Short Course

Strategies for Solving Hydrogeologic Complexities from the Sedimentary Sequence in the Western Chicago Suburbs

Friday, September 26, 2025 

8:00am to 12:00pm

Professional Development Hours: 4.0 PDH (CEUs administered by: Northern Illinois University)

This training event is being donated by the instructors

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COURSE BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION

A sedimentary sequence was drilled in 2022 revealing complex Wisconsinan and Pre-Wisconsinan-age deposits in Geneva, Illinois, a western Chicago Suburb.  A stratigraphic assessment of the boring was completed during the field component for the 2022 professional education workshop by the Midwest GeoSciences Group and the Association of Engineering and Environmental Geologists (AEG Chicago Chapter).

The local stratigraphy and hydrogeologic analysis from the 2022 soil boring will be presented at this course.  The instructors will teach some of the field strategies used to decipher depositional environments and stratigraphy.  Plus, participants will learn the implications of the newly revealed geology in hydrogeologic calculations.

The boring made history in terms of new stratigraphic mapping by the Illinois State Geological Survey in NE Illinois. Age-dating of the buried A-Horizon confirmed the newly discovered Pre-Wisconsinan-age sedimentary sequence.

THIS IS A CLASSROOM COURSE. THERE IS NO FIELD COMPONENT.

The course instructors (Dan Kelleher and Susan Grover) and the 2022 course participants analyzed the sedimentary sequence from the soil core which revealed an entirely new and older sedimentary sequence that was unknown to exist in the region. Not only did the new sedimentary sequence make history, but it dramatically impacts how the vertical seepage is calculated from the ground surface to the top of bedrock, approximately 100 feet deep.

The drilling location is within the mapped area of the Yorkville Member of the Lemont Formation near the DuPage - Kane County border.  The four common sedimentary facies of the Yorkville Member were confirmed which consist of a downward succession of a shallow ice-marginal facies and three subglacial facies. Below the Yorkville Member is the Batestown Member which can be depositionally variable the resulting with heterogeneous sedimentary properties.  A buried A-Horizon and weathering zone was discovered below the Batestown Member which Carbon 14 age-dating confirmed was Pre-Wisconsinan in age. 

Without a familiarity of the regional stratigraphic sequence, this new discovery would probably have never been possible.  It’s a great example of the importance of understanding the geology at any given site. Plus, the implications to hydrogeology (calculations, monitoring, and gradients) are drastically impacted by this new significant discovery.

In this one boring from the 2022 workshop, we

• observed each of the major glacial depositional environments.

• applied basic strategies to decipher depositional environments and build a stratigraphic framework.

• differentiated the succession of low-permeability subglacial deposits.

• gave geologic context to buried sand and gravel intervals

  • and determined which coarse-grained intervals in the boring were isolated lenses

  • and determined which coarse-grained intervals were laterally continuous

• observed two A-Horizon Soils, one modern and one buried and ancient.

• observed two weathering zone profiles, on modern and one buried and ancient

• avoided the mistake of lumping the units into one Low-K “Hydrostratigraphic Unit”

• calculated vertical seepage estimates through the hydrogeologic system.

This was a historic discovery beyond the local impacts to ground water flow.  The process of discovery and the certainty of the deposits follow “The Method of Multiple Working Hypothesis” (1897) taught originally by the great T.C. Chamberlain, Geologist and Past President of the University of Wisconsin.  

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

This is a unique opportunity to learn about applying geologic principles to professional work. There are not many chances like this where we can synthesize hydrogeology in a way it can be applied to so many different other sites and projects.

Participants will learn:

• The regional sedimentary sequence from the western Chicago Suburbs

• How the Principles of Sedimentology and Pedogenesis apply to professional projects.

• Strategies for synthesizing the sedimentary sequence that can be applied at any Site.

• Hydrogeologic analysis of the sedimentary sequence from the soil boring in Geneva, Illinois. 

Participants will gain insight to understanding the holistic hydrogeologic systems in order to unravel subsurface complexities and relationships from this boring information. This course includes a classroom exercise that supports the curriculum. It features an optional self-assessment to test yourself with how accurately you can classify select soil classifications according to the Unified Soil Classification System (USCS).  Keep in mind that soil classifications are neither a substitute or surrogate for stratigraphy.

The course finishes with 20-question multiple-choice Final Exam.  Completion of the final exam is required to receive a CEU Course Completion Certificate.

CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS

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Northern Illinois University administers the continuing education units for this course with a Course Completion Certificate.  Participants who attend the entire course and pass the final exam will receive a certificate showing 0.4 CEUs / 4.0 PDHs. Most state professional licensure programs will accept CEUs for this course. Check with your licensure program for your requirements.

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Midwest GeoSciences Group is an approved CE provider #213 by the New York State Education Department (NY SED) for licensed Professional Geologists and Professional Engineers in the State of New York.  Midwest GeoSciences Group offers training and skill development for Geologists, Engineers, and Environmental Scientists in every US State and Canadian Province.

COURSE INSTRUCTORS - 

Dan Kelleher, PG, CIPM Is a Hydrogeologist and primary instructor during the 2022 workshop where the sedimentary sequence was first revealed.  Dan is the President of Midwest GeoSciences Group and a member of AEG (since 1990).  He serves geo-professionals through training, consulting, and field tool development.

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Susan Grover, M.Sc., P.G., is the National Geologist for the USDA National Resources Conservation Service in Washington, DC. She supports staff nationwide and serves as the national discipline lead for eight conservation practice standards. Prior to her work in Washington DC, Susan worked for 10+ years as the NRCS State Conservation Geologist for Ohio, and more than a decade of experience before that working in environmental consulting and Department of Defense contracting.

Prior to moving to Washington DC to serve as National Geologist, Susan led projects and teams for more than ten years as the NRCS State Conservation Geologist for Ohio,  and worked more than a decade before that working in environmental consulting and Department of Defense contracting.

Susan has a Master of Science degree (engineering geology) from Purdue University, a Bachelor of Science degree (geology) from Bowling Green State University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication also from Bowling Green. 

Susan is also retired from a parallel career in the Army National Guard where she served as an enlisted medic/ medical non-commissioned officer from 1985 until 2001 when she was commissioned as a Medical Service Corps Officer retiring in 2010 as a Captain and Company Commander. Her service included a tour in Afghanistan (2004 - 2005) and Iraq (2008) as well as several state emergencies

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COURSE INCLUDES

Participants receive 4.0 contact hours of instruction, Course Notebook, a FIELD GUIDE FOR SOIL AND STRATIGRAPHIC ANALYSIS.

OPTIONAL ITEM:  Full Color Course Notebook (approx.100 pages) for $59.00. Otherwise, the Course Notebook is printed in black and white (it still looks great).

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WHO SHOULD ATTEND
This course is designed for ground water scientists and engineers, project managers, and remedial design managers.  Professionals ranging from entry level to seasoned practitioners are invited to participate.

CLASSROOM AND WORKSHOP SAFETY:

Safety and integrity are paramount. Each participant is responsible for his/her own safety and agrees to help keep all other participants safe. No harassing behavior or intimidation is acceptable. All affiliates of this course want each participant to feel comfortable during our events.

ACCESS

Visitors are not permitted to access the classroom during the training.

A LIABILITY WAIVER is required to be accepted and signed by each participant for access into this event. The LIABILITY WAIVER is sent via email to all registrants about August 27, 2025 and required to be returned to Midwest GeoSciences Group on or before September 25, 2025.