Leopold--pioneer setting the stage for modern hydrology

In 1986, during the first year of graduate school, the lead author was sampling the water from a pitcher pump in front of “The Shack,” the setting of the opening essays in Aldo Leopold's renowned book A Sand County Almanac. The sampling was part of my Master's work that included quarterly monitoring of water quality on the Leopold Memorial Reserve (LMR) near Baraboo, Wisconsin. The Shack was already a well-known landmark, and it was common to come upon visitors and hikers there. As such, I took no special note of the man who approached me as I was filling sample bottles and asked, as was typical, “What are you doing?”

Ground Water↗
USGS2005

Trends in streamflow, sedimentation, and sediment chemistry for the Wolf River, Menominee Indian Reservation, Wisconsin, 1850-1999

Historical trends in streamflow, sedimentation, and sediment chemistry of the Wolf River were examined for a 6-mile reach that flows through the southern part of the Menominee Indian Reservation and the northern part of Shawano County, Wis. Trends were examined in the context of effects from dams, climate, and land-cover change. Annual flood peaks and mean monthly flow for the Wolf River were examined for 1907-96 and compared to mean annual and mean monthly precipitation. Analysis of trends in sedimentation (from before about 1850 through 1999) involved collection of cores and elevation data along nine valley transects spanning the Wolf River channel, flood plain, and backwater and impounded areas; radioisotope analyses of impounded sediment cores; and analysis of General Land Office Survey Notes (1853-91). Trends in sediment chemistry were examined by analyzing samples from an impoundment core for minor and trace elements. Annual flood peaks for the Wolf River decreased during 1907-49 but increased during 1950-96, most likely reflecting general changes in upper-atmospheric circulation patterns from more zonal before 1950 to more meridional after 1950. The decrease in flood peaks during 1907-49 may also, in part, be due to forest regrowth. Mean monthly streamflow during 1912-96 increased for the months of February and March but decreased for June and July, suggesting that spring snowmelt occurs earlier in the season than it did in the past. Decreases in early summer flows may be a reflection earlier spring snowmelt and large rainstorms in early spring rather than early summer. These trends also may reflect upper-atmospheric circulation patterns. The Balsam Row Dam impoundment contains up to 10 feet of organic-rich silty clay and has lost much of its storage capacity. Fine sediment has accumulated for 1.8 miles upstream from the Balsam Row Dam. Historical average linear and mass sedimentation rates in the Balsam Row impoundment were 0.09 feet per year and 1.15 pounds per square foot per year for 1927-62 and 0.10 feet per year and 1.04 pounds per square foot per year for 1963-99. Sedimentation in the impoundment was episodic and was associated with large floods, especially the flood-related failure of the Keshena Falls Dam in 1972 and a large flood in 1973. Sand deposition is common in the Wolf River upstream from the impounded reach for 2.5 miles and is caused by the base-level increase associated with the Balsam Row Dam. Some sand deposition also may have been associated with logging and log drives in the late 1800s and the failure of the Keshena Falls Dam. In the upstream 1.5-mile part of the studied reach, the substrate is mainly rocky; however, about 2,000 feet downstream from Keshena Falls, the channel has narrowed and incised since the 1890s, likely related to human alterations associated with logging, log drives, and (or) changes in hydraulics and sediment characteristics associated with completion of the Keshena Falls Dam and head race in 1908. Minor- and trace-element concentrations in sediment from Balsam Row impoundment and other depositional areas along the Wolf River generally reflect background conditions as affected by watershed geology and historical inputs from regional and local atmospheric deposition.

Wisconsin↗
USGS1975

The availability of ground water for irrigation in the Rice Lake-Eau Claire Area, Wisconsin

An abundance of ground water of excellent chemical quality for irrigating crops is available from glacial outwash sand and gravel and from the underlying sandstones in the Rice Lake-Eau Claire area. Thick deposits of glacial outwash sand and gravel in the valleys of the Red Cedar and lower Chippewa Rivers yield more than 1,000 gallons per minute (63 lit res per second) to many wells. Large tracts of irrigable soils, delineated in two subareas (Rice Lake and Cameron) in Barron County and one subarea (Menomonie) in Dunn County, lie within the outwash plains where ground water is available in large quantities. Yields are especially large in the Rice Lake and Cameron subareas where the sand and gravel is highly permeable and the thickness of saturated aquifer exceeds 250 feet (75 metres). Yields generally are less than 1,000 gallons per minute (63 litres per second) in the Menomonie subarea where large amounts of clay locally reduce the permeability of the aquifer and the thickness of saturated aquifer is less than 200 feet (60 metres). Adequate water for irrigation is available also from sandstone underlying the glacial outwash plains. Because the two aquifers generally are connected hydraulically, wells penetrating the sandstone also withdraw water indirectly from the glacial drift. Most irrigation wells in Barron County withdraw water from glacial outwash; more than half the irrigation wells in Dunn County withdraw water from sandstone. In most years, recharge to the ground-water reservoir is 6 to 8 inches (150 to 200 millimetres), which is more than ample to sustain pumping for irrigation without lowering the water table significantly. Ground water in the area is a calcium bicarbonate water that ranges in dissolved-solids concentration from 35 to 330 milligrams per litre. Concentrations of sodium and' boron are very low.

Wisconsin↗
USGS2012

Development and application of a groundwater/surface-water flow model using MODFLOW-NWT for the Upper Fox River Basin, southeastern Wisconsin

The Fox River is a 199-mile-long tributary to the Illinois River within the Mississippi River Basin in the states of Wisconsin and Illinois. For the purposes of this study the Upper Fox River Basin is defined as the topographic basin that extends from the upstream boundary of the Fox River Basin to a large wetland complex in south-central Waukesha County called the Vernon Marsh. The objectives for the study are to (1) develop a baseline study of groundwater conditions and groundwater/surface-water interactions in the shallow aquifer system of the Upper Fox River Basin, (2) develop a tool for evaluating possible alternative water-supply options for communities in Waukesha County, and (3) contribute to the methodology of groundwater-flow modeling by applying the recently published U.S. Geological Survey MODFLOW-NWT computer code, (a Newton formulation of MODFLOW-2005 intended for solving difficulties involving drying and rewetting nonlinearities of the unconfined groundwater-flow equation) to overcome computational problems connected with fine-scaled simulation of shallow aquifer systems by means of thin model layers. To simulate groundwater conditions, a MODFLOW grid is constructed with thin layers and small cell dimensions (125 feet per side). This nonlinear unconfined problem incorporates the streamflow/lake (SFR/LAK) packages to represent groundwater/surface-water interactions, which yields an unstable solution sensitive to initial conditions when solved using the Picard-based preconditioned-gradient (PCG2) solver. A particular problem is the presence of many isolated wet water-table cells over dry cells, causing the simulated water table to assume unrealistically high values. Attempts to work around the problem by converting to confined conditions or converting active to inactive cells introduce unacceptable bias. Application of MODFLOW-NWT overcomes numerical problem by smoothing the transition from wet to dry cells and keeps all cells active. The simulation is insensitive to initial conditions and the water-table trend is smooth across layers. The MODFLOW-NWT code permits rigorous calibration and also robust application of the model to transient scenarios. Runtimes on a 64-bit computer are kept reasonably short by use of updated initial conditions and informed choices of solver parameters. The shallow aquifer system consists of unconsolidated material of varying thickness over Silurian dolomite. The unconsolidated material, largely of glacial origin, contains fine-textured and coarse-textured deposits that vary in permeability over short distances. This study at least partly encompasses the inevitable uncertainty in the hydraulic conductivity zones by developing two models—one favors the continuity of fine-grained deposits and a second favors the continuity of coarse-grained deposits. The separate calibration processes for the fine-favored and coarse-favored models using MODFLOW-NWT and the nonlinear regression algorithms in the parameter estimation (PEST) code produce distinct parameter values for hydraulic conductivity zones, storage parameters, and streambed conductance zones. Both models are applied to a hypothetical scenario involving 27 "riparian" wells completed adjacent to the river channel and open to the shallow aquifer systems along a 10-mile stretch of the Fox River. The results suggest that a riparian well system withdrawing about 9 million gallons per day would induce about one-third to one-half its total discharge from the river, and that this riverbank inducement would appreciably limit drawdown around the hypothetical wells.

Wisconsin↗
USGS2004

Peracute sodium toxicity in free-ranging black-bellied whistling duck ducklings

From 23 to 25 July 2002, 98–103 newly hatched black-bellied whistling ducks ( Dendrocygna autumnalis ) were observed alive at an inland saline lake (La Sal Vieja) in Willacy County, Texas (USA). Seventy-one (71%) died after showing signs indicative of sodium toxicity within 5 hr of entering the water; some died within minutes. Six carcasses were sent to the United States Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center (Madison, Wisconsin, USA) for analysis, and brain sodium levels of all ducklings were above 2,000 parts per million wet weight. More black-bellied whistling duck ducklings are likely to have been affected, but they were not observed after hatching.

Texas↗
USGS1964

Geology and ground-water conditions of the Redwood Falls area, Redwood County, Minnesota

The Redwood Falls area includes about 80 square miles in southwestern Minnesota and is about 100 miles west of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Its surface is a gently undulating glacial-drift plain, interrupted in part by the large Minnesota River valley and the tributary Redwood River valley. The drift plain was laid down by the Des Moines lobe of the Wisconsin Glaciation and consists chiefly of ground moraine and several subdued recessional moraines. The glacial drift rests either on Precambrian gneiss or on thin patches of Cretaceous sedimentary strata that overlie the Precambrian bedrock. The glacial drift consists principally of till and some outwash and ranges in thickness from 0 to about 260 feet. It is the chief source of ground water, yielding small supplies almost anywhere in the area and large supplies in at least two places. Where the drift is absent, thin, or impermeable, small yields commonly are obtained from the Precambrian bedrock. The most notable aquifers in the area are three buried outwash deposits that are associated with a conspicuous southeastward-trending buried bedrock valley. The tops of the aquifers occur about 70,120, and 200 feet below the land surface, and their maximum known thicknesses are about 25, 55, and 45 feet, respectively. The aquifers are confined largely by relatively impermeable till; however, owing to the movement of water through the till, the drift may be regarded as a hydraulic unit. The main source of recharge to the ground-water reservoir is local precipitation, and most of the natural discharge is by evapotranspiration. The water table ranges in depth from 0 to about 30 feet below the land surface. Aquifer tests were made on the three outwash aquifers to determine their hydraulic characteristics. The coefficient of transmissibility (T) of the 200-foot aquifer is about 126,000 gpd (gallons per day) per ft, and the coefficient of storage (8) is about 0.0002. The T and S values of the 120-foot aquifer are about the same as for the 200-foot aquifer. For the 70-foot aquifer the value of T is about 70,000 gpd per ft, and S is about 0.0007. The data suggest that when the artesian head in the aquifers is lowered by pumping, recharge is induced by leakage from the confining beds. The 120-foot aquifer is considered the best known source of ground water In the area. The city of Redwood Falls has used this aquifer for its water supply since August 1955 and, in 1960, pumped about 106 million gallons from it. The water level in the aquifer had stabilized by late 1956; considerable additional water probably can be obtained from the aquifer. Although the 70-foot aquifer is not as extensive or as thick as the one at 120 feet, large amounts of water probably can be obtained from this aquifer also. The 200-foot aquifer is narrow, elongate, and irregular in form and appears to be very permeable only locally. Chemical analyses show that water from the glacial-drift aquifers is primarily of the bicarbonate type, is hard, and contains an excessive amount of iron. In places water from the Precambrian bedrock is much softer than water from the drift.

Minnesota↗
USGS1953

Stratigraphic sections at White Pine copper mine, Ontonagon County, Michigan

The lithology and stratigraphy of the ore zones near the base of the Nonesuch formation in the vicinity of the White Pine copper mine, Ontonagon County, Michigan, are shown on preliminary stratigraphic sections that have been made available for examination. Partial logs of 91 holes, drilled by the Copper Range Company from 1937 to 1949 in an area of approximately 9 square miles, are graphically presented on 15 sheets. The stratigraphic sections, at vertical scale of 1 inch equals 4 feet, show lithologic details of composition, bedding, and color, in the lower 60 feet of the Nonesuch formation and in the top of the immediately underlying rocks. The stratigraphic sections of 7 drill holes long the line of the main service drift now being driven to develop the White Pine mine have copper assays (from records of the Copper Range Company) correlated with the lithology. These assays are representative of the area, and they illustrate the stratigraphic restriction of the ore and the persistent correlation between lithology and copper content. This open-file material, entitled "Stratigraphic sections at White Pine, Ontonagon County, Michigan", records the lithologic end stratigraphic classification of these drill cores by W. S. White end J. C. Wright, end copies are available for examination in the offices of the Geological Survey: Room 1033 (Library), General Services Administration Washington, D. C.; Room 213 Science Hall, University of Wisconsin, Madison 6, Wisconsin; and Calumet, Michigan; and at the office of the Geological Survey Division, Michigan Department of Conservation, Lansing, Michigan.

Michigan↗
USGS1998

Water-quality assessment of part of the upper Mississippi River basin, Minnesota and Wisconsin— Ground-water quality in an urban part of the Twin Cities Metropolitan area, Minnesota, 1996

In the spring of 1996, the Upper Mississippi River Basin Study Unit of the National Water-Quality Assessment Program drilled 30 shallow monitoring wells in a study area characterized by urban residential and commercial land uses. The monitoring wells were installed in sandy river-terrace deposits adjacent to the Mississippi River in Anoka and Hennepin Counties, Minnesota, in areas where urban development primarily occurred during the past 30 years. Analyses of sediments collected during well drilling indicated that at most well sites the aquifer materials had relatively high hydraulic conductivities (ranging from 0.01 to 238 feet per day), and relatively low organic carbon contents (0.10 to 41 grams per kilogram), indicating a high susceptibility to leaching of fertilizers and organic substances used on the land surface. Sediment pH values, which can affect leaching of pesticides, were generally alkaline, ranging from 5.1 to 9.6. Ground-water levels ranged from 2.39 to 23.14 feet below land surface, and indicated that shallow ground water flows primarily toward the Mississippi River. Dissolved-oxygen concentrations in water samples from the wells were generally less than 3 milligrams per liter (mg/L) and specific conductances were generally greater than 600 microsiemens per centimeter. Calcium, magnesium, sodium, bicarbonate, chloride, and sulfate were the primary dissolved constituents in the water samples. Sodium and chloride concentrations were generally greater than commonly reported in the region, probably due to leaching of sodium chloride applied to roads during the winter. Most tracemetal concentrations in ground-water samples were less than 10 micrograms per liter (μg/L), but concentrations of iron and manganese commonly exceeded Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency of 300 and 50 μg/L, respectively. Mineral saturation indices indicated that calcite, dolomite, and gypsum were slightly undersaturated in most water samples, and that quartz, and many oxides and hydroxides of iron and manganese were oversaturated in all of the water samples. Concentrations of nitrate nitrogen, the primary nutrient of concern in ground water, ranged from less than 0.05 to 16 mg/L, with a median concentration of 1.4 mg/L. Dissolved phosphorus concentrations ranged from less than 0.01 to 1.5 mg/L in the water samples, with a median concentration of 0.02 mg/L. Water from one well was oversaturated with respect to hydroxyapatite, a phosphatic mineral used as a fertilizer. Pesticide compounds were detected in water samples from 16 wells, but concentrations of those compounds were less than 1.0 μg/L. Prometon, an herbicide commonly used for right-of-way weed control, was detected in water samples from 10 of the wells. Atrazine, and its metabolite deethylatrazine, were detectable in water samples from 6 and 8 wells, respectively. Atrazine is commonly applied to land planted with corn and is detectable in rainfall and air samples in concentrations of less than 1 ng/L in the urban land use study area. Other detected pesticide compounds, which are used in agriculture, right-of-way weed control, or lawn care included: tebuthiuron, EPTC, p , p '-DDE, metolachlor, simazine, bentazon, and bromacil. Volatile organic compounds were detected in water samples from 26 wells, but the concentrations of most of those compounds were less than 1 μg/L. Carbon disulfide, which may be produced by bacteria in soils, was the most commonly detected volatile organic compound in water samples from the wells. Other detected volatile organic compounds included: methyl chloride, acetone, dichlorofluoromethane, tetrahydrofuran, trichlorofluoromethane, methyl iodide, 1,1-dichloroethane, chloroform, toluene, trichloroethane, trichloroethene, cis -1,2-dichloroethene, methylene chloride, bromodichloromethane, benzene, methylisobutylketone, ethyl ether, and tetrachloroethene. Tritium concentrations, analyzed in water samples from 15 of the 30 wells, indicated that shallow ground water has been recharged since the mid-1950's, and that shallow ground water should be affected by urban development that has taken place over the past 40 years. Land uses in the urban land use study area affected the concentrations of some water-quality constituents. Concentrations of nitrate and chloride, and frequencies of detection of pesticides and of volatile organic compounds, were greater in water samples from the surficial sand and gravel aquifer underlying the urban land use study area than in water samples from similar aquifers from part of the Upper Mississippi River Basin National Water-Quality Assessment study unit. Land uses within 500-meter radii of each well were quantified by digitizing overlays of aerial photographs that were verified and updated in the field. Concentrations of magnesium and sulfate were greater in ground water beneath areas of denser residential development, which may be a natural artifact of better drainage and a deeper water table in those areas. Frequencies of detection of some pesticides and volatile organic compounds were greater in water from wells with greater proportions of industrial and transportation land uses. Ground water in areas with less dense residential development, mostly the more recently-developed areas, tended to have greater concentrations of agricultural herbicides and some nutrients probably a relict of previous agricultural land use.

Minnesota↗
USGS1968

Water resources of Wisconsin, Fox-Wolf River basin

PURPOSE AND SCOPE The purposes of this report are to (1) describe the geohydrology of the basin, (2) describe and relate the surface- and ground-water systems, (3) discuss existing and possible future water problems in the basin, and (4) to suggest means of possible solutions. The scope of the study was to interpret and relate streamflow, climatic, geologic, and ground-water information. Because of its reconnaissance nature, this report should serve as background information. More specific water information for many areas of the Fox-Wolf River basin is available at the offices of the U.S. Geological Survey and the University of Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey in Madison. This study is part of a planned investigation of the geology and water resources of the rapidly developing Fox River valley industrial complex and municipal region extending from Green Bay to Fond du Lac. The related studies in this region cover Fond du Lac County (Newport, 1962), Outagamie County (LeRoux, 1957), Brown County (Drescher, 1953), the Green Bay area (Knowles and others, 1964; Knowles, 1964), Waupaca County (Berkstresser, 1964), Waushara County (Summers, 1965), and Winnebago County (Olcott, 1966).

Wisconsin↗
USGS1997

Geohydrology and simulation of ground-water flow for the Ohio River alluvial aquifer near Owensboro, northwestern Kentucky

The Ohio River alluvial aquifer is the primary source of drinking water for the residents of Owensboro and Daviess County and adjacent counties in Kentucky. The aquifer consists of sand and gravel deposits that partly fill a bedrock-valley system consisting of shales of Pennsylvanian age. The valley is a result of dissection by the Ohio River during the Pleistocene epoch. The sand and gravel deposits in the bedrock valley are glacial-outwash deposits of Illinoian and Wisconsin age. The thickness of the alluvium ranges from just a few feet near the bedrock-valley walls to nearly 150 feet in the Bon Harbor Hills area west of Owensboro. Estimates of transmissivity of the alluvium near the Ohio River are in excess of 50,000 gallons per day per foot. A two-dimensional, steady-state ground-water-flow model was developed to estimate the hydraulic properties, the rate of recharge, and the contributing areas to discharge boundaries for the Ohio River alluvial aquifer near Owensboro. Results from previous studies, available geohydrologic data, and observations of water levels from area ground-water wells were compiled to conceptualize the ground-water-flow system and construct the numerical model. Ground water enters the modeled area primarily by infiltration from precipitation and river leakage towards nearby wells and exits the modeled area primarily by withdrawal wells, flow through the valley across model boundaries, and discharge to the Ohio River. A sensitivity analysis of the model indicates the model is most sensitive to changes in horizontal hydraulic conductivity, especially near the Ohio River boundary. Particle tracking was used to compute the contributing areas to discharge boundaries. Contributing areas for withdrawal wells at Owensboro Municipal Utilities extended south and east toward the valley walls and model boundaries and toward the Ohio River, where most of the water withdrawn by the wells is from induced flow from the river.

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗
USGS2008

A comparison of speciated atmospheric mercury at an urban center and an upwind rural location

Gaseous elemental mercury (GEM), particulate mercury (PHg) and reactive gaseous mercury (RGM) were measured every other hour at a rural location in south central Wisconsin (Devil's Lake State Park, WI, USA) between April 2003 and March 2004, and at a predominantly downwind urban site in southeastern Wisconsin (Milwaukee, WI, USA) between June 2004 and May 2005. Annual averages of GEM, PHg, and RGM at the urban site were statistically higher than those measured at the rural site. Pollution roses of GEM and reactive mercury (RM; sum of PHg and RGM) at the rural and urban sites revealed the influences of point source emissions in surrounding counties that were consistent with the US EPA 1999 National Emission Inventory and the 2003-2005 US EPA Toxics Release Inventory. Source-receptor relationships at both sites were studied by quantifying the impacts of point sources on mercury concentrations. Time series of GEM, PHg, and RGM concentrations were sorted into two categories; time periods dominated by impacts from point sources, and time periods dominated by mercury from non-point sources. The analysis revealed average point source contributions to GEM, PHg, and RGM concentration measurements to be significant over the year long studies. At the rural site, contributions to annual average concentrations were: GEM (2%; 0.04 ng m-3); and, RM (48%; 5.7 pg m-3). At the urban site, contributions to annual average concentrations were: GEM (33%; 0.81 ng m-3); and, RM (64%; 13.8 pg m-3). ?? The Royal Society of Chemistry.

Journal of Environmental Monitoring↗
USGS1997

Rock-stratigraphic nomenclature, lithology, and subcrop area of the Galena-Platteville bedrock unit in Illinois and Wisconsin

The Galena-Platteville bedrock unit is a dependable source of ground water for many private well owners and some municipal-water-supply systems in northern Illinois (Hackett, 1960) and in Wisconsin. The carbonate lithology of the unit contributes to the availability of ground water and also to the susceptibility of the unit to ground-water contamination. Susceptibility to contamination is greatest in areas where the unit is overlain by only a thin layer (less than 50 feet) of soil or unconsolidated glacial deposits. Within the study area in Illinois and Wisconsin (fig. 1), volatile organic compounds and other contaminants have been detected in groundwater samples from various sites (Kay and others, 1989; Mills, 1993a, 1993b; Kay and others, 1994). Known and suspected sources of contaminants are numerous, including landfills and industrial facilities. To determine the possible effects of contamination on the ground-water supply, an understanding of the regional hydrogeologic framework of the Galena-Platteville bedrock unit is needed. Published map and point data describing the geologic and hydrologic properties of the Galena-Platteville bedrock unit are available from many sources. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5, has selected and compiled pertinent data. The objective of this study is to publish these data in a series of concise map reports and a bibliographic report listing available sources of information by county for the Galena-Platteville bedrock unit. Investigators involved in site-specific studies within the subcrop area will be able to utilize these reports to design effective site investigations. This report presents the rock-stratigraphic nomenclature of the lithologic units that make up the Galena-Platteville bedrock unit (fig.2) and provides a brief, generalized description of the lithologic characteristics of each unit. Sources with more detailed descriptions of lithology can be found below in SELECTED REFERENCES. Figure 3 is a map, created from published maps of various scales, showing the areal extent of the Galena-Platteville subcrop and major known geologic structural features in Illinois and Wisconsin. The subcrop area of the Galena-Platteville bedrock unit is that area where the unit crops out, or is the uppermost bedrock unit and is overlain by soil or glacial deposits. The unit is present at depth under younger bedrock units south and east of the subcrop area and is absent north and west of the subcrop area. Data sources used to prepare the map are included in SELECTED REFERENCES.

Illinois, Wisconsin↗
USGS1979

Urban storm-runoff modelling; Madison, Wisconsin

The Illinois Urban Drainage Area Simulator was used to analyze the effects that (1) physical changes to storm-sewer conduits, and (2) increased runoff detention and infiltration would have on storm runoff in four urban basins in Madison, Wisconsin. The model was calibrated using monitoring data for the four basins collected over a 1-year period. A brief evaluation was made of a modified version of the model that simulates quality of urban runoff. Additional monitoring and computer analysis are necessary to calibrate the water-quality portion of the model before it can be used as a management tool in Madison. This study was done in cooperation with the Dane County Regional Planning Commission (DCRPC). Tables presenting results of various storm-water-management options are included. Some notable simulation results were that a 25 percent storm-sewer slope reduction yielded only a 3 percent peak-discharge reduction, and increasing storm-sewer roughness by increasing Manning's "n" from 0.013 to 0.0^0 decreased peak discharge about 10 to 20 percent. Detention of 10 percent of runoff throughout each basin yielded peak-discharge reductions of about 10 to 20 percent. Infiltration of all parking-lot runoff reduced peak discharges 5 to 2h percent. Peak discharges were reduced by 71 to 88 percent by substituting porous pavement for conventional pavement. Draining 90 percent of the residential rooftops onto lawns instead of driveways reduced peak discharge from 7 to 31 percent. Runoff-volume reduction was similarly reduced for the induced infiltration simulations. Storage requirements for hypothetical storm-water-treatment plants ranged from 2.6 to 29 acre-feet for the smallest and largest basins, respectively, with a treatment capacity of 25 cubic feet per second. A brief inconclusive evaluation of the water-quality subroutines of the model was made. Close agreement was noted between observed and simulated loads for nitrates, organic nitrogen, total phosphate, and total solids. Ammonia nitrogen and orthophosphate computed by the model ranged 7 to 11 times greater than the observed loads. Observed loads are doubtful because of the sparsity of water-quality data.

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USGS2024

Scale-dependence in elk habitat selection for a reintroduced population in Wisconsin, USA

Habitat selection is a critical aspect of a species' ecology, requiring complex decision-making that is both hierarchical and scale-dependent, since factors that influence selection may be nested or unequal across scales. Elk ( Cervus canadensis ) ranged widely across diverse ecoregions in North America prior to European settlement and subsequent eastern extirpation. Most habitat selection studies have occurred within their contemporary western range, even after eastern reintroductions began. As habitat selection can vary by geographic location, available cover, season, and diel period, it is important to understand how a non-migratory, reintroduced population in northern Wisconsin, USA, is limited by the lack of variation in topography, elevation, and vegetation. We tested scale-dependent habitat selection on 79 adult elk from 2017 to 2020 using resource selection functions across temporal (i.e., seasonal) and spatial scales (i.e., landscape and home range). We found that selection varied both spatially and temporally, and elk selected areas with the greatest potential to influence fitness at larger scales, meaning elk selected areas closer to escape cover and further from “risky” features (e.g., annual wolf territory centers, county roads, and highways). We found stronger avoidance of annual wolf territory centers during spring, suggesting elk were selecting safer habitats during calving season. Elk selected habitats with less canopy cover across both spatial scales and all seasons, suggesting that elk selected areas with better access to forage as early seral stage stands have greater forage biomass than closed-canopy forests and direct solar radiation to provide warmth in the cooler seasons. This study provides insight into the complexity of hierarchical decision-making, such as how risky habitat features and land cover type influence habitat selection differently across seasons and spatial scales, influencing the decision-making of elk. Scale-dependent behavior is crucial to understand within specific geographic regions, as these decisions scale up to influence population dynamics.

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USGS1983

Drainage-area data for Wisconsin streams

Drainage areas were determined for more than 7,000 sites in Wisconsin's 11 major river basins, including all named streams draining 5 or more square miles, and all unnamed streams draining 10 or more square miles. Also determined are drainage areas for gaging stations, sewage-treatment plants, dams, major highway crossings, and other sites where discharge measurements or water-quality data are available. Drainage areas were delineated on U.S. Geological Survey topographic maps. Drainage areas are shown in tabular form under six headings: station number; stream name, rank, and location; township, range, and section; county; type of site; and drainage area. Eleven major-river-basin maps show the location and station number of key sites.

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USGS1997

Watershed Characteristics and Land Management in the Nonpoint-Source Evaluation Monitoring Watersheds in Wisconsin

In 1992, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, in cooperation with the U.S. Geological Survey, began a land-use inventory to identify sources of contaminants and track the land-management changes for eight evaluation monitoring watersheds in Wisconsin. An important component of the land-use inventory has been developing descriptions and preliminary assessments for the eight watersheds. These descriptions establish a baseline for future data analysis. The watershed descriptions include sections on location, reference watersheds, climate, land use, soils and topography, and surface-water resources. The land-management descriptions include sections on objectives, sources of nonpoint contamination and goals of contaminant reduction, and implementation of best-management practices. This information was compiled primarily from the nonpoint-source control plans, county soil surveys, farm conservation plans, Federal and State agency data reports, and data collected through the land-use inventory.

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