Monitoring wells on the former Badger Army Ammunition Plant landscape track toxic contamination that has migrated with groundwater beyond the plant boundary.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) has asked the U.S. Army at Badger Army Ammunition Plant to reinstate annual testing of certain monitoring wells at the northeastern edge of a groundwater contaminant plume in the Town of Merrimac.
The Central Plume is one of four separate groundwater contaminant plumes flowing from hazardous wastes sites inside the former military base. The Central Plume originates in the middle of Badger where rocket propellant was manufactured and extends south and southeast beyond the former plant boundary. South of Badger, the Central Plume continues south towards Gruber’s Grove Bay which is a part of the Wisconsin River.
According to the September 1 letter to Army officials, recent test results show increasing concentrations of the explosive DNT in groundwater at the northeastern edge of the Central Plume. WDNR is requesting that two groups of wells (six individual wells in total) be added to the annual groundwater monitoring program. Officials said the added testing will better define the extent of total DNT in groundwater in this area.
CSWAB approached the WDNR in July, asking the Department to consider increased testing after reviewing the same groundwater sampling data.
WDNR Request to Badger Add Wells to Monitoring Program Central Plume Sept 2021
MAP Groundwater Contaminant Plumes Badger 2019
MAP GW Monitoring Wells WDNR Reinstated Annual Testing DNT 1 Sept 2021
Badger RAB Presentation Slides Oct 2021