WEBSITE UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Please check back mid-March, thank you!
Karst
Explore the wonders of our unique underground world!
Through advocacy and educational events, as well as forays into literature, theater, and art, Crawford Stewardship raises the level of knowledge and understanding of karst hydrogeology, improves the publicly available data, and uses this data to inform public decision-making processes from the hyper-local to the state level.
Our work:
-
Raising public awareness of the unique hydrogeological complexity and sensitivity of the Driftless region.
-
Assembling all available data on karst geology and hydrology, with a focus on our region.
-
Creating new data on local groundwater susceptibility
-
Engaging the public through immersive & participatory education and citizen science.
Karst Geology
The Driftless Area of Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota and Illinois is made up of bedrock of dolomite and limestone which is continually dissolved by water. The area is characterized by connected cracks and layers between rocks that easily transport water. Sinkholes, shallow soils, springs, and disappearing streams are found in Karst regions. This beautiful geology lends itself to vulnerability of surface pollutants reaching groundwater. And once polluted, the water of our area would be polluted virtually forever.
CSP sponsors Karst Identification Workshops led by Dr. Kelvin Rodolfo of Viroqua, WI. He is Professor Emeritus of the University of Illinois at Chicago. These popular events offer insight and understanding of our local landscape and include field trips to view area karstic features. Our work so far at citizen science events can be observed in the interactive map above (or at this link). Thank you to all who volunteered at our karst citizen science events! This is key in getting our government institutions to recognize the sensitivity of our landscape and watersheds.
Listen to “A Leaky System” about karst. CSP Program Coordinator Forest Jahnke is among interviewees in this podcast.
Here’s a video of Eric Carson at Kickapoo Valley Reserve, giving an in-depth review of the geology of the local area.
