CONDUCTIVITY OF SPRING WATER AS AN INDICATOR OF LAND USE AND GEOLOGIC CONDITIONS IN WISCONSIN

Spring water conductivity is a useful indicator of land use and geologic conditions on a statewide level in Wisconsin. Statistical tests were conducted on conductivity data for over 400 springs in the Wisconsin Springs Inventory. Statistically significantly relationships were found between conductivity and land ownership, land cover, and disturbance level. Conductivity is significantly higher in springs found on privately owned land than springs found on protected land. Springs in residential/urban and agricultural areas have a significantly higher conductivity than springs in forests and wetlands. Undisturbed springs have a significantly lower conductivity than springs on lightly, moderately, and highly disturbed land, and lightly disturbed springs have a significantly lower conductivity than springs on highly disturbed land. Significant patterns between spring water conductivity and groundwater provinces were also found. Springs found in groundwater provinces with more soluble bedrock (such as dolomite) have significantly higher conductivity than springs in provinces with less soluble bedrock (such as quartzose sandstone or Proterozoic metamorphic and igneous rocks). This study shows that an easy-to-measure field parameter like conductivity is useful for understanding patterns of groundwater flow to springs.