Wisconsin Geological & Natural History Survey

WGNHS kicked off springtime by welcoming a new staff member. Our new Geoscientist, Jason Boryszewski, started last week.

Jason has a master’s degree in geology from the University of New Mexico. His MS research focused on the structural geology of Paleoproterozoic basement rocks in the Grand Canyon. He investigated complexly deformed and metamorphosed basement rocks and produced a 1:24,000 scale geologic map of the Middle Granite Gorge of the Grand Canyon!

New maps! The 1:24,000-scale geologic map of the Weston and Menomonie South quadrangles is part of a larger project to map all of Dunn County. https://doi.org/10.54915/tjby8719

Prior mapping work in the area was regional in extent (1:250,000-scale), so this geologic map and the planned county-wide map will hopefully improve natural resource management, from groundwater planning to an understanding of non-metallic aggregate sources.

How many times have you turned on the tap today?

For about 3/4 of Wisconsin residents this water starts as groundwater under our feet! This water is pumped out of the ground and transported to a treatment facility, and goes through several steps to make it safe (removing particles, adjusting chemistry and disinfecting). Then it’s stored and delivered through pipes throughout our community.

Catch us at the 2026 Ice Age Trail Alliance Annual Conference this Friday and Saturday! This event for Ice Age Trail Alliance members includes several guided hikes, workshops, and speakers highlighting the WI landscape and the ongoing work of the IATA.

We will be hosting a workshop Friday and Saturday at 10:30 to examine the WGNHS statewide Quaternary map to answer participants questions and curiosities about Wisconsin's geomorphology and glacial geology. 🗺️

WGNHS Quaternary geologist Eric Carson will also be leading a guided hike at Swamplover's Preserve! 1pm Friday.

See you there!

Earth Fest has started and will continue on until this Thursday! Check out all of the cool events happening around Madison in celebration of the awesome environmental work happening in Wisconsin!

https://earthfest.wisc.edu/schedule/

Thank you to everyone who donated this week to support the mission of the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey!

It's Day 2 of the Day of the Badger! Donate before 5 pm today! http://dayofthebadger.org/wgnhs

Thank you all for your support. These donations help us conduct applied geoscience research and communicate these findings with Wisconsin residents. The Wisconsin Idea in action!

It's that time again - Day of the Badger! Help us continue our work conducting geoscience research used for decision-making, problem-solving, planning, management, development, and education related to Wisconsin's natural resources.

Donate TODAY and TOMORROW to support the WGNHS!

http://dayofthebadger.org/wgnhs

Hope to see you all at the Wisconsin AWRA Annual Meeting today and tomorrow! The WGNHS will be well-represented with presentations from: Dave Hart, Anna Fehling, Maureen Muldoon, Sue Swanson, G. Graham.

See abstracts here:https://www.wisconsinawra.org/uploads/1/2/5/2/125242673/2026_awra_conference_program.pdf

Come learn what we have been up to!

, check out our Wisconsin Bedrock Topography map! This is the first statewide depth to bedrock compilation since the statewide map by Trotta and Cotter in 1973. The work fills gaps in many areas WI where no similar interpretation exists.

View the map here!

Wisconsin Bedrock Topography, 100-Meter Resolution   This is the first statewide depth to bedrock (bedrock topography) compilation since the statewide map Depth to Bedrock in Wisconsin(link) by Trotta and Cotter in 1973. WGNHS GIS Specialist Matthew Rehwald used modern GIS …