Geologist needed!

Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 7:30 am

I know at least a couple folks who read these forums have actual degrees in geology. I'm trying to locate some geological information about the sand forests typical of Monroe and Jackson counties. I have to believe those somewhat unique forest types are somehow connected to the soil and local geology, but can't find the info I'd need. Any guidance toward resources would be great.

I can somewhat understand fairly technical texts, so it doesn't *have* to be complete layman's stuff. Thanks!

WGA Member Joined: 2004-05-19 Posts: 730

Have you contacted the WEIS Earth Science Museum at the UW Fox Valley in Menasha? They specialize in WI geology. If they can't help directly, I'm sure they can drop you some more local names.

Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 12:35 pm

Since I have loads of time to kill and the weather is cruddy outside, I saw your post this morning and have been killing time trying to find info for you. Here are a couple places with some information that may help you.

http://www.wisconline.com/wisconsin/geoprovinces/centralplain.html (it seems to pull from a book that I have posted below, just a brief mention of the vegetation cover influence.)

Google preview of the book referenced above:
http://books.google.com/books?id=NUVd8gSdy8AC&lpg=PA101&ots=uLleaQAP6j&dq=influence%20of%20vegetation%20on%20the%20central%20plain%20of%20wisconsin&pg=PA115#v=onepage&q=&f=false (starting about page 100 is where it starts discussing the central sand plain. I've learned a couple of new things today just googling this. Yeah Me!!)

http://openlibrary.org/b/OL6339878M/geography_of_the_central_sand_plain_of_Wisconsin (This looks interesting, thesis paper from 1935, the following site has a library listing for it. It appears to have been scanned into digital form, so I wonder if it would be worth emailing asking for the scan?)

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/15802891

http://www.ncrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/gtr/other/gtr-nc178/sub5-1.htm

http://dnr.wi.gov/master_planning/land_legacy/documents/csandplains.pdf (not much on topic here, but this is a nice pdf by the DNR describing the area)
About all I could find online, hopefully some of the geologists on here answer back and can help you out even more.

Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 12:42 pm

Another good resource for you could be a local-area college geology teacher.

For my Rock Elm listing, I wanted to be certain it was factually correct so I asked a local expert (he really was...he wrote most of the papers on the feature I was working on).

Certainly local instructors would know the area and be able to quickly point you in the right direction. The person I contacted was very helpful and seemed quite happy that I asked for his help / advise on the listing.

Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 12:45 pm

Lostby,
Not to hijack this thread but that was one of the things I learned today while looking this up for them! I thought wow, that would be an awesome idea for an Earthcache and then I looked and I'm like wow I need to do that one now.

Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 2:35 pm

Thanks for the help, I have used all of these except the open library one. I guess it would be a good idea to pay my library fine so I can check out the classic Martin book, which is excerpted on the wisonline site.

I checked out the area in question, had a blast hiking a good 4-5 miles through the sands and down to the stream. Up and down, beautiful spots. I did not get to the part I wanted, because I could hear gunshots over that way. Was wearing orange, but still...probably best to let them hunt in peace.

Scared up two Woodcock, a covey of Ruffed Grouse, walked literally into a flock of hen turkeys.....great way to spend my afternoon! Not sure I even want to share this spot with anyone else. I even used my GPSr for purposes originally intended....to help me track my way around and mark interesting spots. Imagine that!