Aggregate Mapping Grant Committee Presentation
March 2024 Status Report
By: Michigan Geological Society
Michigan is beginning a major effort to update its outdated geology maps, which help the state understand what’s underground such as sand and gravel resources, soil layers, and groundwater. These materials are important because aggregates (sand and gravel) are used for roads and construction, and groundwater is where many communities get their drinking water. This includes the residents of Springfield Township, MI.
Right now, Michigan is working with maps that in some cases are more than 100 years old. Very little modern mapping has been done to show what lies below the surface, and this makes it difficult for local governments, engineers, and environmental agencies to make informed decisions about mining, wells, and land development. Other nearby states are far ahead of Michigan in this type of mapping.
The Michigan Geological Survey (MGS) is now funded to fix this gap. They are hiring staff to gather every useful piece of information available including well records, soil surveys, LiDAR imagery, historical mining data, environmental reports, aerial photos, and more, to combine it into updated county-level maps. These new maps will show where sand and gravel actually exist, where aquifers and confining layers are located, and how glacial deposits are arranged underground.
One major task is fixing the state’s well database. The survey discovered that over 40% of wells in Michigan’s Wellogic system were plotted in the wrong location, which can seriously mislead decisions about groundwater. They are now correcting those errors and adding hundreds of thousands of old well logs to create a clearer picture of groundwater conditions and geology.
The state has identified 25 counties where updated mapping is urgently needed, especially where groundwater, PFAS contamination, or heavy mining interest are concerns. As mapping progresses, MGS will host public meetings and share easy-to-use digital tools so residents and officials can understand what is underground before decisions are made.
How does this apply to Springfield Township?
Springfield Township is currently facing a major mining proposal on Ormond Road. The Michigan Geological Survey’s report highlights several key points that directly relate to our situation:
- Michigan’s geology maps are outdated, and our region may not have accurate subsurface information, especially on how sand and gravel deposits interact with wetlands, water tables, and buried aquifers.
- Well data used by consultants or mining companies may be inaccurate, because the state Wellogic system has known location errors in more than 40% of wells. This means groundwater interpretations based on those wells may be unreliable unless corrected and verified.
- Glacial geology is complex and discontinuous, meaning sand and gravel layers can be patchy, interconnected, or positioned in ways older maps do not capture. This directly affects hydrology, water movement, and the risk of impacts to nearby wells and wetlands.
- Updated mapping is meant to support better, science-based decisions around mining, water protection, and land use, exactly the type of information Springfield Township needs but currently lacks.
- The state’s new mapping program emphasizes public transparency and access to good data, which aligns with the community’s calls for clear, evidence-based analysis before approving or denying high-risk mining applications.
In short, the report highlights the importance of using modern, site specific geological and groundwater information rather than relying on older or potentially unverified data when evaluating large scale excavation proposals.
Click here to read the full March 2024 Status Report by Michigan Geological Society
The Township Fact-Finding Committee, which Kara Okonewski of Oko Environmental LLC is a part of, has consistently emphasized the need for site-specific, professionally verified information rather than relying on outdated maps or desktop-only reviews. This perspective is directly supported by the Michigan Geological Survey’s findings, which highlight how outdated mapping and inaccurate well data can lead to incomplete or misleading interpretations of groundwater, aggregates, and subsurface geology.
Springfield Township has already hired two independent experts, Brian O’Mara & Mike Wilczynski. For more information on the hired experts, CLICK HERE.
In addition to these hires, Township officials are still interviewing additional firms in traffic engineering, environmental science, and other specialized fields to ensure every component of the mining proposal is reviewed by qualified, independent professionals. This ongoing selection process indicates that the Township is continuing to seek additional expertise as it evaluates the information submitted by the applicant.