Bayfield County Groundwater Investigations: From Rain and Snowmelt to Lake Superior

Bayfield County Groundwater Investigations: From Rain and Snowmelt to Lake Superior. 

This talk will explore the hydrogeology of the Bayfield Peninsula—that is, how geologic conditions influence groundwater flow, from recharge to aquifers, through groundwater flow systems, to emerge at wells, streams, springs, wetlands, and Lake Superior.

Over the past decade, the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey (UW-Madison Division of Extension) has completed a series of groundwater investigations in the region, supported by local, state, and federal partners and motivated by a desire to better understand and protect the region’s exceptional groundwater resources and water quality. These efforts include a county-wide hydrogeologic atlas, an inventory of flowing artesian wells, and ongoing research into groundwater contributions to coastal wetlands along Lake Superior. I will share key findings from this work to tell a story of how water moves through the landscape and is shaped by geology.

Graham is a hydrogeologist with the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey.