Karst Report provides an interactive form to report karst features. Log into the site to access this form. Creating a login account is easy via the option in the left column.
This site will also report on the progress of the study being conducted in the vicinity of Viroqua Wisconsin. Reports we gather of karst features that are located in the study area will help in analysis of groundwater vulnerability. Other data will be passed along to the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey, Madison Wisconsin. This research is funded by a generous grant from the Nuzum Foundation Kickapoo Valley Reforestation Fund.
A major task of the groundwater vulnerability pilot study is to document karst features in the vicinity of the City of Viroqua. In order to do this in an accurate and verifiable way, we included a training session as part of the proposal in an effort to educate the public interested in this work. Drs Ken Bradbury and Fred Madison from the Wisconsin Geologic and Natural History Survey traveled to Viroqua to inform us about the scientific dynamics of karst formations. After their presentation, we ventured out into the field to see sinkholes, springs, a disappearing stream and quarry location that all showed the variety of ways these features are present as surface manifestations of karst topography.
The public turnout was way beyond our initial estimates of interest. We had over 60 people present for the morning presentations and 56 travelled out into the field. Ken Bradbury adapted a talk he had given to another group about the science of karst in Wisconsin. His presentation is in the "Read More" section of this story. After the presentation and lunch, we had a caravan of cars and a City of Viroqua bus that traveled along a route that is shown in the "Read More" section. Pictures and explanations of the karst features visited are recounted after the map.
From expert to novice, the feedback given to organizers of the day was very positive. We are in a unique area of karst and have much to learn over the next few months of study. Everyone who participated in this field day seemed to learn something new.
Below is the grant proposal that was funded and will be carried out from June 2009 to June 2010. The fiscal agent is the City of Viroqua. It is a pilot study that will focus on an area in the vicinity of the City of Viroqua with the intention that the results will be generally useful in the Kickapoo Valley watershed. Many thanks to the funding agent, Nuzum Foundation Kickapoo Valley Reforestation Fund.
