Advisory Committee on Water Information Subcommittee on Ground Water Presented at the ACWI Meeting February 20-21, 2008

National Ground Water Monitoring Network Panel Members: Bob Schreiber – Moderator Bill Cunningham – Inventory Work Group Bob Schreiber – Ground Water Design Work Group John Jansen – Field Practices Work Group Chuck Job – Data Standards/Management Work Group

Outline SOGW Overview Work Group Reports Inventory Framework Design Field Practices Data Standards/Management Next steps Feedback

Benefits of National Network Natural and Man-Made Drivers: Drought Climate change Population increases Eco-habitat loss Energy development Agricultural demand

Network Benefits, continued Important questions being asked on: Resource sustainability Water quality trends / constraints Difficulties answering: Very few nationwide programs Variety of State/Regional networks Significant data gaps No nationwide directives

History of SOGW Jan. 2006: Suggested formation of ACWI ground water subgroup May 2006: Discussed at NWQMC Aug. 2006: Formed Ad Hoc Steering Committee (SC) Sept. 2006: Began drafting Terms of Reference Jan. 2007: ACWI approved SOGW

The overall goal of the SOGW is to develop and encourage implementation of a nationwide, long-term ground-water quantity and quality monitoring framework that would provide information necessary for the planning, management, and development of ground water supplies to meet current and future water needs, and ecosystem requirements. SOGW Purpose

SOGW Scope This national framework for ground water monitoring and collaboration will be developed to assist in assessments of the quantity of U.S. ground water reserves, as constrained by ground water quality. The SOGW will also consider ground water quality monitoring in order to help determine water quality related constraints on supply and use, and for helping assess potential ecological impacts caused by changes in ground water quantity and quality.

National Water Quality Monitoring Council National Liaison Committee for NAWQA Subcommittee on Hydrology ٭ Subcommittee on Spatial Water Data Methods and Data Comparability Board Subcommittee on Sedimentation Work Groups Sustainable Water Resources Roundtable Work Groups * Also reports to Federal Geographic Data Committee New Subcommittee on Ground Water Work Groups ACWI GROUPS

American Society of Civil EngineersSchreiber, Bob (Non-Federal Co-Chair) Association of American State GeologistsWunsch, David R. Association of State and Interstate Water Pollution Control AdministratorsHouts, Mike Ground Water Protection CouncilPaque, Michael Interstate Council on Water PolicyBadr, Bud National Ground Water AssociationJansen, John State of TexasBetz, Cary US Bureau of Land ManagementSummers, Paul USDA Forest ServiceCarlson, Christopher P. USEPA Headquarters and RegionJob, Charles; Wireman, Michael US Geological Survey Cunningham, William L. (Federal Co- Chair) Water Environment FederationSchweinfurth, Rob SOGW Organizations

Work Groups Subcommittee on Ground Water (13) Bob Schreiber, ACWI – ASCE Bill Cunningham, USGS Executive Secretary Chris Reimer, NGWA GW Monitoring Inventory Work Group (14) Bill Cunningham, USGS Mike Wireman, USEPA Emery Cleaves, AASG GW Data Standards and Data Management Work Group (13) Chuck Job, USEPA Scott Andres, DE Geological Survey GW Monitoring Design Work Group (21) Bob Schreiber, ACWI- ASCE Kevin Frederick WY DEQ GW Field Practices Work Group (10) Rod Sheets, USGS Mike Nickolaus, GWPC Quantity Quality ENN

Subcommittee and Work Group Membership* Federal 14 State/local 26 Academia 4 Private sector 26 Total 70 *As of 01/30/08

Inventory Work Group Goal: Develop picture of current ground-water level and ground- water quality monitoring Research is largely completed Analysis is underway

State Ground-Water Monitoring Networks Joint effort completed by: AASG GWPC ICWP NGWA Level – information from 43 states Quality – information from 48 states.

Federal Ground-Water Monitoring Networks Evaluation of National or Regional networks operated by federal agencies USGS, US EPA, Park Service, Forest Service, ARS and others Combine with State information for overall picture of monitoring

Preliminary Results Statewide and Regional Water Quality Networks Statewide and Regional Water Level Networks

Summary of State Water Quality Networks Design Basis

Summary of State Water Quality Networks Network Management

Ground-Water Level Networks

Wells in a Statewide or Regional Water-Level Network Measured at Least Annually

Statewide Water-Level Networks: Responsible Agency

Summary: Inventory Work Group Large amount of ground water level and quality data are being collected Some states with little or no program. These are initial “data gaps”. Data are collected by many different agencies for many different purposes. Often not the same agency for water levels and water quality. Additional work is needed by the Inventory WG to: Coordinate inventory among State responses and Federal monitoring programs Gather necessary metadata Use metadata and Design Framework to evaluate data gaps

Ground Water Monitoring Design Work Group Goal - Develop draft design Identifying questions Researching designs Defining important discriminators

Design 1. Network of (statewide) Networks 2. Specific questions at statewide scale 3. “Aggregated upwards” to regional and national scales 4. States - local questions Can aggregate these to address unique statewide questions

Questions Addressed Level I – Required State to regional and national scales Level II – Encouraged Additional resources from states State to regional and national scales Local to statewide scale Local scale

Example Level I Questions Baseline conditions Changing conditions Drought impacts Impacts of over-pumping GW suitable for human consumption Major GW problems

Well TypeMonitoring Type Relative Sampling Frequency Background Network BaselineVariable Over an initial time period SurveillanceLow TrendHigher than surveillance SpecialVariable as needed Targeted Network BaselineVariable, Over an initial time period SurveillanceLow TrendHigher than surveillance SpecialVariable as needed

Design What is monitored? What indicators?

Field Practices Work Group Goal – data collection to ensure data comparability across the network Two focus areas: Ground water quantity (levels) Ground water quality (sample collection)

Field Practices Work Group – Water Levels Key considerations: Training Pre-collection review and preparation On-site preparation Water-level collection and data recording

Field Practices Work Group – Water Quality Key considerations: Pre-collection review and preparation On-site preparation Sample collection, preservation, handling, and transport Data recording QA/QC

Field Practices Work Group Level and quality combined in one field practices document -- Based on ASTM, USEPA, USGS and other published standards Draft document is ready for inclusion. Collaborative effort -- Group co-chairs Mike Nickolaus, GWPC and Rod Sheets, USGS

Data Standards & Data Management Work Group Charge Goal - Recommend methods to archive and access ground water data on a national scale Review related products and activities Address consistency of data management Identify data retrieval approaches

Major Data Models and Standards Primarily Water Level and Quality Data USGS’s NWIS USEPA’s WQX EDSC’s approved data standards ASTM standards D 5409 & D 5410 Primarily Locational Data FGDC NSDI ASTM standards D 5254 & D 5408 ISO Standard 19139

DSDM Work Group Draft Conclusions Issues needing resolution Multiple classifications of hydrostratigraphy A “core set” of data elements

DSDM Work Group Draft Conclusions Recommendations Multiple data models or standards Use data translation tools

Next Steps: March 2008 – Resolve outstanding issues at SOGW meeting May 2008 – Receive feedback at Monitoring Conference Summer/fall – Request ACWI approval of draft recommendations

Examples of Key Questions SOGW Working Through: 1. What are the principal challenges to participation by federal and state agencies? 2. How to incorporate existing data collection efforts? 3. What are the core or minimum requirements for comparability? 4. How to provide flexibility for advancements in science and technology? 5. What ongoing functions are needed to establish, operate and maintain such a network?

Feedback Tomorrow - roundtable on: Moving forward Lessons learned by others Coordination w/ ACWI subgroups Anytime - Informal discussions

Thank you!! Subcommittee On Ground Water c/o National Ground Water Association 601 Dempsey Rd Westerville OH