State agencies and the University of Wisconsin address numerous issues related to groundwater protection and management. Here are highlights and detailed discussions of the groundwater management activities of each agency, the UW, the GCC and the Governor's Representative.
Groundwater Coordinating Council (GCC)
Guolong Liang (left) and Anna Mitchell (right) from
the University of Wisconsin-Madison Division
of Extension presenting their research posters.
/ Photo credit: Wisconsin DNR.
Highlights
Five two-year new groundwater research projects were selected for funding through the GCC Joint Solicitation process in FY 2025 - two by UW and three by the DNR. These projects received a combined total of over $500,000, primarily from federal sources with contributions from both institutions.
Two groundwater teacher workshops were held in FY 2025. DNR staff worked with the UW Stevens Point - Central WI Groundwater Center and the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey (WGNHS) to provide training to more than 20 educators from schools and nature centers. Each attendee received a free groundwater model for their school or facility.
The GCC met four times in FY 2025 and discussed a variety of topics.
Created a dedicated GovDelivery topic for the Groundwater Coordinating Council, allowing subscribers to receive updates on upcoming quarterly meetings and the publication of the annual report.
Department Of Agriculture, Trade And Consumer Protection (DATCP)
Field edge groundwater monitoring. / Photo credit: Wisconsin DATCP.
Highlights
Analyzed 290 groundwater and 186 surface water samples for more than 100 pesticide compounds and nitrogen (as nitrate plus nitrite) in 2024.
Conducted an analysis of existing data from all 101 atrazine prohibition areas in Wisconsin to assess their effectiveness at reducing atrazine concentrations in groundwater. Eighty-nine additional groundwater samples were collected from five prohibition areas to further evaluate atrazine prohibition area effectiveness.
Performed annual sampling of field-edge monitoring wells located on or near agricultural fields.
Administered a Commercial Nitrogen Optimization Pilot Program (NOPP) designed to encourage agricultural producers to develop innovative approaches to optimize the application of commercial nitrogen for a duration of at least two growing seasons, helping to protect vital soil and water resources. Awards totaled $1.0 million and were granted to nine projects involving 27 producers who will collaborate with a UW institution to conduct commercial nitrogen optimization field studies.
DHS staff presenting about PFAS at a conference.
/ Photo credit Wisconsin DHS.
Highlights
Issued recommendations for groundwater standards for six per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) following the release of the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s new national public drinking water standards.
DHS’s Groundwater and Drinking Water program rebranded the state’s fee-exempt private well testing program to increase participation. The new Wisconsin Well Testing Access Program (WellTAP) offers no-cost testing of common groundwater contaminants for private well users in vulnerable groups. DHS developed a WellTAP toolkit for local and tribal health departments with guidance and outreach materials.
Multiple DHS programs, including the Groundwater and Drinking Water program and the Site Evaluation program, continued to provide technical assistance and health education on groundwater contamination sites in Wisconsin. These programs supported the DNR with human health risk assessments, focusing on contamination from PFAS, chlorinated solvents and other substances. The DHS and DNR re-evaluated many sites across the state against the new, lower groundwater standard recommendations for six PFAS and provided related education and outreach to local health partners and community members.
Wisconsin’s Environmental Public Health Tracking program supported local and tribal health departments through the ninth round of Taking Action with Data mini grants, funding seven projects - one of which, in Chippewa County, focused on private well nitrate testing. The county identified over 50 wells showing high nitrate levels which warranted recommendations for additional testing. The county also exceeded its outreach goals by hosting 17 community events. The Environmental Public Health Tracking program provided support for each project by assisting with data use, project planning and evaluation.
Dane County salt storage. / Photo credit: Wisconsin DOT.
Highlights
Researching the effectiveness of brine chemicals and brine application rates for varying weather conditions in partnership with Clear Roads (National Research Consortium) and the UW Traffic and Safety Laboratory (TOPS Lab).
Organized a winter tech talk, an in-person event held at the Northwood Technical College in Rice Lake.
Provided an opportunity for winter maintenance operators from the counties to meet, learn, discuss and share information regarding winter maintenance practices, more specifically related to improvement in liquid use, including direct liquid application.
Thirty-two counties used Direct Liquid Application (DLA) and some Mostly Liquid Route (MLR) last season (two more than in 2024).
Brine application techniques are showing significant reduction in overall salt use while maintaining clear roads and level of service for the traveling public.
Department Of Safety And Professional Services (DSPS)
Installing a private on–site wastewater treatment
system (POWTS), or septic system. / Photo credit: Wisconsin DSPS.
Highlights
Counties are operating a maintenance program for all POWTS in their jurisdiction.
Continued offering training programs for the POWTS industry. This included monthly DSPS POWTS program updates provided virtually, technical training, and inspector training targeting new county inspection staff.
The law authorizing the Wisconsin Fund grant program was previously repealed. Under the 2021-23 and 2024-25 State budgets, temporary authority and funding for the program was restored through each budget. The law authorizing the grant program is repealed effective June 2025.
On April 1, 2024, the DSPS suspended use of the hydrograph procedure used in the POWTS soil and site evaluation process due to erratic groundwater fluctuations causing unpredictable results when utilizing the method. The method was only allowed to be used in five counties in the Central Sands region. The DSPS continues to evaluate the procedure and develop appropriate protocols for removing the suspension along with the WGNHS and the POWTS Technical Advisory Committee.
Water Resources Institute-funded researcher analyzing
PFAS chemicals in her lab. / Photo credit: Bonnie Willison.
Highlights
Supported five groundwater research projects as part of the Wisconsin Groundwater Research and Monitoring Program.
Coordinated the Request for Proposals and the review process for the FY26 Joint Solicitation for the Wisconsin Groundwater Research and Monitoring Program and will be supporting two new groundwater research projects.
Supported three Water Resources Science-Policy post-graduate fellows in partnership with the DHS, DATCP and DNR to work on state priority groundwater and surface water challenges, including groundwater toxicology focused on PFAS and atrazine and fish habitat in lakes. WRI also leveraged Aquatic Sciences Center funding to support six additional post- graduate fellows working on coastal hazards, coastal wetlands and Great Lakes water policy.
Maintained a successful 2024 undergraduate research opportunities program for 35 summer interns placed across the UW System, resulting in several students applying for graduate water-related studies. The program is continuing for summer 2025 and will support 30 summer interns. It is funded by the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin, WRI, the Sea Grant College Program and Water@UW-Madison and includes some groundwater research projects.
Steve Diercks, the Governor's Representative to the GCC,
and his son Andy on their farm in Coloma.
/ Photo credit: WPVGA.
Highlights
Every year, the WPVGA funds several applied research projects led by Dr. Yi Wang, UW Professor of Horticulture, and Dr. Matt Ruark, UW Professor of Soil Science, evaluating the performance of multiple potato varieties in low nitrogen environments as well as studying nitrate concentrations in irrigation water. The research results will provide important information for growers. It will help them develop improved nutrient management programs that account for nitrogen being applied in the irrigation water. It will also identify new varieties that use less nitrogen and existing varieties that perform well with less nitrogen.
The WPVGA Water Task Force concluded a five-year research project with the UW Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Department looking at newer, more accurate and advanced methods of measuring evapotranspiration (ET), which is the term used for crop water use. This project was led by Dr. Ankur Desai and used the latest technology of an eddy covariance flux tower system to measure ET in an irrigated vegetable field as well as using another flux tower system to measure ET in a nearby forest. Research results are being shared with growers to assist them in their irrigation management and scheduling regimes.
In 2025, the WPVGA was successful in receiving a fifth Producer-Led Watershed Protection Grant from the DATCP. Eight member farms are participating in the project which is located in the Little Plover River/Wisconsin River watershed. Called the Central Wisconsin Farmers Collaborative, the group seeks to promote innovative conservation and stewardship practices that benefit the watershed, the landscape and the land managers themselves through collaborative partnerships, farm-to-farm education programs and other strategic actions. Conservation practices employed by the group include the extensive use of cover crops, prairie and pollinator plantings, and no-till/minimum till practices. There are also extensive wetlands restoration practices employed in this watershed.
