Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER)/NTL011: Groundwater Flow in the Area Surrounding the North Temperate Lakes Primary Study Lakes

LTER - Long-Term Ecological Research Program/North Temperate Lakes (NTL)

LTER/NTL011 [Summary adapted from the LTER Core Data Set Catalog]:

Monthly head measurements from a network of 21 monitoring wells are used to characterize regional groundwater flow in the Trout Lake area. A concentrated network of 30 wells along a groundwater flow path between two of the lakes permitted a better resolution of groundwater flow paths, velocities, and chemistry than is found in most studies. An associated data set (Chemistry of Groundwater in the Area Surrounding the North Temperate Lakes Primary Study Lakes, NTL012) contains groundwater chemistry. Groundwater discharge into lakes can have a significant effect on lake chemistry. Flow models based on Darcyus law. Finite difference models using both 2D and 3D networks.

Special Comments: Digitization of data currently in progress.This data is tied with data set NTL012 on well water chemistry.

The North Temperate Lakes (NTL) site is affiliated with the Center for Limnology at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. The NTL site focuses its research on north temperate lake ecosystems in the Northern Highland Lakes District of Wisconsin. The Northern Highland Lakes District, has an area of approximately 10,000 sq. km. and has one of the highest concentrations of lakes in the world. Lakes range in size from 0.1 to 1,500 ha, in depth from 1 to 33 m, and in fertility from oligotrophic to eutrophic. Other representative limnological conditions include: rainwater dominated, groundwater dominated and drainage lakes; dystrophic lakes; lakes with varved sediments, winterkill lakes, temporary and permanent forest ponds, and reservoirs. Lakes are influenced by strong seasonality and are usually ice covered from late November to late April. Lakes within the Northern Highland exhibit near-natural water quality conditions. Nearly 80% of the land area and two-thirds of the lake frontage are protected.

Information about LTER is also available at 'http://lternet.edu/'