Planning for Groundwater in Lafayette County August 2, 2006

Who are we? Lynn Markham, Land Use Specialist, Center for Land Use Education, UW-Extension Lynn Markham, Land Use Specialist, Center for Land Use Education, UW-Extension Dave Johnson, Hydrogeologist, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Dave Johnson, Hydrogeologist, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Other people who contributed to report Ken Bradbury and Dave Hart, Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey, UW-Extension Ken Bradbury and Dave Hart, Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey, UW-Extension Dave Lindorff, WDNR Dave Lindorff, WDNR Kevin Masarik, Central Wisconsin Groundwater Center Kevin Masarik, Central Wisconsin Groundwater Center Chuck Dunning and Cheryl Buchwald, U.S. Geological Survey Chuck Dunning and Cheryl Buchwald, U.S. Geological Survey Ed Morse, Wisconsin Rural Water Association Ed Morse, Wisconsin Rural Water Association

Tonight’s program… Introductions Introductions Groundwater susceptibility Groundwater susceptibility Groundwater quality Groundwater quality Groundwater quantity Groundwater quantity Planning tools for groundwater Planning tools for groundwater

Groundwater is an important resource 100% of drinking water for people in Lafayette County is groundwater 100% of drinking water for people in Lafayette County is groundwater 7,600 county residents get municipal water that is tested regularly & must meet health standards 7,600 county residents get municipal water that is tested regularly & must meet health standards 8,700 county residents get water from private wells with no requirements or guarantee of safety 8,700 county residents get water from private wells with no requirements or guarantee of safety

Common Questions about Groundwater Is my water safe to drink and will it continue to be safe? Is my water safe to drink and will it continue to be safe? Will my lake, river, stream dry up due to pumping or development? Will my lake, river, stream dry up due to pumping or development? Will there be enough water for everyone to use? Will there be enough water for everyone to use?

Groundwater is connected to streams and lakes Recharge  Groundwater Flow  Discharge to Wells or Surface Waters Recharge  Groundwater Flow  Discharge to Wells or Surface Waters

Groundwater susceptibility to contaminants Thin soils on top of fractured bedrock areas make most groundwater highly susceptible to contamination Thin soils on top of fractured bedrock areas make most groundwater highly susceptible to contamination

Groundwater quality 55% of samples higher than natural levels 19% over the health standard Nitrate can dangerously reduce the amount of oxygen in the blood of infants under 6 months. It may also be toxic to aquatic wildlife.

Groundwater quality Extremely high nitrate samples decreasing since 1995 due primarily to deeper wells. Lafayette County nitrate exceedences are higher than most other counties

Water quality Atrazine prohibition areas (gray) due to atrazine levels exceeding the safe drinking water standard

Groundwater quality 60% of samples had detectable levels of atrazine and 3.5% had triazine levels over the safe drinking water standard Lafayette County Triazine Samples

Sources of potential contaminants Mining Mining Unused wells Unused wells Hazardous substances Hazardous substances Septic systems Septic systems CAFOs CAFOs

Groundwater quantity Total water use has decreased by approximately 25% Non-irrigated ag was the largest water user and decreased use by 28%

Groundwater quantity Most of the 22 dry wells (blue dots) are located near the watershed boundaries. Groundwater quantity issues are unlikely to be a major concern.

Groundwater planning recommendations Increase discussion about groundwater Hire local government staff and consultants that value groundwater Provide education about the costs of groundwater contamination and depletion Provide education to help plan writers better interpret and use groundwater information Improve the accessibility of groundwater data to plan writers Provide funding to support further groundwater studies

Possible groundwater goals Protect groundwater quality in private and municipal wells in the county. Determine what pesticides are being used and where. Test wells in these areas for pesticides and their metabolites. Keep concentrations or nitrate and pesticides below their drinking water standards in wells.

Existing groundwater policies in Lafayette County Policies are actions used to accomplish goals. 1.Atrazine prohibition areas

Existing groundwater policies in Lafayette County 2.Wellhead protection plans and management steps

Common policies to protect groundwater in rural agricultural areas Wellhead protection ordinances Manure storage ordinances Zoning ordinances separating housing from land uses likely to contaminate groundwater and/or providing standards to contain potential contaminants Subdivision ordinances to provide adequate space for private sewage systems and/or encourage community sewage treatment systems

Possible policy list

Policy example: cropping agreements City of Waupaca has 2 wells in an agricultural area City of Waupaca has 2 wells in an agricultural area Nitrate levels are close to the health standard Nitrate levels are close to the health standard Adopted wellhead protection ordinance and installed monitoring wells Adopted wellhead protection ordinance and installed monitoring wells Wanted to be proactive and reduce nitrate application Wanted to be proactive and reduce nitrate application

Policy example: cropping agreements Decided to reward farmers for growing less nitrogen demanding crops Decided to reward farmers for growing less nitrogen demanding crops $20 per acre per year to grow soybeans $20 per acre per year to grow soybeans Paid for custom harvesting Paid for custom harvesting $25 per load of manure hauled out of the recharge area $25 per load of manure hauled out of the recharge area Started in 1997 Started in 1997

Policy example: cropping agreements 3 parcels & 550 acres enrolled now highlighted in yellow

What next? 1.Start the conversation about groundwater in your community Develop groundwater goals Choose a few policies to get started on to protect groundwater for future generations.

Thank you Any Questions?

Geology

Geology

Which way does groundwater run?