2008 Joint Meeting of The Geological Society of America, Soil Science Society of America, American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies with the Gulf Coast Section of SEPM

Paper No. 5
Presentation Time: 8:00 AM-4:45 PM

Surficial Geology of the Waverly Quadrangle, Bremer County Iowa


KREMAN, Drew1, HEINZEL, Chad1 and MCCLENNING, Bree2, (1)Earth Science, The University of Northern Iowa, Latham Hall, Cedar Falls, IA 50614, (2)High Alpine and Arctic Research Program, Geology and Geophysics Department, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-3115, dkreman@uni.edu

This mapping project represents a collaborative effort between the University of Northern Iowa, the Iowa Geological Survey, and the United States Geological Survey (EDMAP). A surficial geologic map is being delineated within southern Bremer County, Iowa. The mapping boundaries are 92° 30' to 92° 22' 20” N longitude and 42° 45' to 42° 37' 30” W latitude (7.5' USGS Waverly Quadrangle). The primary goal is to gather new site specific data (spatial boundaries and materials characterization) of a Pre-Illinioan glaciated landscape, associated bedrock, and developing Holocene landforms (e.g. the Cedar River). These geologic data will provide a foundation to facilitate the production of specific environmental land-use planning tools, e.g. groundwater vulnerability maps, for the growing city of Waverly (pop. 9500) and local family farms. Waverly and the Cedar Falls/Waterloo (pop. 105,000) metro area need these geologic data to construct or improve their water resource management plans, wetland protection programs, aggregate, limestone/dolostone, resource management programs, and the pollution potential from Iowa's growing confined animal farming operations (CAFOs). A geographic information system is being constructed using GeoXH hand held data collectors loaded with ArcPad software to define the spatial relationships between specific landform-sediment assemblages and individual coring locations. Characterization of sediment variability is being determined from preexisting outcrops, quarries, shallow (x<6') bucket-auger coring, and deeper (X>30') drilling cores. Preliminary mapping efforts have identified bedrock, alluvium, eolian sand, outwash, loess, loamy sediments, and water features.