David P. Lusch, Ph.D., GISP State of the Huron ConferenceMay 6, 2005

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State of the Huron

Why does my watershed look like broccoli?A Brief Geologic History

Why does my watershed look like broccoli?A Brief Geologic History

David P. Lusch, Ph.D., GISPSenior Research Specialist

Dept. of Geography And

Institute of Water ResearchMichigan State university

David P. Lusch, Ph.D., GISP State of the Huron ConferenceMay 6, 2005

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The Shape of the Huron River Watershed Why is the Huron River watershed shaped the

way it is?

It all started some 350 – 400 million years ago!

Michigan Basin was inundated numerous times by oceans and that filled it with sedimentary deposits

These sediments produced rock types of unequal resistance to erosion

Sandstones and Carbonates are stronger and tend to support highlands

Shales are weaker and tend to support lowlands

David P. Lusch, Ph.D., GISP State of the Huron ConferenceMay 6, 2005

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Bedrock Geology

H a r d

S o f t

David P. Lusch, Ph.D., GISP State of the Huron ConferenceMay 6, 2005

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Glacial History

Mic

higa

n

Gla

cial

Lobe

Sagin

aw

Glac

ial

Lo

beHur

on –

Erie

Glacial

L

obe

c. 16,000 yrs. ago

David P. Lusch, Ph.D., GISP State of the Huron ConferenceMay 6, 2005

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Elevation and Relief in SE Michigan

David P. Lusch, Ph.D., GISP State of the Huron ConferenceMay 6, 2005

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Thickness of Glacial Sediments

David P. Lusch, Ph.D., GISP State of the Huron ConferenceMay 6, 2005

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Continental Glaciation

If you could have been in the vicinity of Kensington Metro Park about 16,000 years ago,

it might have looked liked this!

David P. Lusch, Ph.D., GISP State of the Huron ConferenceMay 6, 2005

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Glacial Deposits

David P. Lusch, Ph.D., GISP State of the Huron ConferenceMay 6, 2005

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Glacial Landsystems

David P. Lusch, Ph.D., GISP State of the Huron ConferenceMay 6, 2005

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Glacial History

c. 14,800 yrs. ago

David P. Lusch, Ph.D., GISP State of the Huron ConferenceMay 6, 2005

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Glacial History

c. 14,400 yrs. ago

David P. Lusch, Ph.D., GISP State of the Huron ConferenceMay 6, 2005

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Glacial History

c. 14,300 yrs. ago

David P. Lusch, Ph.D., GISP State of the Huron ConferenceMay 6, 2005

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Glacial History

c. 14,150 yrs. ago

LakeMaumee I

David P. Lusch, Ph.D., GISP State of the Huron ConferenceMay 6, 2005

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Glacial History

c. 14,000 yrs. ago?

?Lake

Maumee I(800 ft.)

David P. Lusch, Ph.D., GISP State of the Huron ConferenceMay 6, 2005

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Glacial History

Outwash Systems

DI0-40

Thick Outwash SystemsAquifer material

dominates 0 – 40 ft

•“Great Gravel Plain”• Huron delta• Defiance spillway delta @ Tecumseh

David P. Lusch, Ph.D., GISP State of the Huron ConferenceMay 6, 2005

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Glacial History

c. 14,000 yrs. ago?

?Lake

Maumee I

David P. Lusch, Ph.D., GISP State of the Huron ConferenceMay 6, 2005

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Glacial Lake Maumee I Shoreline (800 ft.)Geddes Rd. east of Prospect Rd.

David P. Lusch, Ph.D., GISP State of the Huron ConferenceMay 6, 2005

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Glacial Lake Whittlesey Shoreline (725 ft.)

Stoney Creek Rd. @ US-23

David P. Lusch, Ph.D., GISP State of the Huron ConferenceMay 6, 2005

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The Late-Glacial Huron River & L. Ypsilanti

c. 13,400 yrs. agoLake

Ypsilanti

At least 225 ft of downcutting in 750 years

L. Maumee 800 ftL. Ypsilanti 575 ftNick pointDisequilibrium 225 ft

L. Maumee I 14,150 yrs agoL. Ypsilanti 13,400 yrs ago

David P. Lusch, Ph.D., GISP State of the Huron ConferenceMay 6, 2005

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State of the HuronOh, so that’s why my watershed

looks like broccoli?Oh, so that’s why my watershed

looks like broccoli?David P. Lusch, Ph.D., GISP

Senior Research SpecialistDept. of Geography

AndInstitute of Water ResearchMichigan State university

lusch@msu.edu

http://www.rsgis.msu.edu/datadocs.htm