1. Status Report Ad Hoc Steering Committee on Ground Water Monitoring Presentation for: Advisory Committee on Water Information October 4, 2006

2. Thank You Advisory Committee on Water Information Ad Hoc Steering Committee on Ground Water Monitoring Toni Johnson Chris Reimer

3. Today’s Meeting Demonstrate to ACWI that we have … High energy, committed volunteers Made good progress in short time Want to maintain momentum! Interact with ACWI by … Presenting a status report Seeking guidance for scoping TOR

4. Overview In January 2006, suggestion made to form a ground water subgroup In August 2006, an Ad Hoc Steering Committee (SC) formed to develop a formal proposal to ACWI In September 2006, SC began work on draft Terms of Reference (TOR) By January 2007 or earlier, SC plans to present draft TOR to ACWI for approval Today, update ACWI on some of the questions and issues related to TOR and request your input

5. Today’s Discussion Agenda Historical Items Steps leading to Jan. 2006 suggestion Steps since Jan. 2006 Steering committee formation and status Major outstanding questions on TOR Your feedback

6. Historical Items Ground-Water Quality Networks Ground-Water Quality Monitoring Framework Conceptual Frameworks for Ground-Water Quality Monitoring Ground Water Quality Data Elements National Coastal Monitoring Network Ground-Water Level Networks No national efforts for framework or data elements

7. Steps Leading to Specific Proposal 2000: USGS survey of long-term well networks 2003: Ground water supply surveys 2004: Science and Technology to Support Fresh Water Availability in the United States report 2005: NSTC staff pose ground water monitoring questions 2006: Suggestion to ACWI to investigate ground water subgroup

8. Steps Since Proposal January 2006: “Strawman” developed May 2006: National Water Quality Monitoring Conference Session July 2006: National Water Quality Monitoring Council Briefing August 2006: Formation of Ad Hoc Steering Committee

9. Steering Committee (SC) Formation and Status Nine organizations invited Co-chairs invited SC TOR and work plan begun Two conference calls held

10. SC Members USGS – Bill Cunningham (federal co-chair) ASCE – Bob Schreiber (non-federal co-chair) AASG – Dave Wunsch GWPC – Mike Paque ICWP – Bud Badr/Peter Evans alt. NGWA – John Jansen States – Mary Ambrose USEPA – Chuck Job, Chuck Spooner WEF – Rob Schweinfurth

11. Terms of Reference Sections Purpose Scope Functions Membership Procedural Sections, e.g. meetings, time needed, termination

12. Guiding Principles Coordinate with other ACWI subgroups Integrate with ACWI work products Recognize historic efforts

13. Primary Question on TOR To what extent should the proposed Ground Water Subcommittee address ground-water quality? Implicitly: Framework for ground-water level monitoring Explicitly: Framework for ground-water quality monitoring

14. Additional Questions Potable water or other water uses Defining terms Exact deliverable

15. Open to discussion Questions on presentation? Advice on SC’s pending questions? Recommendations? Lessons from past experience? Other?