State agencies and the Universities of Wisconsin address numerous issues related to groundwater protection and management. Here are highlights and detailed discussions of the groundwater management activities of each agency, the UW, the GCC and the Governor's Representative.
Groundwater Coordinating Council (GCC)
Members of the GCC at a meeting.
Highlights
Through the GCC Joint Solicitation process, five new groundwater research projects were selected for funding by GCC agencies/organizations: two by UW, two by DNR and one by DATCP.
Two groundwater teacher workshops were held. DNR staff worked with the UW-Stevens Point - Central WI Groundwater Center and the WGNHS to provide training to more than 20 educators from schools and nature centers. Each attendee received a free groundwater model for their school or facility.
The GCC met four times and discussed a variety of topics at its meetings, including the Southwest Wisconsin Groundwater and Geology (SWIGG) study results; Marinette (JCI/Tyco) PFAS contamination investigation and site remediation efforts; geospatial data management coordination efforts; the investigation of PFAS adsorption by selected Wisconsin aquifer sediments research study; and the prevalence and source tracing of PFAS in shallow groundwater used for drinking water in Wisconsin study.
The DNR processed over 400 applications for the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Well Compensation and Well Abandonment Grant Programs. Through the program, 166 wells were replaced or had treatment installed to correct contamination, and 113 unused wells were filled and sealed to prevent contamination migration.
The DNR also finished the PFAS ambient shallow groundwater study. The main goal was to determine the concentrations of PFAS present in groundwater, especially in areas not near known contamination sources. In total, 450 samples were collected voluntarily from private wells distributed throughout Wisconsin. The results show that roughly 7 in 10 private wells contain one or more PFAS, but only 1 in 100 contain PFAS above the DHS’s current health guidelines.
As of March 2024, 1,858 active public drinking water systems submitted PFAS compliance samples; 30% (567) of those systems had a PFAS detection; 2% (33) of systems exceeded the DHS Hazard Index of 1, and a public notice was required.
DNR collaborated with NRCS and several Wisconsin county conservation departments to develop the state's first NRCS National Water Quality Initiative – Source Water Protection Area (NWQI-SWPA) project proposals.
Conducted a statewide survey of agrichemicals in groundwater by sampling 380 private potable wells across the state.
Performed annual sampling of field-edge monitoring wells located on or near agricultural fields.
Analyzed 497 groundwater and 64 surface water samples for more than 100 pesticide compounds and nitrate plus nitrite as nitrogen.
Administered a Commercial Nitrogen Optimization Pilot Program (NOPP) designed to encourage agricultural producers to develop innovative approaches to optimize the application of commercial nitrogen for a duration of at least two growing seasons, helping to protect vital soil and water resources. Awards totaled $1 million and were granted to 18 projects involving 26 producers who will collaborate with a University of Wisconsin (UW) System institution to conduct commercial nitrogen optimization field studies.
The Groundwater and Drinking Water program updated the Private Well Toolkit for local health departments. This online resource consists of fact sheets on contaminants and accompanying webpages, printable posters and a treatment device guide.
Multiple DHS programs, including the Groundwater program and the Site Evaluation program, provided technical assistance and health education related to more than a dozen groundwater contamination sites in Wisconsin. These programs addressed per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contaminants at public water systems whose test results were above DHS’ health advisory levels, as well as PFAS contamination in and around the Town of Stella and other sites across Wisconsin.
Wisconsin’s Environmental Public Health Tracking program released a request for applications for local and tribal health departments (LTHDs). Funds are used by grantees to explore data from the County Environmental Health Profiles and the tracking data portal to identify an environmental health concern in their jurisdiction. Four LTHDs were funded through this mini-grant opportunity - one which focused on water quality. This water quality project aims to educate Green County residents on the importance of well water testing and conduct outreach to offer testing to people who have had contamination identified in their wells in the past seven years.
Completed an inventory and analysis of flowing artesian wells in Bayfield County.
Completed analysis of water chemistry results from over 150 samples collected from lakes, streams, springs and campground wells throughout the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in northern Wisconsin.
Investigated PFAS in groundwater in western and eastern Wisconsin.
Investigated neonicotinoids in groundwater and surface water in central Wisconsin.
Conducted bedrock geologic mapping in Columbia, Crawford, Grant, Jefferson, Lafayette and Sauk Counties.
Continues to research the effectiveness of brine chemicals and application rates for varying weather conditions in partnership with Clear Roads (National Research Consortium) and the UW Traffic and Safety Laboratory (TOPS Lab).
Created the Brine Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) in 2018 and provides ongoing training to county winter maintenance crews regarding Direct Liquid Application (DLA).
Organized a Winter Tech Talk in December, a large-scale one-day in-person event held at the University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh Fond du Lac Campus. The event was for winter maintenance operators from the counties to meet, learn, discuss and share information regarding winter maintenance practices, more specifically related to improvement in liquid use, including direct liquid application.
Thirty counties used direct liquid application (DLA) and some mostly liquid route (MLR) last season.
Results of new brine application techniques show a significant reduction in overall salt use while maintaining clear roads and a level of service for the traveling public.
In support of the Wisconsin Groundwater Research and Monitoring Program, provided Universities of Wisconsin funding to five research projects focused on groundwater contaminants, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), pathogens and geogenic contaminants; challenges associated with groundwater flooding; and understanding public perspectives and values; and supported graduate and undergraduate students at UW-Milwaukee, UW-Madison and UW-Green Bay.
Supported four Water Resources Science-Policy post-graduate fellows in partnership with the DHS, DATCP and DNR to work on state-priority groundwater and surface water challenges, including groundwater toxicology focused on PFAS and atrazine, and fish habitat in lakes. WRI also leveraged Aquatic Sciences Center funding to support eight additional post-graduate fellows working on community flood resiliency, coastal hazards, coastal wetlands, and Great Lakes and Mississippi River Basin water policy.
Launched a successful 2023 undergraduate research opportunities program for 31 summer interns placed across the Universities of Wisconsin, resulting in several students applying for graduate water-related studies. The program is continuing for summer 2024. It is funded by the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin, WRI, the Sea Grant College Program and Water@UW-Madison.
Funded a septage land application study for UW-Stevens Point.
Suspended use of the hydrograph method for siting POWTS due to erratic groundwater levels.
Counties are operating a maintenance program for all POWTS in their jurisdiction.
DSPS continued offering training programs for the POWTS industry. This included monthly DSPS POWTS program updates provided virtually, technical training and inspector training targeting new county inspection staff.
Hired two new POWTS plan review positions authorized under the 2023 Wisconsin Act 19. The positions are focused on providing quicker plan review service.
The law authorizing the Wisconsin Fund grant program was previously repealed. Under the 2021-23 and 2024-25 State budgets, temporary authority and funding for the program was restored through each budget. The law authorizing the grant program is repealed effective June 2025 at the end of the 2024-25 budget.
The Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) funds several applied research projects led by Dr. Yi Wang, UW Professor of Horticulture, and Dr. Matt Ruark, UW Professor of Soil Science, evaluating the performance of multiple potato varieties in low nitrogen environments as well as studying nitrate concentrations in irrigation water. The research results will provide important information for growers. It will help them develop improved nutrient management programs that account for nitrogen being applied in the irrigation water.
Ongoing collaboration on a research project with the UW Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Department looking at newer, more accurate and advanced methods of measuring evapotranspiration (ET), which is the term used for crop water use. This project is being led by Dr. Ankur Desai and uses the latest technology of an eddy covariance flux tower system to measure ET in an irrigated vegetable field, as well as another flux tower system to measure ET in a nearby forest. Research results are being shared with growers to assist them in their irrigation management and scheduling regimes.
Successful in receiving a fourth Producer-Led Watershed Protection Grant from the DATCP. Eight member farms are now participating in the project, which is located in the Little Plover River/Wisconsin River watershed. Called the Central Wisconsin Farmers Collaborative, the group seeks to promote innovative conservation and stewardship practices that benefit the watershed, the landscape and the land managers themselves through collaborative partnerships, farm-to-farm education programs and other strategic actions.
