Conservation Campus Prairie House Nature Center Geologic and Hydrologic Report on Wolf Road Prairie by Wheaton College Conservation Campus Leadership Council Whole Foods Market Volunteers at Wolf Road Prairie Field Museum Students Visit Wolf Road Prairie Ecologists from Congo Visit Wolf Road Prairie Wetland and Watershed Seminar at Wolf Road Prairie Professional Development Status Awarded WFP selected as field site for Critical Trends Assessment Program University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener Program Ukrainian Ecologists Visit Wolf Road Prairie Conservation Campus is Native American historical site

A Geologic Information System and Hydrologic Survey of Wolf Road Prairie Nature Preserve Westchester, IL. Continued Hydrological Analysis: The ultimate goal of this survey is an analysis of the groundwater flow. The intention is that these results can aid in understanding the migrating wetlands and changing prairie. A varying water table means the difference between a prairie, where plants must absorb air through their roots, and a wetland, where plants thrive in the saturated ground. Seismic Refraction Survey: Seismic refraction is a geophysical method frequently used to determine depth to the water table, to geologic layers, and to bedrock. Seismic refraction is a geophysical technique that uses the movement of seismic or sound waves to delineate geologic layers based on changes in seismic velocity of different strata. Analysis of this data provides an understanding of the subsurface nature of the prairie in relation to groundwater movement and drainage. Seismic Refraction Results: The seismic results confirm that a distinction between soil types occurs at about 7 to 8 feet below the surface. The velocity of the upper layer is consistent with a sandy/silty unconsolidated soil. The lower level velocity indicates a consolidated gravel/till horizon. Therefore, because of the impermeable nature of the lower horizon, the majority of the ground water affecting the prairie will be confined to the upper 7 to 8 feet. Previous <<      >> Next return to main page, Save the Prairie Society