Director’s Message I am pleased to share the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey’s (WGNHS) 2024 Year in Review! It summarizes our main geological mapping projects, groundwater studies, data preservation efforts, and outreach activities from …
WGNHS blog
Unveiling the landscape: a new statewide map of the Quaternary Geology of Wisconsin
March 24th, 2025 Mel Reusche, WGNHS Communications and outreach specialist Ridges and valleys, lakes and marshlands, rolling hills and lakeshore cliffs – the landscapes we recognize across Wisconsin are the result of fascinating and complex …
Take note: making observations in the field
Survey geologist Sarah Bremmer stands on the side of the road with a blaze-orange vest and a notebook. She is conducting fieldwork for a new geologic map and is in the process of thoroughly describing …
Working with Wisconsin educators
This blog post was written by UW-Madison undergraduate Shayla Barrera-Skibinski, who worked at WGNHS as a Social Media and Geology Assistant from 2022-2024. Includes June 2024 update by Mel Reusche. Where does our drinking water …
Implementing the Geologic Mapping Database Standard
This blog post was written by UW-Madison undergraduate Benji Johnson, who worked at WGNHS as a Social Media and Geology Assistant from 2021-2022. Includes May 2024 update from Pete Schoephoester and Mel Reusche. Caroline Rose, …
2023 Year in Review
Director’s Message For over 125 years the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey (WGNHS) has provided objective scientific information about Wisconsin’s geology, mineral resources, and water resources, and it is an honor to share new …
Researching erosion along Lake Michigan
This blog post was written by UW-Madison undergraduate student Lindsay Summers, who worked at WGNHS as a social media and geology Assistant for two years before graduating in 2023. Includes March 2024 update from Elmo …
Community-led PFAS monitoring with Peshtigo, WI
WGNHS Samples Coordinator Carsyn Ames has participated in the American Geophysical Union’s (AGU) Thriving Earth Exchange Program as both a Community Science Fellow and a Project Scientist. The role of a Community Science Fellow is to manage projects and facilitate communication between all collaborators. Ames worked with the Town of Peshtigo to sample additional wells in the township for PFAs contamination.
New Director and State Geologist
We are pleased to welcome Dr. Sue Swanson as the next Director and State Geologist at the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey. She begins her new role on September 1. She replaces Dr. Ken …
Southwest Wisconsin groundwater and geology study (SWIGG)
Southwest Wisconsin has fractured bedrock beneath generally thin soils, putting groundwater at risk for contamination. The purpose of this study was to improve our understanding of groundwater quality in southwest Wisconsin and to better understand how local hydrogeology …