High-capacity wells possibly lowering some lake levels

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Lakefront houses' private docks at Long Lake, near Plainfield, no longer reach the water. In Wisconsin's Central Sands, some lakes and streams have lowered or dried up in recent years as the number of high-capacity wells has mushroomed, largely for irrigation.

KATE GOLDEN —
Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism

The Little Plover River was recently named one of America's most endangered rivers by the advocacy group American Rivers. Sections of it have dried up several times in recent years.

KATE GOLDEN — Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism

central sands wells.png

SOURCE: Department of Natural Resources Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism

The sandy soil that give the Central Sands its name drains water quickly. Farmer Justin Isherwood says the feel of it tells him how to care for his crops — if he tries to squeeze it into a ball and it falls through his fingers, it’s time to irrigate. Kate Golden/Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism

Kate Golden/Wisconsin Center for

At Wolf Lake in Portage County, local resident Chelsea Zimmerman, 15, plays with her brother Levi but no longer swims now that the water levels have receded well below the beach. “This one hasn't dropped as much as the other lakes around here, but it has dropped quite a bit,” she says. Kate Golden/Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism

Kate Golden/Wisconsin Center for

Emmons Creek in Portage County provides healthy habitat for brown trout, but hydrogeologist George Kraft warns that if pumping proliferates near the stream, its waters could drop as the Little Plover’s has. Kate Golden/Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism

Kate Golden/Wisconsin Center for

Portage County vegetable grower Justin Isherwood, in his tractor, says farmers in his area have been reluctant to discuss water supply issues. “We were all raised with the sense that this is Lake Superior underneath us, and it's not,” he says. Kate Golden/Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism

Kate Golden/Wisconsin Center for

Portage County vegetable grower Justin Isherwood, standing next to his center-pivot irrigator, says farmers in his area have been reluctant to discuss water supply issues. “We were all raised with the sense that this is Lake Superior underneath us, and it's not,” he says. Kate Golden/Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism

Kate Golden/Wisconsin Center for

Hydrogeologist George Kraft says the Little Plover River is "a shell of itself" due to groundwater pumping that has reduced its flow. Kate Golden/Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism

Kate Golden/Wisconsin Center for

The boat launch at Long Lake, near Plainfield, no longer reaches the water. In Wisconsin's Central Sands, some lakes and streams have lowered or dried up in recent years as the number of high-capacity wells has mushroomed, largely for irrigation. Kate Golden/Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism

Kate Golden/Wisconsin Center for

A Gold Rush potato plant with a Colorado potato beetle — a scourge to potato farmers in these parts, as it has grown resistant to many available pesticides. Kate Golden/Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism

Kate Golden/Wisconsin Center for

Potato plants use more water than most Wisconsin crops. Kate Golden/Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism

Potato plants use more water than most Wisconsin crops. Kate Golden/Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism

Kate Golden/Wisconsin Center for

Scott Froehlke, who heads the Central Sands Water Action Coalition, wants to create a water management district that could help local stakeholders work with the Department of Natural Resources on groundwater issues. Kate Golden/Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism

Kate Golden/Wisconsin Center for

The boat launch at Long Lake, near Plainfield, no longer reaches the water. In Wisconsin's Central Sands, some lakes and streams have lowered or dried up in recent years as the number of high-capacity wells has mushroomed, largely for irrigation.

KATE GOLDEN -- Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism

Wolf Lake

Lakefront property owners say they suspect high capacity wells are responsible for falling water levels. In this file photo, at Wolf Lake in Portage County, Chelsea Zimmerman plays with her brother Levi but avoids swimming because the water levels have receded well below the beach. “This one hasn't dropped as much as the other lakes around here, but it has dropped quite a bit,” she says.

KATE GOLDEN -- Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism

Chelsea-Zimmerman-at-Wolf-Lake

At Wolf Lake in Portage County, local resident Chelsea Zimmerman, 15, plays with her brother Levi but no longer swims now that the water levels have receded well below the beach. “This one hasn't dropped as much as the other lakes around here, but it has dropped quite a bit,” she says.

Kate Golden/Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism

Emmons Creek

Pending legislation would end the practice of courts giving deference to state agency actions when private property owners challenged those actions. Critics said the change could undermine water and air quality, siting of power lines, and wildlife habitat.

Kate Golden/Wisconsin Center for

Lake levels

Lakefront property owners say they suspect high capacity wells are responsible for falling water levels. At Wolf Lake in Portage County, Chelsea Zimmerman and her brother Levi but avoided swimming because the water levels had receded so far. “This one hasn't dropped as much as the other lakes around here, but it has dropped quite a bit,” she says.

KATE GOLDEN -- Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism

KATE PRENGAMAN | Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism

PLAINFIELD — Long Lake has lost its shoreline. Dock after dock dead-ends in the weeds. It looks more like an unmowed lawn with a pond in the middle than a place where families used to water ski and fish.

This project was supported by The Joyce Foundation. The nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism (www.WisconsinWatch.org) collaborates with Wisconsin Public Radio, Wisconsin Public Television, other news media and the UW-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

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