Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER)/NTL012: Chemistry of the Groundwater in the Area Surrounding the North Temperate Lakes Primary Study Lakes

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

LTER/NTL012 [Summary adapted from the LTER Core Data Set Catalog]:

A network of 11 monitoring wells is used to characterize regional groundwater chemistry 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. Chemical parameters measured include dissolved oxygen, pH, total alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride, sulphate, iron, and dissolved reactive silica. An associated data set (Groundwater Flow in the Area Surrounding the North Temperate Lakes Primary Study Lakes, NTL011) contains monthly well water level measurements. Chemical data are available at a quarterly sampling frequency for some years. Analysis of the major chemical elements shows that some groundwater exhibits substantial seasonal variance. Chemical data are incorporated into a computerized chemical reaction model (PHREEQE) to evaluate minerals that control water composition, and critical solid/liquid reactions that occur along flow paths. Groundwater discharge into lakes can have a significant effect on lake chemistry.

Special Comments: Digitization of data is in progress. These data are tied with data set NTL011 on well water levels.

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/'