Springtime Hydraulic Distribution of Road Salts
Schmeeckle Reserve, Stevens Point, WI
- Methodology -
Road salt is vital to transportation as it lowers the melting point of ice, and provides
traction on roadways. However, road salt also increases the corrosion rate of vehicles,
infrastructure, and degrades local ecosystems. The goal of this research project was to
investigate the springtime distribution of road salt into hydraulic systems within
Schmeeckle reserve. This subject is of interest to us because high salt levels are
detrimental to vegetation, surface water and ground water quality. In addition elevated
salt levels are most noticeable in late winter and through the spring when it is easily
transported and distributed by meltwater. Schmeeckle’s geographic setting as a forest
preserve in an urban environment and its close proximity to well-traveled roads suggest
a high probability of increased salt within the reserve’s ground and surface water.
- Study Site Description Schmeeckle Reserve is a forest preserve just north of UW-Stevens Point. Its forests sit
on a thin layer of glacial outwash overlaying granite bedrock. This bedrock forces the
water table to the topographic surface in many spots. The result is a wet area that is
unsuitable for agricultural use. In fact, after the area was logged the area was once a
farm, which proved to be unsuccessful. The University of Wisconsin System bought this
farm land in 1956, with hopes of future expansion of the University. In 1974 with the
construction of Sentry insurance fill was removed from Schmeekle for the construction
of Michigan avenue. This fill was taken from the adjacent segment of land, creating
Lake Joanis a 23 acre spring fed lake. For the purposes of this study we studied Moses
Creek, the flowage from the Northpoint culvert, Lake Joanis, and two monitoring wells.
- Results The result of the GIS analysis indicated areas that are likely affected by road salt
infiltration. The sites of concern within Schmeeckle were Lake Joanis, Moses Creek, and
the wetlands to the east of Michigan Avenue, due to their close proximity to the roads.
The field testing yielded interesting results, conductivity remained stable and consistent
through the below freezing weather. Once the weather warmed, all the surface water
and the two wells showed an increase in conductivity within two weeks of the
temperature rise.
Culvert Creek linear conductivity progression
1600.0
1600
1400.0
1400
1200.0
1000.0
3/12/2015
3/15/2015
800.0
3/25/2015
600.0
3/29/2015
4/1/2015
400.0
Conductivity (µmhos/cm)
GIS Methods:
 Compiled the spatial data within the Reserve, which was then analyzed with ArcMap
and ArcCatalog.
 Geodatabase and secondary data sets were created using Hydrologic ArcMap
processes to identify areas that were vulnerable to contamination by road salts.
Field Methods:
 Selected well and surface collection sites within the areas designated by the GIS
analysis.
 To sample pre thaw surface waters we augured a hole through the ice and the
surface water was tested using a conductivity meter, post thaw samples were taken
at the surface.
 Well samples were collected by a well bailer after clearing the well.
 Before and after each sampling, the conductivity meter was rinsed with distilled
water.
 Depth to groundwater measurements were also taken.
Conductivity (µmhos/cm)
- Introduction -
Moses Creek linear conductivity progression
1200
1000
3/25/2015
600
0.0
0
Moses 3
Moses 4
Moses 5
Village
3/29/2015
4/1/2015
400
200
Moses 2
3/15/2015
800
200.0
Moses 1
3/12/2015
Culvert Creek 1
Sample Site
Culvert Creek 2
Culvert Creek 3
Culvert Creek 4
Culvert Creek 5
Sample Site
Figure: 11 Moses Creek progression
Figure: 12 Culvert Creek progression
- Discussion While we feel confident in our data and our methods; there are things that we could
have improved to make our data more complete and to give us better results.
 More time to gather more data, ideally the project would have been a year long
study.
 Collected bottom water samples, where denser salt water resides, from Lake Joanis.
 Clearing the wells 12-24 hours before sampling.
 Complete a soil study near the wells to determine salt, carbonate and clay content.
These minerals can contribute to background conductivity. Future research should
include this.
 Consistent sampling schedule should have been implemented. Consistent sampling
schedule would provide data that is easier to compare.
 Collected a greater number of samples. More samples would provide more detailed
the data, more accurate interpretation.
- Conclusion -
Figure 7: GIS results
Stream Springtime Conductivity
3000
20.00
5.00
1500
0.00
1000
500
5.00
1500.00
0.00
1000.00
4/1/2015
3/30/20…
3/28/20…
3/26/20…
3/24/20…
3/22/20…
3/20/20…
3/18/20…
3/16/20…
3/14/20…
3/12/20…
3/10/20…
3/8/2015
3/6/2015
3000
-10.00
Joanis
North
-15.00
Joanis
South
Average
Temp
Figure 9: Lake Joanis Conductivity
10.00
2000
5.00
1500
0.00
1000
Kemker, C. (2014, March 3). Conductivity, Salinity and Total Dissolved Solids. Retrieved March 30, 2014,
From http://www.fondriest.com/environmental-measurements/parameters/water-quality/condcutivity-salinity-tds/
Kemker, C. (2014,February 7). Water Temperature. Retrieved March 30, 2014, from
http://www.fondriest.com/environmental-measurements/parameters/water-quality/water-temperature/
Szewczykowski, Paul Mark. “Urban Impacts on Ground Water Quality and Flow Characteristics in
Schmeeckle Reserve.” Diss. University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, 1988. Print.
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point. History of Schmeeckle Reserve. University of Wisconsin –
Stevens Point. http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/schmeeckle/Pages/about/history.aspx (accessed
3/30/2015).
15.00
2500
Wisconsin State Cartographer’s Office, 2009. Wisconsin Coordinate Reference System, Second Edition.
Pg. 73. Madison: State Cartographer’s Office.
-5.00
Well 6E
Williams, Mary. 2010. “Don’t Let It Be A Mud Puddle”, 1-11.
-10.00
-15.00
4/1/2015
3/30/20…
3/28/20…
3/26/20…
3/24/20…
3/22/20…
3/20/20…
3/18/20…
3/16/20…
3/14/20…
3/12/20…
3/10/20…
3/8/2015
3/6/2015
3/4/2015
3/2/2015
2/28/20…
0
2/26/20…
Well 10W
2/24/20…
Figure 5: Monitoring
well 6N
Average
Temp
20.00
500
Figure 6: #10W and
#10E Monitoring
Wells
-15.00
Culvert
Creek
Well Springtime Conductivity
Conductivity (µmhos/cm)
0.00
-10.00
Moses
Creek
Figure 8: Stream Conductivity
-5.00
500.00
3/4/2015
2000.00
3/2/2015
10.00
2/28/20…
0
2/26/20…
20.00
15.00
Gedlinske, Brian. 2013. Road Salt Use and Groundwater Quality: An Empirical Study. Wiley Online Libary:
35-49. DOI: 10.1002/tqem.21333.
-5.00
Average temp ᵒC
Figure: 4 Moses
Creek looking south
Conductivity (µmhos/cm)
Figure 3: Lake Joanis
from east shore
2500.00
2000
2/24/20…
3000.00
10.00
Average Temp ᵒC
Conductivity (µmhos/cm)
Joanis Springtime Conductivity
- Sources -
15.00
2500
Average Temp ᵒC
Figure 1: Study Site
Figure 2: Northpoint
drive culvert
With the sampling complete and the statistics completed, we concluded that there was
a significant difference in conductivity in the surface streams of Schmeekle throughout
the springtime thaw. This conductivity was influenced by the road salt used on the
nearby roads. We also concluded that Lake Joanis was affected by road salt as well, as
there was a noticeable difference between the lowest conductivity sample and the rest
of the samples taken on Lake Joanis. Finally, we cannot conclude anything about the
wells, only that their high conductivity suggests that there were multiple outside factors
influencing the conductivity of the wells. The close proximity of well 10w to Michigan
avenue led us to believe that road salt was having an effect on its water quality.
However, with only one other well to compare it against, it was not possible to draw a
definite conclusion.
Avergage
Temp
Figure 10: Well Conductivity
Brian Adams, UWSP-GEOG, badam@uwsp.edu
Shane Loesch, UWSP-GEOG/GEO-SCI, sloes666@uwsp.edu
Grant Haynes, UWSP-GEOG/GEO-SCI, ghayn283@uwsp.edu James McCoy. UWSP-GEOG/GEO-SCI, jmcco438@uwsp.edu