SURFICIAL GEOLOGY OF THE WAVERLY QUADRANGLE, BREMER COUNTY IOWA

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.