Date of Award
12-1986
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Geological and Environmental Sciences
First Advisor
Dr. W. Thomas Straw
Second Advisor
Dr. Richard Passero
Access Setting
Masters Thesis-Open Access
Abstract
The Balkema wetland, located In southwestern Kalamazoo County, Michigan, represents complex biological and hydrologic Interaction between surface water and a two-aquifer hydrologic system. Situated on the southeastern flank of the Kalamazoo moraine, the glacial geology of the area plays a key role in the understanding of the hydrogeologic function of the wetland. A two-aquifer system, an upper unconfined, and a lower confined, Interact In the vicin ity of the wetland where the c la y /till aqulclude dividing the two systems 1s absent. Various parameters, both hydrologic and geochemical, were measured In the study area, Including specific conductance values of both surface and subsurface waters, surface water fluctuation of the wetland and surrounding lakes, and piezometric data. Seasonal fluctuations of these parameters were noted and explained. Classification of the Balkema wetland and surrounding wetlands and lakes were done using both hydrogeologic and biologic classification schemes.
Recommended Citation
Fronczek, Daniel V., "A Hydrogeologic Investigation of the Balkema Wetland" (1986). Masters Theses. 1340.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/1340