Michigan Geological Survey

The Summer Reading Program takes the UP! Thank you Ishpeming Carnegie Public Library, L'Anse Area Schools and Public Library, and Escanaba Public Library for having us! The Collaborative Summer Library Program's theme of "Unearth a Story" this year has been a great opportunity for our geologists to get out in the community and share their knowledge (and love!) for reading and the geosciences.

Recently, MGS geologists Augustine and Eric traveled to Clinton County to investigate former beach ridges. While ice age glaciers were retreating from Michigan, portions of Clinton County became covered by glacial lakes. These lakes left behind beach ridges that are an excellent source of sand, a valuable material used in road construction. Studying these ancient beaches helps MGS map sand and gravel resources for future land-use planning.

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Michigan Beneath Your Feet

On Tuesday, MGS staff Tom Valachovics and Matthew Bell collected geophysical data along with Grand Valley State University professor, Dr. Reece Elling and his student, Noah Tenhagen. The goal of the work was to collect gamma ray data for several boreholes and collect passive seismic readings near these boreholes to determine the thickness of the unconsolidated glacial material in the region.
Gamma logging is a technique that allows geologists to gain a more detailed look at the subsurface lithology in the borehole. The equipment counts the amount of natural gamma rays emitted by the surrounding material every second that it travels in the subsurface. These gamma readings can be interpreted to determine subsurface material and its variability.
Noah was given hands-on experience collecting the gamma log data and passive seismic readings in real-world applications. Further passive seismic studies could shed light on the thickness of the unconsolidated material within the region, with these first passive seismic recordings being the critical pieces for calibrating the study. It was a good day to be out in the field and training the next generation on geologic data collection!


P.C.: Dr. Reece Elling

Geoscience Specialist Linda attended the City of Kalamazoo quarterly Wellhead Protection Committee meeting in June. It was held as a field trip to Tending Tilth Farms in Kalamazoo. The focus was on showcasing nature-based approaches to land management that could be applied at city wellfields, particularly for invasive species control.

Lauren Burns, the farm owner, is working with Dr. Tara Kneeshaw (GVSU) on environmentally friendly practices such as sheep grazing, which reduces the need for mowing, fertilizers, and chemical applications. These methods help build soil health, sequester carbon, and improve watershed function by reducing runoff and flooding. Dr. Kneeshaw is a Professor of Geology and Environmental Science at GVSU and Co-Department Chair, with a focus on environmental biogeochemistry.

The farm is also being used by WMU’s hydrogeology field camp, and several wells have been installed on-site.

This meeting highlights the value of MGS staff participating in local and regional collaborations, where geoscience expertise directly supports water resource protection, land management decisions, and data sharing initiatives. It also reinforces how geoscience plays a critical role across a wide range of applications—from agriculture and soil health to groundwater protection and watershed management.

What a beautiful day at Warren Dunes State Park to teach visitors about Michigan Geology and take an impromptu hike through the dunes to look close up erosional and depositional activities. Thank you Michigan Department of Natural Resources for having us!

MGS was excited to welcome WMU Hydrogeology Field Camp to our Statemap drill site this week! Students were able to observe the drill rig in action and make live interpretations of core and cuttings as they were pulled from the ground. MGS is honored to provide hands on learning experiences for students (and future geologists!) at WMU.