Proposal title: surficial geologic mapping of montcalm county, michiganproject period: 9 30 2025 9 30 2026PURPOSENEW surficial geologic mapping in montcalm county, michigan is proposed and aligns with…

Western Michigan University received a $364,828 Cooperative Agreement award from the U.S. Geological Survey under the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program (NCGMP, CFDA 15.810) on September 30, 2025, to produce surficial geologic mapping of Montcalm County, Michigan. The project, with a completion date of September 29, 2026, will deliver a 1:62,500-scale surficial geology map and a Geologic Mapping Schema (GEMS) Level 3-compliant geodatabase for Montcalm County. The mapping effort aligns with the Michigan Long-Range Geologic Mapping Plan priorities by advancing statewide geologic map coverage and improving understanding of groundwater and aggregate resources in the state.

The project employs field investigation methods including analysis of natural and artificial exposures, hand-augured borings, and rotary wireline, mud rotary, and roto-sonic coring to characterize surficial materials. Supporting data sources include aerial photographs, topographic maps, digital elevation models, soil surveys, and existing geologic literature. Final deliverables include a PDF map submission to the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program and a GEMS-compliant database submission to the National Geologic Map Database. WMU has engaged Grand Valley State University as a sub-awardee to provide laboratory grain-size analysis of sediment samples from drill cores, utilizing standardized operating procedures adapted from other state geological surveys to support the mapping effort.

Proposal title: surficial geologic mapping of montcalm county, michiganproject period: 9 30 2025 9 30 2026PURPOSENEW surficial geologic mapping in montcalm county, michigan is proposed and aligns with priorities set forth in the michigan long-range geologic mapping plan. Priorities in this plan emphasize the need for uniform mapping and seamless statewide geologic map coverage and a more detailed understanding of michigans groundwater and aggregate resources.activitiessurficial geologic mapping will be completed by field investigation of surficial materials observed in natural exposures, road and stream cuts, building and construction excavations, and shallow hand-augured borings, and small pits DUG by the investigators. In addition, aerial photographs, topographic maps, digital elevation models (dems), county soil surveys, existing geologic maps, reports, and the geologic literature for the area will be reviewed. Test borings using rotary wireline coring, MUD rotary, or roto-sonic coring methods will be drilled as part of this mapping project and will be plotted on the final map and cross-sections. Mapping will be completed to gems level 3 standards and compiled in a standard format to allow the final map data to be seamlessly added to the michigan geological surveys growing surficial geologic map dataset.deliverables and OUTCOMES1. Surficial geology of montcalm county, michigan deliverables:a. A final map, at the 1:62,500 scale, will be submitted to the ncgmp as a PDF at the end of the performance period. Final review and publication of the map will be completed within 12 months of the end of the period of performance.b. Gems level 3 compliant database of the surficial geology of montcalm county, michigan, submitted to the ngmdb.intended beneficiariesthe updated surficial geologic map of montcalm county is intended to benefit a broad audience such as local units of government, the public, and the scientific community. Each of these customers will benefit from a more detailed surficial geologic map and subsurface data for management of critical resources such as groundwater and aggregates, land use planning, development, and education. The subrecipient, grand valley state university, will conduct grain size analysis of surficial samples. This work will be done by students, under faculty supervision, which will serve as a valuable educational experience.