44 Groundwater Hydrogeology

Monday, 15 March 2010
1:30 PM - 5:35 PM
International E

A PILOT PROGRAM FOR A NATIONAL GROUNDWATER MONITORING NETWORK—KEY FACTORS AND TIMELINE

Paper number: 44-2
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 1:35 PM – 1:55 PM

Authors

Abstract

The Advisory Committee on Water Information Subcommittee on Ground Water (ACWI-SOGW), formed in 2006, produced a document that outlines procedures for a long-term, nationwide groundwater quality and quantity network (NGWMN). The document is intended to be a framework for local, state, and Federal organizations that collect groundwater data so that their data will be comparable and can be included in a nationally consistent network. As part of the process to foster and grow this network, a pilot program was begun in October 2009 to test key concepts of the framework.

Key factors of the ACWI-SOGW pilot program are the following:

  • Principal aquifers, as defined by the U.S. Geological Survey, are the geographic emphasis of the NGWMN.
  • Two subnetworks—an ambient (unstressed) and targeted (stressed) subnetwork—will be monitored for each aquifer.
  • Water-quantity data (as water levels) and water-quality data will be collected.
  • Fundamental elements of the framework document and the pilot program include network design, common.
  • field practices, data standards, and data management.
  • A data-management system to facilitate sharing of data is an integral part of the NGWMN.

ACWI-SOGW solicited potential pilot organizations with the understanding that each pilot would test the framework concepts and the data-management system within 12 months of selection and submit a report at the end of 18 months. The pilot studies have been selected and are currently underway. A brief synopsis of the pilot programs will be given.