Chloé Fandel leads students through water quality research in Driftless Region of Minnesota

Last summer, students from various colleges and universities — including Carleton, The College of William and Mary, and Minnesota North College – Vermilion — embarked on a research trip led by Chloé Fandel, assistant professor of geology at Carleton. The project, a small-scale pilot study, focused on collecting data from springs in the Driftless Region of southeastern Minnesota. The primary goal: to understand the factors that contribute to better water quality and healthier springs in this unique area.

The Driftless Region, which spans parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois, is renowned for its unusual hydrology and topography. Unlike other parts of the Midwest, the eastern “true” Driftless was untouched by glaciers during the last Ice Age, and while the “Driftless-style” western zone possesses some glacial remnants from over half a million years ago, it also escaped the most recent glaciations unscathed. Across the region, this led to the formation of karst topography, including numerous springs. These groundwater-fed springs are crucial water quality indicators, as many residents rely on groundwater from wells for their water supply and are increasingly concerned about its quality. 

“Our Minnesota project in 2024 is a test run for something much bigger,” said Fandel. “In 2025, we will survey springs across the entire four-state Driftless Region.”

The project initially began last winter with a small team of three students and has since expanded to include a diverse group. The involvement of students is a cornerstone of this research. All the students participating were rising sophomores, many of whom were getting their first taste of hands-on research. Students bring fresh perspectives to projects, Fandel says, often asking questions that lead research in new and unexpected directions.

“One of our big goals is to give younger students an introduction to research early on to build their confidence and skills,” said Fandel.

Beyond the technical aspects, the students engaged with local communities, working with state agencies and private landowners. This interaction provides valuable learning experiences for both the students and the landowners.

“There’s a lot of informal oral history shared,” Fandel said. “Students learn how to talk to strangers, find common ground, and persist in their research efforts.”

The team’s summer mission was to visit as many springs as possible within a three-week window, ensuring consistent data collection under the same environmental conditions. At each spring, the students gathered GPS coordinates, took photos, measured water flow and quality, documented the surrounding flora and fauna, and assessed the level of human impact. Water samples were also collected for further analysis.

This research environment fosters a tight-knit community. The team lived together in rustic accommodations, such as state park cabins and barns, sharing meals and spending long days in the field. 

“We spend all day, every day together, and everyone gets a little silly, but it’s great,” said Fandel. “You really get to know people when you spend that much time together.”

The decision to focus on the Driftless Region was intentional. Fandel sought to conduct locally based research within driving distance of Northfield, reducing the project’s carbon footprint and making the research more relevant to the local community. 

“I wanted to spend my research money on doing research, not buying plane tickets,” Fandel said. “This also opens up opportunities for students to participate in meaningful research close to home.”

One of the highlights of the project was visiting the largest spring in Minnesota.

“It was absolutely spectacular,” said Fandel. “There was just massive amounts of water — clear, cold, and beautiful — gushing out of a cave in the side of a cliff. We could go into the cave and see the fracture in the ground where the water came out.”

The project was not without its challenges, however. Fieldwork in remote areas can be unpredictable, but the team overcame these obstacles with resourcefulness and support from multiple people in the Carleton community. The geology department’s lending library, for example, provided students with essential gear. Campus vehicles facilitated transportation. Carleton’s print services team even created custom maps for Fandel and her students.

The success of this pilot project has paved the way for a more extensive study. Fandel received news this fall that her project is the recipient of a National Science Foundation grant, which will fund the full-scale Driftless Region survey planned for 2025.