WGNHS
Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey

Sue Swanson

Position title: Director and State Geologist

Pronouns: she/her

Email: sue.swanson@wisc.edu

Phone: (608) 262-0068

Sue Swanson outdoors

As Director and State Geologist, I lead the talented staff at the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey and connect with communities and stakeholders across the state to advance the understanding and use of geological information. Prior to becoming State Geologist, my research as a hydrogeologist included studying how groundwater moves through fractures in sedimentary bedrock aquifers, interactions between groundwater and surface water, and the hydrogeology of springs.

More about my work

Professional affiliations

  • Association of American State Geologists, member
  • Wisconsin Groundwater Coordinating Council, member
  • American Water Resources Association, Wisconsin Section, member
  • Association for Women Geoscientists, member
  • International Association of Hydrogeologists, member
  • Geological Society of America, fellow

Publications

WGNHS Publications

Papers in refereed journals and proceedings

These are refereed technical publications in national or international scientific journals

  • Swanson, S.K., Graham, G.E., Chase, P.M., 2024. Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest Water Quality Database: Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey Data Series 003-dataset01, plus fact sheet and supplemental report.
  • Graham, G.E., Swanson, S.K., Chase, P.M., 2024. Inventory and Analysis of Flowing Artesian Wells in Bayfield County, Wisconsin: Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey Open File Report 2024-01, 21p. plus supplemental materials.
  • Swanson, S., 2023, Book review: Threats to Springs in a Changing World: Science and Policies for Protection, Groundwater, 2p., https://doi.org/10.1111/gwat.13334.
  • Stevens, L.E., Aly, A.A., Arpin, S.M, Apostolova, I., Ashley, G.M., Quadri Barba, P., Barquín, J., Bauman, D., Beauger, A., Benaabidate, L., Ullah Bhat, S., Bouchaou, L., Cantonati, M., Carroll, T.M., Death, R., Dwire, K.A., Felippe, M.F., Fensham, R.J., Fryar, A.E., Pascual i Garsaball, R., Gjoni, V., Glanville, K., Glazier, D.S., Goldscheider, N., Gurrieri, J.T., Guðmundsdóttir, R., Rodriguez Guzman, A., Hájek, M., Hassel, K., Heartsill-Scalley, T., Solé i Herce, J., Hinterlang, D., Holway, J.H., Ilmonen, J., Jenness, J., Kapfer, J., Karaouzas, I., Knight, R.L., Kreiling, A., Herrera Lameli, C., Ledbetter, J.D., Levine, N., Lyons, M.D., Mace, R.E., Marshall, J., Mentzafou, A., Marle, P., Naito, R. S., Negus, P., Moosdorf, N., Norton, M.K., Pentecost, A., García Pérez, G., Perla, B., Ronan, M., Saber, A.A., Sada, D., Sakai, M., Segadelli, S., Skaalsveen, K., Springer, A.E., Swanson, S.K., Schwartz, B.F., Sprouse, P., Tekere, M., Tobin, B.W., Tshibalo, E.A., Voldoire, O., 2023, Springs of the World: Distribution, Ecology, and Conservation Status, Springs Stewardship Institute Monograph 1, 199 pp.
  • Swanson, S.K., Graham, G., 2022, Spring flux as an indicator of source geomorphology, substrata, and temperature conditions in springs, Hydrogeology Journal 30(1), 221-229, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-021-02412-1.
  • Stevens, L.E., Aly, A.A., Arpin, S.M, Apostolova, I., Ashley, G.M., Quadri Barba, P., Barquín, J., Beauger, A., Benaabidate, L., Ullah Bhat, S., Bouchaou, L., Cantonati, M., Carroll, T.M., Death, R., Dwire, K.A., Felippe, M.F., Fensham, R.J., Fryar, A.E., Pascual i Garsaball, R., Gjoni, V., Glazier, D.S., Goldscheider, N., Gurrieri, J.T., Guðmundsdóttir, R., Rodriguez Guzman, A., Hájek, M., Hassel, K., Heartsill-Scalley, T., Solé i Herce, J., Hinterlang, D., Holway, J.H., Ilmonen, J., Jenness, J., Kapfer, J., Karaouzas, I., Knight, R.L., Kreiling, A., Herrera Lameli, C., Ledbetter, J.D., Levine, N., Lyons, M.D., Mace, R.E., Mentzafou, A., Marle, P., Moosdorf, N., Norton, M.K., Pentecost, A., García Pérez, G., Perla, B., Saber, A.A., Sada, D., Segadelli, S., Skaalsveen, K., Springer, A.E., Swanson, S.K., Schwartz, B.F., Sprouse, P., Tekere, M., Tobin, B.W., Tshibalo, E.A., Voldoire, O., 2021, The ecological integrity of spring ecosystems: a global review, Elsevier Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences, 16p., https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-821139-7.00111-2.
  • Swanson, S.K., Graham, G., Hart, D., 2020, Using reference springs to describe expected flow, temperature, and chemistry conditions for geologically related groups of springs, Environmental & Engineering Geoscience XXVI (3), 331-344, https://doi.org/10.2113/EEG-2312R.
  • Jayne, R.S., Pollyea, R.M., Dodd, J.P., Olson, E.J., Swanson, S.K., 2016, Spatial and temporal constraints on regional-scale groundwater flow in the Pampa del Tamarugal Basin, Atacama Desert, Chile: Hydrogeology Journal 24(8), 1921-1937, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-016-1454-3.
  • Swanson, S.K., Muldoon, M.A., Polyak, V., Asmerom, Y., 2014, Evaluating shallow flow system response to climate change through analysis of spring deposits, southwestern Wisconsin, USA: Hydrogeology Journal 22(4), 851-863, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-014-1115-3.
  • Swanson, S.K., 2013, Wisconsin’s spring resources: an overview: Geoscience Wisconsin 21 (1), 1-13.
  • Swanson, S.K., Bradbury, K.R., and Hart, D.J., 2009, Assessing the vulnerability of spring systems to groundwater withdrawals in southern Wisconsin: Geoscience Wisconsin 20 (1), 1- 13.
  • Swanson, S.K., 2007, Lithostratigraphic controls on bedding plane fractures and the potential for discrete groundwater flow through a siliciclastic sandstone aquifer, southern Wisconsin: Sedimentary Geology 197, 65-78, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sedgeo.2006.09.002.
  • Swanson, S.K., Bahr, J.M., and Wilcox, J.D., 2006, A solid waste landfill siting exercise for an introductory environmental geology course: Journal of Geoscience Education 54 (4), 458-463, https://doi.org/10.5408/1089-9995-54.4.458.
  • Swanson, S.K., Bahr, J.M., Bradbury, K.R., and Anderson, K.M., 2006, Evidence for preferential flow through sandstone aquifers in southern Wisconsin: Sedimentary Geology 184, 331-342, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sedgeo.2005.11.008.
  • Swanson, S.K., and Bahr, J.M., 2004, Analytical and numerical models to explain steady rates of spring flow: Ground Water 42(5), 747-759, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6584.2004.tb02728.x.
  • Swanson, S.K., Bahr, J.M., Schwar, M.T., and Potter, K.W., 2001, Two-way cluster analysis of geochemical data to constrain spring source waters: Chemical Geology 179(1-4), 73-91, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0009-2541(01)00316-3.

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