United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service		 West Central Glaciated Soil Survey Region #10 Go to Accessibility Information
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Guide to Estimating Water Movement Through Lithic and Paralithic Materials

¹ ² (Exhibit 618-10)

Material Porosity Percent Water Movement in hr -1 Water Movement µm s –1 Bedrock Formation or Member
Sandstone unfractured 5 - 30 0.0 - 0.2 0.0 - 1.4
fractured 5 - 30 0.2 - 2.0 1.4 – 14 Mt. Simon, Wonewoc
Jordan, St. Peter
fractured 5 - 30 0.06 – 2.0 0.42 – 14 Lone Rock
weathered 10 - 30 0.2 - 0.6 1.4 – 4
Limestone, Dolomite, Dolostone unfractured 0 - 20 0.0 - 0.06 0.0 - 0.42
fractured 0 - 20 0.0 - 0.6 0.0 - 4.2
fractured 5 – 20 0.06 – 0.6 0.42 – 4.2 Prairie du Chien
weathered 0 - 30 0.0 - 0.2 0.0 - 1.4
Limestone, Karst 5 - 50 2.0 - 20.0 14 - 141
Shales and Mudstones consolidated 0 - 10 0.0 - 0.06 0.0 - 0.42
weathered 0 - 10 0.0 - 0.2 0.0 - 1.4
Sandstone and Shale interbedded 0 – 20 0.0 – 0.6 0.0 – 4.2 Eau Claire
Igneous and Metamorphic Rocks unfractured 0 - 5 0.0 - 0.01 0.0 - 0.07 Precambrian??
fractured 0 - 5 0.01 - 20.0 0.07 - 141
weathered 0 - 5 0.0 - 0.06 0.0 - 0.42

¹ This table is to be used as a guide and may be adjusted to reflect local, regional, or state bedrock permeability data. Fracturing may increase hydraulic conductivity of consolidated rock by a factor of 104 to 106, which is dependent on the degree and interconnection of fracturing. (Freeze and Cherry, 1979; Legget and Karrow, 1983).

² This table assumes that materials are level bedded. Tilted beds of some materials may have rapid rates of water movement that goes directly to an aquifer.

Entries in bold are enhancements to this NSSH Exhibit for Materials and Bedrock Formation or Members that occur in MLRA Region 10.


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