Water Replishment District’s Safe Drinking Water Program and Well Profiling Program: Improving water quality
Posted by: Maven on November 19, 2011 at 6:19 amFrom the Water Replenishment District of Southern California’s blog:
“There are currently over 500 groundwater production wells in the Central and West Coast Basins operated by 110 entities delivering water for municipal, industrial, and agricultural use to the nearly 4 million people in 43 cities overlying the basins. The groundwater is extracted from sand and gravel Pleistocene aquifers ranging in depth from 50 feet (ft) to over 2,000 ft.
The aquifers are separated by clay and silt aquitards creating both unconfined and confined conditions. Most of the wells are screened across multiple aquifers to maximize groundwater production (Figure 1) [available on click-through].
Although many of the production wells extract high quality groundwater that needs little to no treatment before serving, some wells do face water quality issues that require action before the water can be used. … “
Continue reading from the Water Replenishment District’s blog by clicking here.
Huffington Post: Visualizing respect for groundwater
Posted by: Maven on November 8, 2011 at 7:17 amFrom Robin Madel at the Huffington Post:
“Like Rodney Dangerfield, groundwater gets no respect. So says Michael ‘Aquadoc’ Campana. Groundwater is being depleted at an unsustainable rate and since many people don’t know where their water comes from they’re not aware that this is a problem. Visualizing.org wants to change that with its latest data visualization contest, called Heads Up.
In case you’ve never heard of Visualizing.org, they are a community of creative people working to make sense of complex issues through data and design. They’ve held contests to visualize data from such complex global topics as water footprinting, growing food consumption and food needs, even the future of Facebook. Now, they’ve announced a contest to create a visualization of groundwater trends. The winning entry will be prominently displayed on 19,000 square feet of signboard as a 30-second motion graphic on the TS2 signs in New York City’s Times Square for one month, beginning on March 22, 2012, World Water Day. … “
Continue reading from the Huffington Post by clicking here.
Water Replenishment District receives official designation as Groundwater Level Monitoring Entity for Central and West Coast sub-basins
Posted by: Maven on October 31, 2011 at 6:20 amFrom Water Online:
“The Water Replenishment District of Southern California (WRD) was notified today by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) that it has received official designation as the Groundwater Level Monitoring Entity for Central and West Coast sub-basins under the California Statewide Groundwater Elevation Monitoring (CASGEM) Program. The CASGEM program is a statewide groundwater monitoring program that will make groundwater information readily and widely available. … “
Continue reading from Water Online by clicking here.
Water Wired blog: Groundwater: The ‘Rodney Dangerfield’ of the hydrologic cycle
Posted by: Maven on October 28, 2011 at 8:40 amFrom the Water Wired blog:
“What if I told you that there was an oil reservoir that contained about 98% of our total proved oil reserves but that it did not get much attention from ‘experts’ at international meetings You’d probably think I was daft. How could experts ignore such a resource
Now let’s do that again, except that instead of ‘oil reservoir’,and ‘proved oil reserves’ we substitute ‘liquid freshwater’ and ‘total freshwater’. Your response would be the same, perhaps expressing more incredulity.
But it’s true – provided we are discussing groundwater. Yes, about 98% of the world’s unfrozen freshwater is under the ground in the saturated zone – groundwater. … “
Continue reading from the Water Wired blog by clicking here.
Opening statements made in Merced groundwater contamination case
Posted by: Maven on October 19, 2011 at 8:01 amFrom the Merced Sun-Star:
“Opening statements began Tuesday morning in Merced County Superior Court in the lawsuit the city of Merced brought against Chevron USA Inc., Shell Oil Co., ExxonMobil Corp. and other oil companies.
The city claims that the oil companies contaminated groundwater at several sites with methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), a fuel additive that’s a possible carcinogen.
Lawyers for the companies mounted a spirited defense, insisting that they’d done nothing wrong by including MTBE in their gasoline. They claim there was no evidence of harm to anybody’s health in Merced from the alleged contamination. … “
Continue reading from the Merced Sun-Star by clicking here.
PG&E: Cost of replacing Hinkley’s contaminated groundwater to exceed $54 million
Posted by: Maven on October 19, 2011 at 7:41 amFrom Fox Business News:
“PG&E Corp. (PCG) said Tuesday that replacing underground drinking water in Hinkley, Calif., that was contaminated by utility operations decades ago will cost much more than the $54 million the company had set aside for the project.
The town’s underground drinking water supply was contaminated with hexavalent chromium, a cancer-causing chemical, after PG&E’s utility used the substance at its natural gas pumping station there to control algae and protect metal equipment from rust. … “
Continue reading from Fox Business News by clicking here.
Glendale: $550K dedicated to removing cancer agent from groundwater
Posted by: Maven on October 15, 2011 at 7:49 amFrom the Glendale News-Press:
“Glendale Water & Power plans to spend another $550,000 on a research project for stripping cancer-causing chromium 6 from local groundwater that already has cost $7.8 million. City officials say they need to make the expenditure because the current removal method has some drawbacks and the state may tighten restrictions.
The additional funding comes from a coalition of stakeholders as California officials consider tightening restrictions on how much of the toxic element already at 50 parts per billion is allowed in potable water. … “
Continue reading from the Glendale News-Press by clicking here.
Water Wired blog: NGWA groundwater twofer: 1) Exempt wells a-bounds; 2) Declining water levels virtual conference
Posted by: Maven on October 13, 2011 at 8:40 amFrom the Water Wired blog:
“What a joy! Pardon the redundancy (‘NGWA’ and ‘Groundwater’).
1) The current issue of NGWA’s venerable Water Well Journal features ‘Exempt Wells in the West’ by Mike Price. It’s a very good overview article featuring exempt well guru Todd Jarvis and other friends like Alan Eades (NM) and Scott Fowler (WA).
The article highlights the Bounds case in New Mexico, which is being argued before the state’;s Supreme Court this month and could have a profound influence on exempt wells, not only in New Mexico, but around the West as others anxiously wait to see what New Mexico does. … “
Continue reading from the Water Wired blog by clicking here.
Groundwater heads to Broadway …
Posted by: Maven on October 11, 2011 at 7:51 amFrom Take Part:
“Can fact-backed art save a depleting natural resource Digital media artist Peggy Weil sure hopes so. The organization she founded, HeadsUP!, challenges designers to visualize critical global issues, like climate change, by creating large-scale signs for public spaces.
The first issue up to bat Groundwater depletion.
The organization is currently accepting applications for its HeadsUP! Times Square Visualization Challenge, an animated, data-driven indicator that will alert the public to America's deteriorating supply of groundwater supply. … “
Continue reading from Take Part by clicking here.
Commentary: California’s battle with the tragedy of the commons
Posted by: Maven on October 8, 2011 at 7:31 amFrom Global Water Intelligence, this commentary:
“California may have reached peak water usage, according to Dr Jay Lund of the University of California at Davis, speaking at the National Association of Water Companies meeting in San Diego earlier this week.
It seems that urban usage is already on the way down : due to water conservation measures : while the expansion of water usage in the agricultural sector has been brought to a standstill because real estate development has been steadily eating into the amount of land which is irrigated.
But this does not mean that there is no longer such pressure on water resources, and that the state will not need to take action to increase its water supply. … “
Continue reading this commentary from Global Water Intelligence by clicking here.
USGS releases Monterey Bay and Salinas Valley Groundwater Quality Assessment
Posted by: Maven on October 3, 2011 at 7:10 amFrom the USGS California Water Science Center:
“High concentrations of natural and man-made compounds were found in aquifers used for drinking supply beneath valleys surrounding Monterey Bay, and the Salinas Valley. Scientists determined that concentrations of these substances in untreated groundwater are above state and federal health standards for drinking water. Scientists analyzed untreated groundwater from wells, not treated tap water, which may be disinfected, filtered, mixed, and/or exposed to the atmosphere to create safe levels for consumption before it is delivered to consumers.
Nitrate was the predominant constituent affecting groundwater quality in the study area, occurring in high concentrations in about 8% of the aquifer system at depths tapped by public supply wells. The quality of groundwater at shallower depths can differ from groundwater at deeper depths. The presence of nitrate in groundwater can be affected by both natural and human factors. Nitrate from human sources include fertilizers applied for agriculture and landscape maintenance, and septic systems. Concentrations are considered “high\” if they are above Federal and California regulatory benchmarks for protecting human health. … “
Continue reading from the USGS by clicking here.
New USGS science: Groundwater study of the eastern Great Basin
Posted by: Maven on September 29, 2011 at 7:21 amFrom the USGS:
“Groundwater pumping, which has been increasing since the 1940s, now accounts for about one third of the estimated annual flow from the aquifers of the eastern Great Basin. In parts of this region, groundwater pumping exceeds the rate of natural discharge, leading to land subsidence and declines in water levels and spring flow.
U.S. Geological Survey scientists recently published a report examining groundwater recharge (replenishment) and discharge for the eastern Great Basin. The study examined 110,000 square miles across Utah, Nevada, California and Idaho, and the report covers groundwater conditions from Death Valley in the southwest to Cache Valley in the northeast.
“Groundwater resources are not only a critical part of present water supplies in this area, but are likely to increase in importance in the future because the region is facing population growth and limited surface water supplies,” said Kevin Dennehy, coordinator for the USGS Groundwater Resources Program. “The results of the study have the potential to aid state and local agencies to better manage their future water supplies.” … “
Continue reading from the USGS by clicking here.
Draft SWRCB Water Quality Coordinating Committee concept paper: Development of strategic work plan for groundwater
Posted by: Maven on September 26, 2011 at 7:41 amFrom the State Water Resources Control Board, this draft document on groundwater that will be discussed at a Water Quality Coordinating Committee meeting being held today & tomorrow:
“This concept paper presents an overview of the major groundwater problems and challenges in California and a description of the Water Boards' current efforts to address these challenges. Further development of the concepts and draft strategies for future will be discussed at the September 2011 Water Quality Coordinating Committee meeting and will form the basis of a statewide strategic work plan for groundwater.
Background Groundwater represents a significant and growing portion of the State's water supply.Californians use about 15 billion gallons of groundwater a day, more than any other state in the country. Approximately 35 percent of the water supply* comes from groundwater during average water year conditions, with groundwater accounting for nearly 80 percent in some regions. On a statewide scale, the majority of groundwater extraction occurs in the Central Valley, especially for agricultural use, and in the urbanized areas along the South and Central Coasts. … “
Continue reading this draft document by clicking here.
Nipomo: Report says groundwater supply ‘potentially severe’
Posted by: Maven on September 24, 2011 at 6:40 amFrom the Adobe Press:
“Although the level of the Nipomo Mesa Groundwater Basin rebounded slightly in spring 2010, the water supply remains in a potentially severe condition, according to a technical group report delivered last week.
However, there is no indication saltwater is intruding on the subsurface pool, the Nipomo Mesa Management Area Technical Group said in its third annual report.
“We look at this as analogous to a yellow light,\” group chairman Robert Miller told about two dozen people who gathered at Nipomo High School last week to hear a summary of the 2010 report. … “
Continue reading from the Adobe Press by clicking here.
San Diego County: Water rustling riles neighbors in Boulevard as groundwater pumping continues despite County ban
Posted by: Maven on September 19, 2011 at 7:42 amFrom the East County Magazine:
“The Live Oak Holding Company is in hot water with the County of San Diego after it allegedly took part in unlawful groundwater sales for the construction of a new Border Patrol complex off of Ribbonwood road in Boulevard.
Yet despite numerous work stop work orders and public outcry, water removal has continued–and the grading process for the project remains on pace to be finished by the end of the month.
The groundwater being used for the project, which is being overseen by Straub Construction and the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE), is being pumped from the Live Oak Springs Resort. The water is then being transported to the site where it is used for the grading of the 31-acre property laid out for the building. … “
Continue reading from the East County Magazine by clicking here.
Can pumping too much groundwater raise sea level?
Posted by: Maven on September 16, 2011 at 8:40 amFrom Ars Technica:
“The overuse of groundwater is a concern that looms over discussions of water supply in many regions around the world. Many groundwater aquifers are pumped more quickly than they can be replenished, meaning wells have to be drilled deeper and deeper to reach an ever-diminishing resource.
The Ogallala Aquifer, which extends from Nebraska to Texas, is a prime example. There, groundwater irrigation has made productive agriculture possible in an otherwise dry region. The rate of water use, unfortunately, is not sustainable. In some places, groundwater is pumped over 20 times faster than it is recharged by precipitation, and water levels have steadily dropped. Some refer to this as “groundwater mining\” because it took some 30,000 years to fill the aquifer,once it's pumped dry, it won't soon refill. … “
Continue reading from Ars Technica by clicking here.
NASA Mars research helps find buried water on earth
Posted by: Maven on September 15, 2011 at 8:21 am
From the Jet Propulsion Laboratory:
“A NASA-led team has used radar sounding technology developed to explore the subsurface of Mars to create high-resolution maps of freshwater aquifers buried deep beneath an Earth desert, in the first use of airborne sounding radar for aquifer mapping.
The research may help scientists better locate and map Earth’s desert aquifers, understand current and past hydrological conditions in Earth’s deserts and assess how climate change is impacting them. Deserts cover roughly 20 percent of Earth’s land surface, including highly populated regions in the Arabian Peninsula, North Africa, west and central Asia and the southwestern United States. … “
Continue reading from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory by clicking here.
Northrop Grumman to pay $20 million to decontaminate groundwater
Posted by: Maven on September 15, 2011 at 7:58 amFrom the Los Angeles Times:
“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has ordered defense contractor Northrop Grumman to pay $20 million for a system to clean up contamination in shallow groundwater that originated years ago from a factory in the City of Industry.
Northrop Grumman will install wells and a treatment plant to contain the contamination, according to an EPA statement released Wednesday. The treated water will be discharged back into the underground aquifer. … “
Continue reading from the Los Angeles Times by clicking here.
Water Wired: Protect Your Groundwater Day!
Posted by: Maven on September 13, 2011 at 8:06 amFrom the Water Wired blog:
“Yes, it’s Protect Your Groundwater Day!
Here is some information from the National Ground Water Association:
Everyone can and should do something to protect groundwater. Why We all have a stake in maintaining its quality and quantity. … “
Continue reading from the Water Wired blog by clicking here.
Bill to make well logs public opposed
Posted by: Maven on September 1, 2011 at 8:49 amFrom the Capital Press:
“Farm groups are lining up against a bill in the California Legislature that would make landowners’ well logs available to the public.
Since 1949, the state has required notification from well drillers whenever a well is created, deepened, reperforated or destroyed. The well completion reports include details about the well’s depth, the type of soils encountered at each elevation and depth to water, according to a state Assembly bill analysis.
Until now, the information provided to the state Department of Water Resources has not been readily accessible to the public. State Sen. Fran Pavley, D-Agoura Hills, wants to change that, reasoning that the geophysical data is important to groundwater managers, consulting hydrologists and others. … “
Continue reading from the Capital Press by clicking here.
Arsenic, uranium and other trace elements a potential concern in private drinking wells
Posted by: Maven on August 30, 2011 at 8:20 amFrom the USGS:
“About 20% of untreated water samples from public, private, and monitoring wells across the nation contain concentrations of at least one trace element, such as arsenic, manganese and uranium, at levels of potential health concern, according to a new study by the U.S. Geological Survey.
“In public wells these contaminants are regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and contaminants are removed from the water before people drink it,” said Joe Ayotte, USGS hydrologist and lead author on the study. “However, trace elements could be present in water from private wells at levels that are considered to pose a risk to human health, because they aren't subject to regulations. In many cases people might not even know that they have an issue.” … “
Continue reading from the USGS by clicking here.
Walking the tightrope of groundwater management
Posted by: Maven on August 29, 2011 at 8:03 amFrom Columbia Institute’s State of the Planet blog:
“Mark Kram is a surfer, which is why he became a scientist. Since junior high school, he's been exploring California's Coast in search of waves. His love for being in the water eventually led him on a lifelong scientific quest to keep water clean. One day when we were surfing together near Faria Beach Park in Ventura, California, a solemn look crossed his face. “Ben, man. I'm gonna be real busy pretty soon, and probably won't be able to surf much anymore,\” he said in his laid back SoCal surfer drawl as we bobbed atop our surfboards, waiting for the next set of small, crumbly waves to arrive. “I'm working on something that's gonna change the way people look at water.
He wasn't talking about the ocean, specifically, but the type of water he had honed in on:groundwater:is definitely linked to the sea. Coastal water districts all over the state have to be careful how much water they extract from groundwater aquifers. A full aquifer keeps seawater from leaching in through the soil. If enough sea water enters a depleted aquifer, it can spell the end of a community's local underground storage capacity, putting them at the mercy of state and federal suppliers that aren't always able to supply enough water. The Goleta Water District, an agricultural and suburban area located just outside Santa Barbara, California, narrowly avoided seawater contamination a few decades ago. Luckily, a thin layer of clay kept salty water from ruining the aquifer. A bit further north, in Los Osos, seawater has already begun to seep into the groundwater basin there, exciting a number of different judicial, executive, and legislative agencies into a flurry of self-preservatory action. … “
Continue reading from the State of the Planet blog by clicking here.
Virginia earthquake could affect some water wells
Posted by: Maven on August 26, 2011 at 8:04 amFrom Water Online:
“What happens above the Earth’s surface was dramatically apparent recently in places from Mineral, Virginia, to Washington, D.C., but what’s not so obvious are impacts beneath the surface to groundwater, said the National Ground Water Association.
While it’s too early to assess in Virginia and surrounding environs, earthquakes commonly cause fluctuations in groundwater levels and damage to water wells systems, said NGWA Public Awareness Director Cliff Treyens.
“Since aquifers are water-bearing subsurface formations, it makes sense that water levels and wells would be affected,” Treyens said. “One well driller after a California quake cited a well that produced 60 gallons per minute prior to a moderate earthquake slowing down to ‘practically nothing’ after.” … “
Continue reading from Water Online by clicking here.
$4.4-million settlement reached for San Gabriel Valley cleanup
Posted by: Maven on August 26, 2011 at 7:41 amFrom the Los Angeles Times Greenspace blog:
“Four companies have agreed to pay a total of $4.4 million in cleanup costs at a contaminated groundwater site in the San Gabriel Valley.
Aerojet-General Corp., Mammoet Western Inc., Time Realty Investments and Tonks Properties consented to the payments — but admitted no wrongdoing — under the terms of two settlements announced Thursday by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The money will help fund treatment of drinking water supplies tainted with the industrial solvents PCE and TCE and other chemicals, including perchlorate. … “
Continue reading from the Greenspace blog by clicking here.
MORE: U.S. EPA settlements to provide more than $4 million for drinking water at San Gabriel Valley Superfund cleanup, press release from the EPA
Commentary: The relation between public health and water quality
Posted by: Maven on August 14, 2011 at 8:02 amFrom the Woodland Daily Democrat, this commentary by Dr. Christian Sandrock, the Yolo County Public Health Officer:
“As I watered my tomatoes, my neighbor informed me that I will not be able to afford this in the future.
“We are going to pay through the nose so our city can transition from ground to surface water,” he said, adding though, that our “appliances” will last longer and the “fish should feel better” when our wastewater adheres to Clean Water Act requirements. As I listened, I realized few are talking about the public health opportunity of this water project. And as I responded, he quickly replied, “this isn’t Africa man; our water is just fine.”
Now, he does have a point. The U.S. has the safest drinking water in the world, regardless of source. Historically, ground water provided safer drinking water than surface water as the sediment and depth of aquifers provided a natural filter. This distinction, however, has largely dissipated. … “
Continue reading from the Woodland Daily Democrat by clicking here.
UCLA Law report recommends improvements in state’s groundwater regulation
Posted by: Susan Lauer on August 1, 2011 at 7:43 amFrom the Imperial Valley News
California’s water supply system depends heavily on groundwater use, but its overuse threatens the reliability of the state’s future water availability. A new report by the UCLA School of Law’s Emmett Center on Climate Change and the Environment recommends improvements the state can make in groundwater monitoring and regulation to help secure California’s water supply.
“Under Water: Monitoring and Regulating Groundwater in California,” the Emmett Center’s inaugural Anthony Pritzker Environmental Law and Policy Brief, discusses the importance of groundwater and its management, as well as the advantages of realigning California’s water rights system.
Continue reading from the Imperial Valley News by clicking here.
Viewpoints: Comprehensive groundwater rules are needed
Posted by: Susan Lauer on August 1, 2011 at 7:41 amFrom the Sacramento Bee
An essential part of California’s limited water supply is its groundwater.
In an average year, groundwater makes up about 29 percent of California’s water supply. That increases to 39 percent in dry years.
In the Central Valley, groundwater is about 80 percent of total water use. Imagine trying to farm in the Central Valley with 80 percent less water. If we fail to protect the quality of our groundwater, or allow it to be overused, that is the future we leave California.
Continue reading from the Sacramento Bee by clicking here.
New UCLA Report Takes on California’s Groundwater Management
Posted by: Susan Lauer on July 29, 2011 at 8:27 amFrom Legal Planet
It's still the wild west in California when it comes to groundwater management.
…. Perhaps not surprisingly, the overuse of groundwater in California threatens the reliability of the State's future water supply. A new report by UCLA School of Law's Emmett Center on Climate Change and the Environment recommends improvements in groundwater monitoring and regulation to help secure California's water future.
Continue reading from Legal Planet by clicking here.
Southern California Water Leaders Challenged To Help Create a Groundwater Storage Plan
Posted by: Susan Lauer on July 28, 2011 at 7:22 amFrom the News Hawk Review
“We want to know what you want so the plan is done in the best interests of the end user, the water consumer.
Those were the words of Central Basin Municipal Water District General Manager Art Aguilar to a packed room of water industry, community and city leaders about the Central Basin Groundwater Storage Plan that Central Basin is preparing this year.
The plan will address the ecological and financial impact of managing the groundwater basin that extends approximately 270 square miles within the Los Angeles coastal plain and is the primary source of water for more than 2.5 million residents in the region.
Continue reading at the News Hawk Review by clicking here.
Proposal raises fears of terrorist attack on drinking water supply
Posted by: Maven on July 24, 2011 at 8:47 amFrom the Stockton Record:
“A bill that would make public the location of hundreds of thousands of water wells in California is opposed by some local officials, citing fears of an attack on the state’s water supply.
The legislation seeks to the follow the example of other Western states, making basic well records available in the hope that groundwater – a dwindling resource in San Joaquin County – can be better managed.
The records cover everything from city pumps that slake the thirst of entire neighborhoods to mom-and-pop wells serving a single home in the countryside. … “
Continue reading from the Stockton Record by clicking here.
Groundwater lacks state oversight in California – that can lead to overuse
Posted by: Maven on July 14, 2011 at 8:21 amFrom the Bay Citizen:
“Groundwater is a major source for drinking and irrigation in California but its use receives little oversight at the state level. That has lead to conservation problems or over-use of water, according to a recent study published by Stanford University's research Program on Water in the West.
The study also found that in the absence of state regulations, some local agencies are stepping up to better manage groundwater. … “
Continue reading from the Bay-Citizen by clicking here.
California Greening blog: Groundwater and secession in California
Posted by: Maven on July 13, 2011 at 7:55 amFrom the California Greening blog:
“Groundwater in California is the focus of the latest water war between water users in the North and users in the South. Some 38% of water used in the state comes from groundwater mining. The battlefield of this war is the Central Valley of California and the Central Valley Aquifer.
Norris Hundley estimated California's groundwater reserves in his book, THE GREAT THIRST p. 527, amounting to 850 million acre-feet, with the caveat that less than half that amount was usable. Running from the Sacramento Valley to the San Joaquin Valley this aquifer circulates roughly 2 million acre feet of water/per year. Withdrawals account for roughly 11.5 million acre ft. /yr. (Data supplied by the USGS: Groundwater Atlas of the United States ). In December 2009 satellite-imaging projected the loss of 30 cubic kilometers of water since 2003. This is creating an unprecedented political struggle in the state of California.
Recently a bill was introduced promoting the secession of the Central Valley counties into a new state. http://publicceo.com/index.phpoption=com_content&view=article&id=3092:is-california-on-the-verge-of-creating-a-new-state-some-say-yes&catid=151:local-governments-publicceo-exclusive&Itemid=20 … “
Continue reading from the California Greening blog by clicking here.
Water monitoring will soon include groundwater
Posted by: Maven on July 10, 2011 at 8:09 amFrom the Chico Enterprise-Record
“For many years now, farmers and ranchers in the Central Valley have been paying for a monitoring program that checks water quality on rivers and tributaries. The Irrigated Lands Program is designed to keep track of whether water that leaves farms pollutes waterways.
In a few years this program will be expanded to include groundwater monitoring as well.
Rules for surface water monitoring were adopted in 2003 and most growers now belong to a monitoring coalition. … “
Continue reading from the Chico Enterprise-Record by clicking here.
Friday’s top of the scroll: California groundwater management trickles up from local sources
Posted by: Maven on July 8, 2011 at 8:40 am
From YubaNet.com:
“In a typical year, California gets about 30 percent of its water from groundwater wells. Yet when it comes to managing this precious resource, the state of California relies on a mixed bag of more than 2,000 local water agencies with varying degrees of authority.
Critics say that this decentralized system leaves the state vulnerable to overdraft, which occurs when water is pumped out faster than replacement water is absorbed. But according to a new report published by Stanford University’s Program on Water in the West, a surprising number of local water districts are taking on the challenge of groundwater protection, even without state leadership.
“Contrary to popular expectations, our report uncovers a treasure trove of innovative strategies for groundwater management in California,” said the paper’s author, Rebecca Nelson, a former Australian water lawyer who is now a graduate student in the Stanford Law School. … “
Continue reading from YubaNet.com by clicking here.
USGS: Geohydrology, simulation of regional groundwater flow, and assessment of water-management strategies, Twentynine Palms area, California
Posted by: Maven on July 4, 2011 at 6:41 amFrom the USGS, this press release:
“The Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center (MCAGCC) Twentynine Palms, California, overlies the Surprise Spring, Deadman, Mesquite, and Mainside subbasins of the Morongo groundwater basin in the southern Mojave Desert. Historically, the MCAGCC has relied on groundwater pumped from the Surprise Spring subbasin to provide all of its potable water supply. Groundwater pumpage in the Surprise Spring subbasin has caused groundwater levels in the subbasin to decline by as much as 190 feet (ft) from 1953 through 2007.
Groundwater from the other subbasins contains relatively high concentrations of fluoride, arsenic, and (or) dissolved solids, making it unsuitable for potable uses without treatment. The potable groundwater supply in Surprise Spring subbasin is diminishing because of pumping-induced overdraft and because of more restrictive Federal drinking-water standards on arsenic concentrations.
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the MCAGCC, completed this study to better understand groundwater resources in the area and to help establish a long-term strategy for regional water-resource development. … “
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