Assessing the susceptibility of lakes to groundwater withdrawals in the Upper Midwest
This project will identify which lakes in the Upper Midwest are most at risk from groundwater withdrawals and create a framework for incorporating lakes into well permitting decisions.
Groundwater is an important contributor to many lakes in the Upper Midwest, and growing water use and changing climate conditions are putting pressure on these systems. Lakes in areas with many groundwater wells and high water use have already experienced low water levels, which can harm fish habitat, reduce recreation, and change water quality. However, documenting negative impacts to lakes from groundwater pumping is difficult because lakes have naturally variable water levels and paired groundwater and lake data are rare. The potential impacts to lakes are therefore rarely considered in state well permitting decisions.
This project brings together scientists, state water managers, and conservation groups to assess which lakes are most sensitive to groundwater withdrawals. The team will combine data from on‑the‑ground measurements and satellites across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan to understand how lake levels naturally change and what the impact of water level changes are to individual lakes. We will also identify ecological warning signs, such as loss of near‑shore habitat, that indicate when lake health is at risk from groundwater pumping. Using this information, we will classify lakes based on their vulnerability to lake level changes and their exposure to hazards like drought and groundwater pumping. State managers can use this tool to prioritize monitoring, strengthen review of new high‑capacity wells, and protect lakes that are most likely to be harmed by groundwater withdrawals.
Principal Investigators
Samantha Oliver (U.S. Geological Survey)
Mike Fienen (U.S. Geological Survey)
Michael Meyer (U.S. Geological Survey)
This project will identify which lakes in the Upper Midwest are most at risk from groundwater withdrawals and create a framework for incorporating lakes into well permitting decisions.
Groundwater is an important contributor to many lakes in the Upper Midwest, and growing water use and changing climate conditions are putting pressure on these systems. Lakes in areas with many groundwater wells and high water use have already experienced low water levels, which can harm fish habitat, reduce recreation, and change water quality. However, documenting negative impacts to lakes from groundwater pumping is difficult because lakes have naturally variable water levels and paired groundwater and lake data are rare. The potential impacts to lakes are therefore rarely considered in state well permitting decisions.
This project brings together scientists, state water managers, and conservation groups to assess which lakes are most sensitive to groundwater withdrawals. The team will combine data from on‑the‑ground measurements and satellites across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan to understand how lake levels naturally change and what the impact of water level changes are to individual lakes. We will also identify ecological warning signs, such as loss of near‑shore habitat, that indicate when lake health is at risk from groundwater pumping. Using this information, we will classify lakes based on their vulnerability to lake level changes and their exposure to hazards like drought and groundwater pumping. State managers can use this tool to prioritize monitoring, strengthen review of new high‑capacity wells, and protect lakes that are most likely to be harmed by groundwater withdrawals.
Principal Investigators
Samantha Oliver (U.S. Geological Survey)
Mike Fienen (U.S. Geological Survey)
Michael Meyer (U.S. Geological Survey)