The Illinois Geological Survey (IGS), a division of the newly formed Institute of Natural Resource Sustainability at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, will be drilling and installing groundwater monitoring wells at the Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve west of Illinois Route 47 from July 31 to August 6, 2008. The drilling is being conducted as part ongoing scientific research by the IGS to learn more about the Mahomet Aquifer system, an important source of drinking water for residents of Champaign County. By obtaining a continuous core of geologic materials from ground surface to the bedrock below, IGS geologists will be better able to determine the distribution and properties of sand and gravel bodies below ground that contain these significant volumes of water. Monitoring wells will be installed to allow for the ongoing measurement of groundwater levels. The geologic and water level information collected will be provided to the Illinois Water Survey so that models of groundwater flow and availability can be developed that will support the sustainable management of the aquifer over the next 25-50 years. This research is supported financially by grants from the Illinois American Water Company and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources as part of East-Central Illinois Water Supply Planning Initiative.
Monitoring wells have already been placed at River Bend Forest Preserve and the Middle Fork River Forest Preserve. In addition to wells at Lake of the Woods, another well will be placed at the new Sangamon River Forest Preserve south of Fisher. It is possible that some mowed trails at the Buffalo Trace Prairie area may be temporarily impassable because of large machinery. All trails will reopen after Aug. 6th.
