Lower Wisconsin River Floodplain Lake Recharge & Delineation Research Project

In 2015, the Conservation, Planning, and Zoning Department was awarded a River Planning Grant from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to identify key zones of groundwater recharge that contribute to Jones Slough, Norton Slough, Bakkens Pond, and Long Lake located along the Lower Wisconsin River in Spring Green, WI. This was done using a groundwater flow model and water quality data from well monitoring sites. The study was written and conducted by Elisabeth Schlaudt, graduate student of UW-Madison, Geoscience and Water Resources Management.

Results showed that groundwater recharge sites for wells with the highest nitrate concentrations were located near the base of the bluffs. Recharge areas on the western portion of the floodplain were more variable. Groundwater travel times ranged from 1-15 years for most groundwater wells and 4-10 months for the water table wells. This implies that nutrient influxes to the sloughs are likely to continue for the next decade, even if all inputs were to cease today.

Additional information on this project can be requested from Jean Bahr or Ken Wade.

Jean M. Bahr

Professor Emerita, Department of Geoscience

University of Wisconsin – Madison

1215 W. Dayton St.

Madison WI 53706

608-262-5513

jmbahr@geology.wisc.edu

Kenneth S. Wade, P.E., P.G.

10747 Moyer Rd.

Blue Mounds, WI, 53517

608-767-3111