Quaternary Geology of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin
The Quaternary geology of Fond du Lac County consists of glacial deposits and landforms dating to the last part of the Wisconsin Glaciation (ca. 20,000 to 12,000 yr BP) and nonglacial deposits and landforms of Holocene age (11,700 yr BP to present). Glacial till and meltwater sediment were deposited by the Green Bay and Lake Michigan Lobes of the Laurentide Ice Sheet. The Kettle Interlobate Moraine formed in eastern Fond du Lac County where these two lobes abutted. Glacial lake sediment was deposited in lowlands when the Green Bay Lobe impounded drainage forming glacial lakes Fond du Lac and Oshkosh. [B116]
Hydrogeology and Simulation of Groundwater Flow in Columbia County, Wisconsin
The WGNHS and the U.S. Geological Survey characterized the hydrogeology and developed a groundwater flow model to assess groundwater resources in Columbia County. This report describes regionally extensive aquifers and presents several extensive datasets collected from deep wells across the county. The report also documents the construction and calibration of the flow model, which simulates pumping from wells used for irrigation, industrial, and municipal supply. [B117]
Applications of the Columbia County, Wisconsin, Groundwater-Flow Model
Computerized groundwater-flow models provide scientific analysis of water resources. Since its initial development in 2014, the Columbia County groundwater-flow model has been used to respond to requests for information about specific groundwater and land use issues. This companion report to the Hydrogeology and simulation of groundwater flow in Columbia County, Wisconsin (Bulletin 117) demonstrates several of these model applications. Examples include simulating the effects of pumping from a new irrigation well and assessing groundwater flow patterns near an industrial facility. [WOFR2021-06]
Mineral Assessments for Conservation Easements in Wisconsin
If you’re thinking about donating land as a conservation easement but don’t own the subsurface (known as “severed mineral rights”), then you’ll need an assessment of the land’s mineral potential to determine whether the easement will qualify as a charitable tax deduction. Geologists at the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey perform this service. Learn how we prepare mineral assessments and their limitations as well as the basics about severed mineral rights, mineral deposits, and conservation easements. [WOFR2021-05]
Depth-to-Bedrock Mapping in Wisconsin
Depth-to-bedrock maps show the thickness of unconsolidated materials overlying bedrock. These maps provide a key link between the underlying geology, groundwater flow, and land use and are important in guiding activities such as permitting, bridge construction, and the land application of waste products in sensitive areas. Given their role in guiding decision-making, the production of accurate depth-to-bedrock maps is critical. This report describes techniques for making the maps, identifies sources of data and evaluates their strengths and weaknesses, describes available tools and best practices for using them, and explains the concept of uncertainty—how it’s measured, its importance in decision making, and ways of displaying it. [WOFR2021-04]
Depth-to-Bedrock Map of Dodge County, Wisconsin
This companion to the recently released bedrock geology map of Dodge County, Wisconsin (M508), shows thicknesses of deposits of unconsolidated materials above the bedrock. Across the county, depth to bedrock ranges from 0 feet, where bedrock is exposed, to over 250 feet within bedrock valleys. Areas with bedrock depths shallower than 20 feet are of particular importance for land-use planning and to the construction stone industry. Such areas are more susceptible to groundwater contamination and underlie about 17 percent of Dodge County, including the more-populated areas of the county. The accompanying report describes how the map was compiled and outlines limitations of the map.
Accompanying report
Quaternary Geology of Columbia, Green Lake, and Marquette Counties, Wisconsin
Columbia, Green Lake, and Marquette Counties were glaciated during the last ice age, and large areas were inundated with water from proglacial lakes and large meltwater rivers that occupied the valleys of the existing Wisconsin and Fox Rivers. These processes resulted in rolling upland hills, including drumlins punctuated by low-lying areas dominated by marshes underlain by lake sediment. Together with the accompanying map, this report will be of interest to those involved in land-use management and to those who are curious about how glaciers shaped these three counties in south-central Wisconsin.
Accompanying map
Geologic Map of the Rock Springs 7.5-Minute Quadrangle, Sauk County, Wisconsin
The Rock Springs quadrangle is located in the western Baraboo Hills of south-central Wisconsin. This map, 1:24,000 scale, conveys the rich Precambrian through Quaternary history present on the ground. Here, ancient rocks metamorphosed and folded and were later displaced by a series of faults. Although never glaciated, an ice sheet 8 kilometers to the east dammed the Baraboo River, leaving basins in the map area.
Geologic Map of the Baraboo 7.5-Minute Quadrangle, Sauk County, Wisconsin
The Baraboo quadrangle records where glaciers stopped in the east-central Baraboo Hills. On this map, 1:24,000 scale, Precambrian igneous and metasedimentary rocks are overlain by Paleozoic sedimentary rocks and, more recently, by glacial deposits. Superb exposures of all three can be found in Devils Lake State Park and Parfreys Glen State Natural Area.
Florence Iron Mine: Historical Maps Showing Location of Surface Development, Regional Setting, and Underground Workings
From 1880 to 1931, an extensive iron mine operated near the city of Florence in northeast Wisconsin. These 21 maps from its middle years of operation are the only surviving records of what exists below the surface. These maps are of historical interest for their record of surface features that are no longer in existence. They may also have potential practical value today as the site is being developed as residential and recreational property. Long after mining has ceased, improperly backfilled shafts and pits can pose subsidence hazards, and mine workings can result in expensive loss or damage to tools used to drill water wells. Includes a brief report that documents the history of the maps and how to read them.
Examples of plates in this collection:
Plate 3
Plate 7
Potential Effects of Climate Change on Stream Temperature in the Marengo River Headwaters
Cold-water trout habitat in Wisconsin is projected to substantially decrease as a result of climate change. The extent of habitat loss depends, in part, on groundwater discharge to streams, which can provide cool-water refuges for trout. Survey hydrogeologists used field measurements and models of groundwater flow and stream temperature to evaluate how climatic changes are likely to affect groundwater discharge and stream temperatures in the Marengo River headwaters in northern Wisconsin. This improved understanding of system dynamics may help management of the watershed for trout survival. Includes report, groundwater flow model, geodatabase, and data available for download. [B115]
VIEW
Accompanying plates showing simulated baseflow of the study area under different recharge conditions:
Plate 1
Plate 2
Plate 3
Bedrock Geology of Dodge County, Wisconsin
Dodge County lies in southeast Wisconsin, an area almost entirely covered by glacial deposits. This map interprets the distribution of the buried bedrock units across the county. Geologist Esther Stewart’s refinement of the bedrock elevation contours may help land-use planners identify areas most susceptible to groundwater contamination from applications of nutrients and pesticides, and identification of subtle folds in the Paleozoic units may help predict local changes in the physical properties of the bedrock. Includes map, 7-page report, and data files.
Water-Quality Indicators of Human Impacts to the Wetlands of Door County, Wisconsin
Door County, the narrow peninsula in eastern Wisconsin, is home to numerous wetlands, many of which are fed by groundwater. Poor-quality groundwater discharging to a wetland can alter the ecology of the wetland and harm native plant and animal communities. This report documents a one-year study of six wetlands. Researchers recorded water quality and quantity discharging to each wetland and linked surrounding land use to contaminants. Data collected during the study are available for download. [TR006]
Geologic Map of the North Freedom 7.5-Minute Quadrangle, Sauk County, Wisconsin
The North Freedom quadrangle is located on the South Range of the Baraboo Hills in south-central Wisconsin. The Baraboo Hills are recognized for their ecologic and geologic significance, with superb exposure of Precambrian and Paleozoic rocks and Quaternary sediments. Mapping focused on the Precambrian section, building on past work by subdividing and mapping members of the Baraboo Quartzite; Paleozoic units were mapped in reconnaissance; and Quaternary units and contacts were compiled and slightly modified from earlier mapping. Available as a plate (PDF) and as digital data. [M506]
Quaternary Geology of Oneida County, Wisconsin
Oneida County, in northern Wisconsin, is a mostly forested area dotted with lakes and wetlands. The watery landscape is a legacy of a time when glaciers flowed across the area. Geologists Attig and Rawling mapped the Quaternary geology of the county, documenting where the glaciers paused, the sediments that were deposited, and the landforms that were created by the glaciers. Available as a plate (PDF) and as digital data. [M507]
Assessing Groundwater Quality in Kewaunee County, Wisconsin, and Characterizing the Timing and Variability of Enteric Pathogen Contamination within the Dolomite Aquifer in Northeastern Wisconsin
In a pair of studies conducted for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, researchers quantified the extent of contamination from coliform bacteria, E. coli, and nitrate in Kewaunee County’s private wells. They also examined how wastewater from septic systems and livestock manure interact with environmental conditions and geology to affect the extent of contamination in private wells. The report documents methods, key findings, and data. [WOFR2019-05]
Assessing Seasonal Variations in Recharge and Water Quality in the Silurian Aquifer in Areas with Thicker Soil Cover
Springtime “brown-water” events in northeast Wisconsin in 2006 and 2008 revealed the need for a better understanding of how seasonal variations in groundwater recharge affect water quality in areas with approximately 10–20 feet of soil cover. This open-file report, prepared in 2010 for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, documents a variety of parameters from four wells completed in the Silurian dolomite aquifer. [WOFR2019-04]
An Inventory of Springs in Wisconsin
Springs supply water for streams and wetlands and create habitats for endangered and threatened species. They also provide an important window into the groundwater.
This report provides comprehensive information on spring hydrology, allowing researchers to examine the effects of groundwater withdrawals on spring flow or to explore how changes in land use or climate might alter the amount, timing, and distribution of groundwater recharge. Accompanying the report are the field protocol used, the springs inventory database, and photos and sketches of each spring. [B113]
Data is also available through our online Springs in Wisconsin Data Viewer.
Methods and Best Practices for Surveying Springs in Wisconsin
Companion publication to An Inventory of Springs in Wisconsin. This open-file report documents the field methods and data management procedures used to produce the inventory. [WOFR2019-03]
Hydrogeologic Atlas of Bayfield County, Wisconsin
This material (technical report, five maps, and digital information) represents the culmination of a multi-year mapping and analysis project in Bayfield County in northern Wisconsin. The atlas includes an overview of typical well construction in Bayfield County, interpretations of the water-table elevation and groundwater flow directions, depth to the water table, depth to bedrock, distribution of groundwater recharge, and the relative susceptibility of groundwater to contamination. [TR005]
Maps from the Bayfield Atlas:
Water table
Depth to water table
Depth to bedrock
Groundwater recharge
Groundwater susceptibility
Glacial Landscapes of the Southern Green Bay Lobe and the Northern Kettle Moraine
Guidebook from the May 15, 2019 field trip of the International Glaciological Society Symposium on Glacial Erosion and Sedimentation. The booklet provides background information about the southern Green Bay Lobe and the northern Kettle Moraine. Stops in Dodge, Fond du Lac, and Sheboygan Counties visit drumlins, an esker, a classic kettle peat bog, high-relief hummocky topography, and a moulin kame. [WOFR2019-02]
Geochemistry and Mineralogy of the Wonewoc–Tunnel City Contact Interval Strata in Western Wisconsin
Water-quality tests of private wells drawing water from the rocks where the Wonewoc Formation meets the Tunnel City Group have found elevated concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, lead, and other trace metals. To better understand the potential source and the mechanism for these water-quality issues, we sampled the elemental composition of these rock formations across west-central, south-central, and southwest Wisconsin. [WOFR2019-01]
Groundwater Flow Model for Western Chippewa County, Wisconsin—Including Analysis of Water Resources Related to Industrial Sand Mining and Irrigated Agriculture
In 2012, Chippewa County commissioned a 5-year groundwater study to evaluate the effects of industrial sand mining and irrigated agriculture on the county’s water resources. This report documents the groundwater flow model that was developed for the study. It also presents analyses that were run to evaluate how these two distinctly different futures—mining and agriculture—might affect the water table and base flows of nearby headwater streams. [B112]
Bedrock Geology of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin
These two maps illuminate the bedrock geology of Fond du Lac County, in east-central Wisconsin. Plate 1 shows the buried bedrock surface across the county; a cross section shows approximate thicknesses of the bedrock units. Plate 2 shows how far below land surface solid bedrock is encountered. Includes GIS data. [M505]
Characterization of Groundwater Resources in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, Wisconsin: Meford, Nicolet, Park Falls, and Washburn/Great Divide Units
Results of a comprehensive review and analysis of groundwater resources in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. The study was divided by location into four reports corresponding to the four main land units: (1) Medford, (2) Nicolet, (3) Park Falls, and (4) Washburn/Great Divide. Each report describes the results of the inventory, modeling, and analysis. The reports, maps, and digital information for each unit are available for download. [TR004]
Central Sands Lakes Study: Annotated Bibliography
In 2017 the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources partnered with the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey and the U.S. Geological Survey to conduct a 4-year study of the Central Sands region. As one of the first steps in this effort, the WDNR and WGNHS compiled an annotated bibliography of previous studies concerning the hydrogeology and water budget components of the region. [WOFR2018-04]
Field Trip: Cambrian and Ordovician Stratigraphy of Southwestern Wisconsin
Take a self-guided trip through the Paleozoic rocks of southwestern Wisconsin. See the transition from nearshore sandstone to offshore sandstone and shale to platform carbonates. This guidebook provides overview pictures of each outcrop along with close-ups. Most stops also include pictures of core from nearby wells. [WOFR2018-02]
Preliminary Bedrock Geology of Southern Trempealeau County, Wisconsin
Report, map, cross sections, and core photos documenting the first year of a two-year project mapping the bedrock geology of Trempealeau County, Wisconsin. [WOFR2018-01]
Industrial Sand Resources of West-Central Wisconsin
Field trip guidebook showcasing four sites in Trempealeau County in west-central Wisconsin. The focus of this trip is on the sandstone formations that are prized for frac sand mining. [WOFR2017-06]
Quaternary Geology of Calumet and Manitowoc Counties, Wisconsin
All of what is now Calumet and Manitowoc Counties was covered by ice during the last great glaciation. This bulletin explains the glacial history, interprets the deposits left behind, and portrays the distribution of the deposits on a map and cross sections. The report should be useful to planners and development agencies in making land-use decisions, to the nonmetallic mining industry to aid in locating potential sources of aggregate, and to anyone interested in the geologic history of the land on which they live. Includes report, two plates, and GIS data. [B108]
Hydrogeological Characterization of the Town of Lincoln, Kewaunee County, Wisconsin
Report, maps, and GIS data cataloging the groundwater and hydrogeologic conditions in Kewaunee County’s Town of Lincoln. [WOFR2017-05]
Wisconsin Groundwater-Level Monitoring Network Improvement
The Wisconsin Groundwater-Level Monitoring Network consists of 93 wells and 2 spring gaging stations. This report documents work performed on seven of the wells between August 1, 2016 and July 31, 2017, and appendices provide historical reference documents. [WOFR2017-04]
Elemental Chemostratigraphy of the Cottage Grove Hole MP-18 Core: Implications for Litho- and Hydrostratigraphy in Southcentral Wisconsin
This research, which was part of a larger regional study of the Eau Claire Formation, analyzed elemental data of a core from Dane County, Wisconsin. The report presents the data set and discusses lithologic interpretations, subsurface lithostratigraphic correlations, and hydrostratigraphic frameworks. Includes core photos. [WOFR2017-03]
Bayfield County Water-Table Map and Water Well Database
What direction does groundwater flow in Bayfield County? And what are the implications for protecting groundwater quality at wells? To answer these questions, hydrogeologists Anna Fehling and Madeline Gotkowitz, compiled a private water well database and prepared a water-table map of the county along with accompanying GIS data and a report. [WOFR2017-02]
(This open-file report is an expansion of an earlier project that focused on agricultural areas of the county.)
Groundwater and Fractured Crystalline Bedrock in Wisconsin’s National Forest
Understanding the flow of groundwater in bedrock can be challenging because few wells are finished in low-yielding crystalline bedrock. Researchers were given a rare opportunity to study groundwater flow when a deep exploratory borehole was drilled in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. They describe what they learned in this 2-page factsheet. [FS08]
A Groundwater Flow Model for the Little Plover River Basin in Wisconsin’s Central Sands
The WGNHS and the U.S. Geological Survey developed a tool to evaluate the scientific relationships between groundwater, lakes and streams, and high-capacity wells in the Little Plover River basin of Wisconsin’s Central Sands. The report describes the model, the user’s manual provides step-by-step instructions on using it. [B111 and B111-suppl]
Learn more about the model, with links to download the model files and video from public presentation of the results of the study.
Portable X-Ray Fluorescence (pXRF) Measurements of Uranium and Thorium in Madison, Wisconsin, Water Utility Wells 4 and 27
Concentrations of radium at or above the health standard in a Madison municipal well prompted the water utility to request assistance from the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey to better understand the source of the radium. This report documents a series of analyses performed on the elemental composition of rock samples from the affected well and a nearby well. [WOFR2017-01]
Hydrogeology of Fort McCoy Geothermal Test Well 5
In 2012, we drilled a 1,000-foot-deep well at Fort McCoy in Monroe County, Wisconsin, as part of a statewide study of the geothermal gradient in Wisconsin. The effort also supported Fort McCoy’s need to better characterize the aquifers at the base. This short report presents and discusses the results of the tests that were performed. [TR003]
The 2016 Groundwater Flow Model of Dane County, Wisconsin—Report and User’s Manual
The new groundwater flow model is a powerful tool that helps water professionals make important decisions about Dane County’s groundwater. The report describes the model in detail; the user’s manual helps new users navigate this complex model and includes helpful tips and best practices for operating the model at its peak. [B110 and B110-suppl]
Learn more about the model, includes link to download the model files and view video of rollout presentation.
Quaternary Geology of Door County, Wisconsin
Door County, the peninsula that separates Green Bay from Lake Michigan, was heavily shaped—and reshaped—by glaciers. This bulletin explains how ice sculpted the bedrock surface, creating intriguing sets of paired bays where channels cut across the peninsula. Water levels also fluctuated drastically, leaving behind evidence of significantly higher shorelines. This 44-page book puts what you see today into context against the county’s glacial past. The accompanying map shows the geology draped over the land surface. [B109]
Laurentide Ice Sheet: Ice-Margin Positions in Wisconsin
Glacial geologists David Mickelson and John Attig put together a set of 43 maps tracing the many advances and retreats of the Laurentide Ice Sheet. The maps show the location of the ice in Wisconsin (as well as parts of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Minnesota) between 31,500 and 11,000 years ago. [ES056]
Learn more about our glacial past on our Ice Age page.
Groundwater and Wells in Agricultural Regions of Bayfield County, Wisconsin
This technical report, water-table elevation map, and cross sections provide basic information about groundwater and water supply wells in two agricultural regions of Bayfield County. The material is intended to support discussions and decisions surrounding land use in the study area. Includes GIS data. [TR002]
Wisconsin’s Niagara Escarpment (Geoscience Wisconsin, Volume 22)
The Niagara Escarpment is the most eye-catching topographic feature of eastern Wisconsin and has been forming over hundreds of millions of years. This special edition of Geoscience Wisconsin provides an overview of the escarpment’s geology, the plants and animals that call it home, its caves and karst, the processes that shaped it, and a discussion of the challenges facing its conservation and management. [GS22]
Wisconsin’s Waters, 2016 (Calendar)
This year’s poster calendar celebrates the Wisconsin River on a crisp fall morning. The photo is paired with an exquisite drawing of the Driftless Area and an account of how the sudden draining of a huge glacial lake shaped the river. Sized to fit standard poster frames (22 x 28 inches). [ES042-2016]
Preliminary Quaternary Geology of Waupaca County, Wisconsin
This new map depicts the glacial geology of Waupaca County in central Wisconsin. This 1:100,000-scale map (29 x 23 inches) and accompanying GIS data are available as free downloads. [WOFR2015-03]
Minerals of Wisconsin Postcards (set of 4)
This set of postcards (4″ x 6″) showcases four jewel-like minerals found in Wisconsin: phenakite, galena, chalcocite, and marcasite. [MSC-POSTCARD03]
Late Cenozoic Evolution of the Lower Wisconsin River Valley: Evidence for the Reversal of the River
Recent research in the Lower Wisconsin River valley reveals that the river once flowed from west to east, draining through Green Bay rather than the Mississippi River. Follow the trail of evidence using this field trip guidebook. Includes directions to five stops. [WOFR2015-02]
Preliminary Quaternary Geology of Columbia, Green Lake, and Marquette Counties, Wisconsin
This new map depicts the glacial geology of Columbia, Green Lake, and Marquette Counties in south-central Wisconsin. Measuring 35 x 34 inches, this 1:100,000-scale map and accompanying GIS data are available for free download. [WOFR2015-01]
GeoHike: Devil’s Lake (app)
Do you want to know about the rocks and hills that you are looking at in Devil’s Lake State Park? Want to get around in the park using just your iPhone or iPad? Who wouldn’t? GeoHike can be your tour guide to the geology of Devil’s Lake State Park. The app will follow you through the park and will guide you to points of geologic interest. Photos and text will explain what you see and will enrich your enjoyment of Wisconsin’s favorite park.
Preliminary Quaternary Geology of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin
The new map of Fond du Lac County paints a story of a landscape shaped by glaciers. Measuring 32 x 20.25 inches, this 1:100,000-scale map and accompanying GIS data are available for free download. [WOFR2014-01]
Groundwater Recharge in Menominee, Shawano, Waupaca, and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, Estimated by a GIS-Based Water-Balance Model
This report documents the recharge model created for the East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission. Includes the resulting recharge map, a useful tool for land-use planners interested in identifying important groundwater recharge areas.
Pleistocene Geology of Kewaunee County, Wisconsin
Kewaunee County, at the southern end of the Door Peninsula, was overrun by glaciers many times. In this new bulletin, author Lee Clayton describes the county’s complex glacial geology, from the surface soil down to solid rock. The accompanying map shows the placement of glacial sediments as well as glacial and post-glacial stream and lake sediments. [Bulletin 104]
Preliminary Bedrock Geology of Dane County, Wisconsin
This detailed new map, produced at a scale of 1:100,000, reveals the intricate layers of bedrock below Dane County. The map, cross sections, and GIS data are available as free downloads. [WOFR2013-01]
Frac sand in Wisconsin
The state’s golden sands have inspired Wisconsin’s version of a gold rush. This 2-page fact sheet shows where sandstone formations occur in Wisconsin, where frac sand is being mined and processed (as of October 2013), why our sand is so popular, and how it’s being used. [FS05]
Preliminary bedrock geology of Sheboygan County, Wisconsin
Sheboygan County bedrock map produced at 1:100,000 and measuring 23 x 20 inches. GIS data and PDF are available as free downloads. [WOFR2013-03]
Groundwater Recharge in Dane County, Wisconsin: Estimating Recharge Using a GIS-Based Water-Balance Model
Recharge is water that moves from the land surface down into the groundwater. It’s also the ultimate source of all groundwater. Hydrogeologists at the Survey developed a groundwater management tool to help guide land-use decisions in Dane County. This publication describes how the model was created and how the information might be put to use. [B107]
Age and Correlation of Silurian Rocks in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, Using Integrated Stable Carbon Isotope Stratigraphy and Facies Analysis
Due to various factors, such as limited surface exposure, using biostratigraphic precision to date Silurian rocks in eastern Wisconsin gives an error of +/- 2 million years. In this study, researchers used another method, high-resolution carbon isotope stratigraphy, to better date Silurian rocks to an approximated 100,000 year scale. This reduces the error significantly to better predict and assess natural resources in the region. [GS21-a02]
Wisconsin’s Spring Resources: An Overview
Researcher at the Survey, Susan Swanson, conducted a case study on Wisconsin’s springs. She studied their overall influence on Wisconsin geology, habitats, culture and policies. [GS21-a01]
