A Chloride Impact Study for the Southeastern Wisconsin Region

The Commission staff prepared a Prospectus for a comprehensive study of the environmental impacts of the use of chloride on the surface water and groundwater resources of the Region. A Technical Advisory Committee was formed (roster to the right), and that committee met on September 8, 2015, October 21, 2015, and June 5, 2018 (agendas and summary notes under "Meeting Materials" below).

Study work began in summer 2017 and to date the SEWRPC staff has focused on the Region-wide monitoring effort outlined in the Prospectus. This includes monitoring for conductance at 30 to 40 stream locations throughout the Region. Chloride concentrations can be determined from conductance measurements coupled with grab sampling. Due to the large selection of devices available and lack of information on stream monitoring through the winter, a pilot site was installed in fall 2017 to test three conductance devices.  The SEWRPC staff also developed the list of potential stream monitoring locations based on multiple factors including distribution of sites by watershed and county, types of contributing land use, proximity of sites to U.S. Geological Survey stream gaging sites, status of streams relative to impairment due to chloride, locations of potential chloride-contributing sources, and inclusion of a variety of stream sizes.  The installation of 37 conductance monitoring stream locations was completed in fall 2018 (map to the right). The intent is to monitor the streams for two winters from 2018 to 2020.

Presentations

3-23-18 Chloride Impact Study Presentation 

Meeting Materials

6-5-18 Agenda

6-5-18 Summary Notes

10-21-15 Agenda

10-21-15 Summary Notes

9-8-15 Agenda

9-8-15 Summary Notes