Wisconsin's Groundwater
Coordinating Council (GCC)

Research and Monitoring Program

• UWS Groundwater Research - (exit DNR)
  The UWS, through its UW-Madison Water Resources Institute (WRI), has received funding since FY 90 for groundwater research. Projects may be of a fundamental or applied nature on selected aspects of groundwater research in the natural sciences, engineering, social sciences, or law. Through FY 06, the UWS has invested $5.0 million on 138 groundwater research projects. Several projects have been co-funded with DNR, Commerce and/or DATCP and 11 were co-funded through the National Institutes for Water Resources program (US Geological Survey).



• DNR Groundwater Monitoring and Research -
  The DNR has been funding groundwater "management practice monitoring" projects since FY 86. The intent of these studies, funded through the Groundwater Account of the Environmental Fund, was to identify appropriate management practices to reduce the impacts of potential sources of contamination. In recent years, the DNR has used funds from alternative state and federal sources, and has targeted funds at specific issues of concern, including arsenic, emerging contaminants (viruses, antibiotics), and groundwater quantity. Through FY 06, the DNR has spent approximately $6.0 million on 182 monitoring projects. Several of these projects have been co-funded with DATCP, Commerce and/or UWS.
  



• DATCP Pesticide Research -
  From 1989 to 2002, DATCP had approximately $135,000 available annually to fund research on pesticide issues of regulatory importance. This money came from fees paid by pesticide manufacturers to sell products in Wisconsin. Starting in FY 03, these funds have not been available for new research. Through FY 06, DATCP has spent about $1.8 million on 42 pesticide projects. Several of these projects have been co-funded with DNR and/or UWS.
  



• Department of Commerce Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment System Research -
  The Division of Safety & Buildings (formerly in the Department of Industry, Labor, and Human Relations) received an annual appropriation of $50,000 from 1990 to 1993 to fund research on alternatives to current private sewage-system technology. In 1994, when the appropriation expired, $75,000 generated through plan review and licensing fees became available each year for research on private sewage systems. Through FY 06, Commerce has spent approximately $600,000 on eight projects. Two projects were co-funded with DNR and UWS.