DNR Releases Presentations On Methodology Behind Central Sands Lakes Study

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is in its final year of a three-year study examining lake level changes in Plainfield, Long and Pleasant lakes in Waushara County. 

All three study lakes are seepage lakes, meaning they are closely connected to groundwater. Water levels in many Central Wisconsin lakes have fluctuated between low levels and very high water levels within the past few decades.

The study, required by the state legislature in 2017, is known as the Central Sands Lakes Study, and examines the role of groundwater withdrawals relative to lake level fluctuation in the three lakes. Groundwater is withdrawn by high capacity wells to irrigate crops and supply water for private, public, industrial and commercial uses within Wisconsin’s Central Sands region.  

Since the beginning of the study, DNR and its study partners have collected thousands of water level measurements, completed lake plant and fish surveys, evaluated over 30,000 well construction reports and have calibrated a groundwater flow model.

The DNR is releasing a series of presentations on the Central Sands Lakes Study, to share the studies technical methodology related to geology, lake and landscape assessment, and modeling. The presentations are available on the DNR website dnr.wisconsin.gov. Search “Central Sands Lakes Study.” Study results are due to be reported to the Legislature by June 2021.

The DNR will accept questions and comments on the methodology described within the presentations through Nov. 6, 2020. Please submit comments to DNRDGCentralSands@wisconsin.gov or mail comments to: 

Wisconsin DNR GEF 2 DG/5

Attention: Nicole Clayton

PO Box 7921

Madison, WI 53707-7921