Wisconsin's Role in Great Lakes Restoration - American Water ...

17. Evaluating Hydrostratigraphic Boundaries in a Heterogenous Aquifer: an example
from Vilas County, WI
**Catherine I. MacLaurin, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI,
maclaur2@uwm.edu
*Brynne A. Storsved, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI,
storsved@uwm.edu
*Alyssa M. Voelker, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, avoelker@uwm.edu
*Ross R. Hartwick, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, hartwic2@uwm.edu
This investigation is part of an on-going hydrogeologic study on the Nature Conservancy’s
Catherine Wolter Wilderness Area in Vilas County, Wisconsin, located within the Pleistocene
drift region. The stratigraphy at this 2,189 acre site is characterized by interweaving of
discontinuous strata, lens-shaped sedimentary layers, and paleo-channels deposited during
glaciations. The long term goal is to understand the groundwater flow in the region. Locating
hydrostratigraphic boundaries in heterogeneous aquifers is often difficult; however, a
comprehensive understanding of the hydrostratigraphy can be improved by utilizing well
construction reports and electrical resistivity profiles and soundings.
Water-level elevations at 44 wells and surface water elevations were used to construct a
water table map. Using over 20 electrical soundings conducted in 2003 and six electrical
profiles using a GF Instruments profiling system (ARES) conducted in October 2010, four
stratigraphic sections were constructed. Electrical resistivity data is charted along with
subsurface stratigraphy to produce a multi-layer stratigraphic model within a single aquifer to
aid in understanding the water movement throughout the region. Historically, two wells have
significantly lower water levels which are explained by our model.
* Undergraduate student presentation
** Graduate student presentation
43