groundwater management in the upper klamath basin - a local … · ranchers and planners are...

GROUNDWATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION

OF CALIFORNIA

Volume 11, No. 2 Summer 2002INSIDEPresident’s Message 2

Upcoming Events 3

Technical Corner 4-5

Federal Legislative/Regulatory Corner 8

Education Corner 11

Student/Research Corner 13

Alliance Corner 15,35

Organizational Corner 16-18

California Legislative Corner 22-23

Chemist’s Corner 26

Editorial Page 28

The Groundwater Resources Association

of California is dedicated to resource

management that protects and improves

groundwater through education and

technical leadership.

Conjunctive Use In TheTulelake Subbasin

BY WILLIAM M. EHORNCALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF WATER

RESOURCES, NORTHERN DISTRICT

Introduction

The Upper Klamath Basin is located insouthern Oregon and northeasternCalifornia (Figure 1). The Tulelake

Subbasin is part of the Upper Klamath Basinthat straddles the Oregon/California border.Tulelake Irrigation District (TID) inCalifornia is about 75,000 acres in size andencompasses the largest part of the subbasin.TID manages nearly all of the agriculturalwater deliveries in the subbasin pursuant to acontract with the U.S. Bureau of

Issue Theme: The Klamath Calamity-A Portent of California’s Future?

Groundwater Management in the Upper KlamathBasin - A Local Perspective

BY DAN KEPPEN, P.E., EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, KLAMATH WATER USERS ASSOCIATION

Continued on page 9Continued on page 12

Introduction

On April 6, 2001, the U.S. Bureau ofReclamation (Reclamation) announcedits water allocation for the Klamath

Irrigation Project (Project) after the U.S. Fishand Wildlife Service (Service) and the NationalMarine Fisheries Service (NMFS) officialsfinalized the biological opinions (BOs) forproject operations in a critically dry year. Based

on the actions of those regulatory agencies,Reclamation announced that no water wouldbe available from Upper Klamath Lake tosupply Project irrigators.

With the loss of Klamath IrrigationProject surface water last year, agencies andlocal water users immediately directed theirattention to local groundwater resources asone means of mitigating for the pendingcatastrophe that began to emerge last spring.The groundwater management activitiesundertaken later in the year generated amixed reaction within the local community.The local views regarding Klamath Basingroundwater management are as varied asthe numerous programs that wereimplemented in the Basin last year.Understanding these perspectives is a vitalstep towards ultimately appreciating thecomplex challenges of managinggroundwater in a basin that encompassestwo states and is characterized by a strongfederal presence.

Last year, the conflicting needs ofagriculture and the environment led tothe first case of civil disobedience over

water in decades. Since the potential forsimilar confrontations exists in California'sCentral Valley and elsewhere, this issue ofHydroVisions will examine the issues and thepotential solutions, including recentgroundwater investigations in the basin that

are laying the groundwork for conjunctiveuse. GRA thanks Dan Keppen of theKlamath Water Users Association for thelocal perspective and Bill Ehorn for theupdate on DWR Northern District's drillingactivities in the basin. The views expressedby the authors are their own and do notrepresent those of GRA. Editor.

President’s MessageBY JIM CARTER

We are halfway through my termas your GRA President for2002, and I am very excited by

what we have done so far and areplanning to do in the future! So far wehave had a tremendous number ofseminars, symposia and training classesplus our Lobby Day, and we still have therest of the year to go! Hydrovisionscontinues to get bigger and better, and weare continuously making improvements toour web site. We also plan to completeand publish the update of theGroundwater Management Manual thisyear.

I want to personally thank the Boardof Directors, Branch Officers, ourExecutive Director Kathy Snelson and herstaff, and our volunteers for all theiroutstanding work. We have a concernthat we may be offering too manyprograms and burn out our resources, butwe keep getting new ideas andenthusiastic volunteers. We have moreprograms planned for the rest of the yearincluding our Annual Meeting (September18 & 19th in Newport Beach),Groundwater Flow and TransportModeling (September 25-27, Bay AreaTBD), Bioremediation of MtBE (October17th, San Jose) and Nitrate in Groundwater(November 12-13th, Fresno). Wow!!

In addition to these activities GRA ismaking a push to fulfill the LegislativeAwareness and Advocacy part of ourMission and Objectives. The objectivesinclude developing a pro-active role withthe legislature as an authority on technicalgroundwater issues, and to assume aleadership role in communicating theneeds and values of our industry togovernment officials. I would like tothank Tim Parker, Legislative CommitteeChair, and the rest of his committee forthe great work we have done in this area.Our Lobby Day was a huge success, andit was very clear with the impacts of termlimits, that now more than ever ourSenators and Legislators need our input

and expertise to help address the criticalissues facing our groundwater resources.

I am very excited about GRA and I amlooking forward to more activities andaccomplishments the rest of the year.

2

HYDROVISIONS is the official publicationof the Groundwater Resources Association ofCalifornia (GRA). GRA’s mailing address is 915L Street, Suite 1000, Sacramento, CA 95814.Any questions or comments concerning thispublication should be directed to thenewsletter editor at [email protected] or faxedto (916) 442-0382.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

President, Jim Carter

Vice President, Martin Steinpress

Treasurer, Jim Jacobs

Secretary, Paul Dorey

Asst. Treasurer, David Von Aspern

DIRECTORS

David AbbottTodd Engineers

Tel: 510-595-2120Email: [email protected]

Judy L. BloomU.S. Environmental Protection Agency


Paul DoreyVista Irrigation District


Susan GarciaColin L. Powell Academy


Vicki Kretsinger GrabertLuhdorff & Scalmanini


Jim JacobsFAST-TEK


Thomas M. JohnsonLFR Levine Fricke

Phone: 510-652-4500Email: [email protected]

Brian LewisCal/EPA, Dept. of Toxic Substances Control


Tom MohrSanta Clara Valley Water District


Tim ParkerCA Department of Water Resources


Scott SlaterHatch and ParentTel: 805-963-7000

Email: [email protected]

Martin SteinpressBrown & CaldwellTel: 925-937-9010


Robert A. Van ValerRoscoe Moss Company


EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Kathy Snelson(916) 446-3626 - Email: [email protected]

EDITORFloyd Flood


WEB AND DATABASE MANAGERKevin Blatt

Tel: (510) 845-9623 - Email: [email protected]

GRA Annual MeetingField Trip -

September 17, 2002OCWD/OCSD Groundwater Replenishment System

The Southern California Branch ofGRA is assembling a special FieldTrip for the afternoon of

September 17 that includes a tour of theGroundwater Replenishment System(GWR), a project jointly sponsored by theOrange County Water District (OCWD)and Orange County Sanitation District(OCSD) that will purify highly treatedsewer water that is now being dischargedto the ocean. Using Advanced WaterTreatment facilities, sewer water fromOCSD's sewage treatment plant will bepurified to levels that far exceed drinkingwater standards. The water will then bestored in the Orange County groundwaterbasin either by injection along the coast orby natural filtration through ponds nearthe Santa Ana River. The undergroundbasin provides 75% of the water used bynorth and central Orange County cities.

The half-day tour includes:Stop 1. "Forebay" tour of OCWDspreading grounds along the Santa AnaRiver, including a drive along the riverlevee and stops at key facilities for briefdiscussions of recharge operations thatinclude recharge within the Santa AnaRiver channel using T-levees as well asdiversions from the river to separatespreading basins.

Continued on page 34

Upcoming EventsUpcoming EventsNitrate inGroundwater: Sources,Impacts and Solutions

November 12 & 13, 2002Fresno, CA

Plan to attend GRA’s SixthSymposium in its Series onGroundwater Contaminants for a

well-targeted set of technical and policytalks and exhibits by California'sleading experts in nitrate contaminationof groundwater. Emphasis on sourceidentification, management, basin-widemonitoring programs, discerning long-term trends, regulatory framework,public health and land use policy issueswill be featured. Keynote speakers willinclude leading policy makers andpoliticians active in nitrate managementissues.

Nitrate remains California's mostwidely recognized groundwatercontaminant, and the problem appearsto be growing. Landowners, growers,waste water treatment plant operators,ranchers and planners are becomingincreasingly aware of the role of urbanwastewater management andagricultural land use practices incontributing to successful nitratemanagement. Innovative programs inland use planning, outreach toencourage pro-active agriculturalpractices and increasing awarenessamong users of groundwater have madeinroads to addressing the nitrateproblem. Improvements in nitratesource identification techniquesapplying stable isotopes of nitrogen,hydrogen and oxygen, together withnew analytical chemistry techniques toidentify chemicals associated with

different nitrate sources, lend a newlevel of sophistication to sorting outgroundwater contamination by nitrates.

However, despite many successstories, issues have become polarizedand the cooperation and coordinationneeded to solve problems on a regionalbasis may not be occurring. Recentinvestigations reveal that nitratecontamination may be more widespread, and in deeper groundwater, thanpreviously thought. Politics, shaped bylitigation, may be playing a stronger rolein identifying issues than thoughtfuldiscourse and sound science.

Collaborators from the agricultural,public water supply, urban waste water,academic, consultant and regulatoryfields of California have joined togetherto provide a neutral, non-partisan

3

Continued on page 6

Continued on page 6

The Groundwater ResourcesAssociation of California (GRA), incooperation with the International

Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH),National Ground Water Association(NGWA), American Water WorksAssociation (AWWA) Water EducationFoundation (WEF), California GroundwaterAssociation (CGA), and otherorganizations, invites you to join us for our11th Annual Conference and Meeting,"Sustaining Groundwater Resources: TheCritical Vision" in Newport Beach,California. The goal of this Conferenceis to present local and regional (and alsoa few global) groundwater managementstrategies and programs that arecurrently being implemented or refinedto ensure reliable (sustainable)groundwater supplies.

“Sustaining Groundwater Resources: The Critical Vision”GRA’s 11th Annual Conference and Meeting

September 18 and 19, 2002"Sustainability" is a broad term that

ultimately conveys a necessary goal,particularly with regard to reaching andmaintaining a long-term balancebetween water supply and demand thatis also protective of water quality andmitigates the potential for undesirableeffects. However, sustainability alsodescribes a complex and changing waterparadigm. There is an increasing needto define and quantify criticalgroundwater issues and particularly toexpand our knowledge of theinterrelated nature of the components ofthe hydrologic system in order todevelop and implement successful,comprehensive groundwatermanagement programs. While theconcept of achieving long-termsustainability is seemingly clear and

desirable, economic, political andenvironmental concerns, and also futuresocial values that may differ from thoseof today, make defining the specificobjectives for reaching and maintainingsustainability extraordinarily complexand sometimes contentious.

There are significant challenges nowand in the future to address theexpanding stresses on our waterresources that are occurring throughextraction, transfer, consumption,recharge interception, and supplydiversion. These stresses dictate the needfor multi-faceted groundwatermanagement programs that: 1) defineclear management objectives, 2) definethe managed resource (i.e., the total

4

Technical CornerTechnical CornerTreatmentTechnologies for the

Removal of NDMA fromContaminatedGroundwater -

SummaryBY JOSEPH M. WONG, P.E., DEE

N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA)is a contaminant of recentconcern by drinking water

regulators because of its discovery incontaminated groundwater supplies, inreclaimed water and treated drinkingwater from treatment plants wherechlorination is the primary disinfectionprocess. Because NDMA historicallyhas not been considered a commondrinking water contaminant, it has nostate or federal drinking standards. In

April 1998, California Department ofHealth Services (DHS) established adrinking water action level (AL) forNDMA of 0.002 microgram per liter(µg/L). However, analytical capabilitiesdid not enable detection at thatconcentration, so DHS's approach was toconsider any detectable quantity asexceeding the DHS action level forNDMA. In November 1999, DHStemporarily revised the NDMA AL from0.002 µg/L to 0.02 µg/L, while studies aretaking place on the possible productionof NDMA in drinking water treatmentprocesses. The AL will revert to 0.002µg/L once those investigations arecompleted.

The author recently conducted awellhead treatment study for a privatewater purveyor whose groundwatersupply is contaminated by NDMA. Thetreatment objective for NDMA is <0.002µg/L. The treatment technologies

evaluated for NDMA in drinking waterinclude ultraviolet (UV) irradiation,UV/oxidation, and resin adsorption. UVirradiation was recommended forNDMA removal because it is the mosttechnically effective and cost-effectiveprocess for the application. Otheradvantages of the UV process include: 1)no secondary wastes, 2) no off-gases, 3)quiet, compact and unobtrusiveequipment, 4) low maintenance andoperating requirements, and 5) flexibilityif other organics are present (by addinghydrogen peroxide). The full articleincluding references is on GRA's websiteat www.grac.org/Wong_NDMA.pdf.

Joseph M. Wong, P.E., DEE is AreaManager of Industrial EnvironmentalServices/Senior Process Engineer,Water/Wastewater for Black & Veatch,1855 Gateway Blvd., Suite 1000,Concord, California 94520. Email:[email protected]

Background

Water supply managers inCalifornia and elsewhere inthe United States are facing an

increasingly complex array of threats towater quality as more contaminants arediscovered and regulated, and aslaboratory analytical techniques fordetecting these compounds improve.Perchlorate (ClO4) and NDMA (N-Nitrosodimethylamine) are twoemerging contaminants which have beenrecently reported to impact drinkingwater resources nationwide.

Perchlorate is a primary ingredient insolid propellant for rockets and missiles

and thus a common contaminant ataerospace facilities. Additionally,perchlorate-based chemicals are used in arange of industrialprocesses includingaluminum refining,rubber manufactureand production ofpaints. Perchloratehas a high solubilityin water and a highspecific gravity. Itsorbs weakly toaquifer materials, is not known to breakdown abiotically and has a lowbiotransformation rate. As a result,perchlorate has been shown to be fairlymobile and persistent in subsurface

environments. A press release issued by aCalifornia-based environmental grouprecently suggested that over 20 million

people inC a l i f o r n i a ,Arizona andNevada haveperchlorate intheir drinkingwater supplies.In fact, theC a l i f o r n i aDepartment of

Health Services (DHS) reported thatperchlorate has been detected in 246 of3900 drinking water sources recentlytested in California. Earlier this year,

“Perchlorate and NDMA in Groundwater: Occurrence, Analysis andTreatment” Symposium Highlights and Summary

BY RULA A. DEEB, PH.D. & ELISABETH HAWLEY

Continued on page 5

5

Technical CornerTechnical CornerDHS lowered the advisory drinkingwater action level for perchlorate from18 to 4 parts per billion (ppb). Whilehuman exposure to high levels ofperchlorate has been reported to causecancer, the impact of perchlorate onhuman health at low levels in drinkingwater is not yet clearly understood.

Like perchlorate, NDMA is alsopresent in rocket fuel but as an impurity(up to 0.1%). Additionally, NDMA isused as an antioxidant in lubricants, as anematocide, as a plasticizer for rubberand acrylonitrile polymers and incondensers to increase dielectricconstants. Contamination of surfaceand groundwater supplies from NDMAat missile and other rocket fuel sites is asignificant concern, but the formation ofNDMA during wastewater treatmentprocesses as a disinfection byproduct isa greater concern for many wastewatertreatment plants which dischargetreated water for reclamation purposes.NDMA is a potent carcinogen with avery lower advisory action level of 10parts per trillion (ppt) in California.This low action level raises questionsabout the development of more reliableand less expensive analytical methodsfor NDMA detection in water.

Symposium OverviewThe Groundwater Resources Associationof California recently dedicated its fourthsymposium in its Series on GroundwaterContaminants to discuss state-of-the-artresearch related to the occurrence,analytical detection and removal ofperchlorate and NDMA from water.The meeting was held on April 17, 2002at the Radisson Hotel in the San GabrielValley, a fitting location as the SanGabriel Valley overlies one ofCalifornia's largest groundwaterperchlorate plumes. The symposiumattracted over 235 participants andexhibitors, and showcased key speakersfrom universities, national laboratories,regulatory agencies and industry.

The symposium provided a neutralforum for discussing a range oftechnical, legal and policy developmentissues related to perchlorate andNDMA. Current impacts of perchlorateand NDMA on California waterresources were identified, as well asremediation and water treatmentoptions to mitigate environmentaldamages. Information was shared onperchlorate and NDMA sources, fateand transport behavior, toxicity,regulatory status and analyticaltechniques. The symposium wasorganized into three sessions which arediscussed in some detail below. Inaddition, a lunchtime speaker paneldiscussed the impacts of the CaliforniaSupreme Court's Hartwell Decision,which allowed private lawsuits againstwater companies and industrialdefendants over water quality.

Session 1: Sources, Occurrence,Geochemistry, Fate and Transport, Analysisand Toxicity of Perchlorate and NDMAKevin Mayer started the symposiumwith a historical overview of perchloratein the Western United States. Mr. Mayeris EPA's Pacific Southwest PerchlorateCoordinator and a co-author of EPA'srecent publication on perchlorate toxicity[Perchlorate Environmental Contamination:Toxicological Review and RiskCharacterization; www.epa.gov/ncea,Publications; EPA's Superfund RecordsCenter (415) 536-2000]. Mr. Mayerfocused on the toxicity of perchlorate andEPA's interpretation of perchloratetoxicology data. He discussedperchlorate-related regulations andemphasized that only 4 states currentlyhave perchlorate action levels. He statedthat detection capabilities forperchlorate as well as the state ofscientific data on perchlorate are notsufficient to create a Federal MCL. Mr.Mayer also talked about the occurrence,fate and transport of perchlorate in theenvironment. He stated that perchlorate

appears to spread easily through theenvironment and is likely to have trans-boundary impacts on groundwaterresources as evidenced by case studiesinvolving the Colorado River and LakeMead, NV.

Bill Mitch, a Ph.D. candidate inProfessor David Sedlak's research groupat the University of California atBerkeley, presented results of hisresearch on the formation of NDMAduring the chlorinamination of water.Monochloramine is an alternativedisinfectant used instead of chlorine todecrease the formation oftrihalomethane compounds such aschloroform during chlorination. Mr.Mitch identified monochloramine as animportant precursor to NDMAformation. Since NDMA is 1,000 timesmore potent as a carcinogen thantrihalomethanes, Mr. Mitch suggestedthat this might impact a utility's decisionto use monochloramine as a drinkingwater disinfectant.

The third and last speaker in thissession was William Steeber, SectionChief of the Department of HealthService's Sanitation and RadiationLaboratory. Mr. Steeber discussed theanalytical challenges faced by manylaboratories when trying to reliablydetect perchlorate and NDMA in water.In addition, Mr. Steeber elaborated onthe impact of analytical detection limitson state and federal regulations.

Session 2: Perchlorate and NDMA in CaliforniaThis session started with a one-hourdiscussion focused on perchlorateproblems in the San Gabriel Valley. Mr.Fred Fudacz, chair of the Water LawGroup at Nossaman Guthner Knox andElliott LLP, provided a legal perspectiveregarding the cleanup of the BaldwinPark Operable Unit in the San GabrielBasin. Second, Carol Williams,Watermaster Executive Officer for the


Perchlorate and NDMAContinued from page 4

6

Nitrate in GroundwaterContinued from page 3

Sustaining GroundwaterGRA Annual MeetingContinued from page 3

environment within which the mostrecent advances and knowledge can beshared and the state of the situationaccurately defined. Your participationduring the two days will add expertiseand an additional voice directed towardsresolving the issues and shaping the futureof California's groundwater.

PROGRAM SUMMARYTuesday, November 12

(1:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.) Registration Technical Sessions Reception

Wednesday, November 13(8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)Registration Opening Keynote General Assembly SessionsLuncheon and Keynote

For additional information, pleasecontact Kathy Snelson, GRA ExecutiveDirector, at [email protected] information will be posted onGRA's Web site, www.grac.org when it isavailable.

Mark Your Calendarfor the

Fifth Symposium in GRA’sSeries on Groundwater Contaminants

"MtBE in Groundwater"October 17, 2002

San Jose - DoubleTree Hotel

For additional information, please visitGRA’s Web site at www.grac.org

water balance and flow system for thephysical conceptual model of thegroundwater basin), 3) employcomprehensive monitoring programs togather the data necessary to managegroundwater resources, and 4) plan forand implement water resourcesmanagement actions such as surface andsubsurface recharge, in-lieu use, andconjunctive management to ensure watersupplies are replenished and the balanceof the hydrologic system is maintained.As pressures to meet demands and stresseson water resources increase, the intricacyof achieving sustainability will becomemore visible. As a result, this Conferenceintends to broaden attendees' awarenessof the critical vision for accomplishingsustainability through presentationsprovided in the Plenary Assembly andConference Sessions on the followingtopics, which are further described below:

Groundwater as a Component of theNatural Resources Infrastructure

Recharge Management * ReclaimedWater Management

Sustainable GroundwaterManagement Strategies, Water SupplyAssessment and Optimization

Wastewater Management andEmerging Contaminants

Comprehensive Approaches toGroundwater Quality Characterization

PLENARY ASSEMBLY: Groundwater as aComponent of the Natural ResourcesInfrastructure This session establishes the framework forthe Conference theme "SustainingGroundwater Resources: The CriticalVision." The focus on sustainability setsforth the ultimate goal we wish to achievewith groundwater managementprograms, yet the identification and

implementation of the means to ensuresuccess in reaching this goal are now, andwill continue to be, the true challenges weface to sustain the quantity and quality ofour water resources. Groundwater is avital component of the natural resourcesinfrastructure that is intimately connectedto other components such as surfacewater, the soil, the landscape, and theaquatic ecosystems. Groundwaterscientists and other professionals involvedin groundwater management willincreasingly be called upon to addressissues that intimately involve theselinkages. This session providespresentations on key aspects ofgroundwater as a critical component ofthe overall infrastructure; the presentersin the Plenary Assembly include:

Dr. T. N. Narasimhan, Professor, University of California, BerkeleyGroundwater as a Component of the Natural Resources Infrastructure

Dr. William Woessner, Professor, University of MontanaExchange of Groundwater at the Stream - Floodplain Interface

Continued on page 7

7

Dr. Steven Ingebritsen, Chief, Branch of Regional Research, USGS, Menlo Park, CA Land Subsidence in California

Dr. Neil Dubrovsky, Supervising Hydrologist, USGS, Sacramento, CAThe Shifting Challenge of Ground-Water Quality Management in the Central Valley of California

Dr. Harvey Doner, Professor, University of California, BerkeleyRedox Processes, Soils and Trace Element Solubility

Dr. William Alley, Chief, Office of Ground Water, USGS, Reston, VAIntegrated Groundwater Monitoring in Support of Long-Term Sustainable Use

Dr. Michael Hanemann, Professor, University of California, BerkeleyLong-Term Groundwater Resource Sustainability: Economic Implications

Randolph Flay, University of California Berkeley (see also Student Research Corner)Groundwater Management: Comparative Study of Six Western States

Dr. Ramon Llamas, Professor, University Complutense, Madrid, SpainCooperative and Effective GroundwaterManagement in Arid Lands: Spanish Experience

DAY 1 - TRACK 1: Recharge ManagementA critical component of groundwatermanagement is recharging the aquifersfrom which we are extracting increasingvolumes of groundwater. This sessionwill focus on techniques for managingand maximizing both surface andsubsurface recharge (injection), as well aswater quality issues such as atmosphericcontamination, constructed wetlands, andpublic perception. Presentations willinclude: strategy for 100% reuse andrecharge of the City of Rio Rancho, NewMexico's wastewater; effective hydraulicarea calculation for injection wells; andmanagement and optimization of waterbank recharge and extraction operationsusing groundwater flow models.

DAY 1 - TRACK 2: Reclaimed Water ManagementWhether potable or non-potable, direct orindirect, water reuse is becoming animportant potential option foraugmenting existing water supplies. Thissession will explore the various aspects ofreclaimed water management, includingconsiderations for recharginggroundwater with reclaimed water, effectson groundwater quality (includingemerging and/or unregulatedcontaminants), treatment and distributionof reclaimed water, treated water reusepolicies, and other technical, political,and legal issues.

DAY 2 - TRACK 1: Water Supply Assessment,Conjunctive Management & OptimizationStrategiesCalifornia's population is projected togrow by approximately 50 percent to 47million over the next 20 years, which willbe a critical challenge to meet our futurewater supply demands. Adding to thecomplexity of meeting our future watersupply needs are rising water qualityissues. The tools available to meet ourfuture water needs include better basinassessments, comprehensive groundwatermanagement approaches, water transfers,conjunctive water management, andoptimization strategies. A paneldiscussion session by leaders in the watersupply industry will provide insight onhow they plan to develop and implementintegrated strategies to meet California'swater management needs. Presentationswill also be provided on several of theseapproaches to meet our future watersupply needs, including presentations onmunicipal water supply, groundwatermanagement, and conjunctive use in theFresno area; management of groundwaterresources in Souss-Massa River Basin ofMorocco; the cost of water in southernCalifornia; and groundwater modelingtools available for basin management.

DAY 2 - TRACK 2: Wastewater Management andEmerging Contaminants Wastewater is no longer considered a flowstream that consists only of salts, organicmatter, and common pathogens. Morethan 10 years ago, research began toassess the presence of pharmaceuticals inwastewater, however, it is just in the lastfew years that the occurrence of these andmany other non-conventional pollutants

have begun to receive significant scientificattention. A large variety of new (orcommonly referred to as emerging)compounds are now being detected inlakes, rivers, wastewater, andgroundwater across the US and globally.These compounds includepharmaceuticals such as codeine,antacids, cholesterol lowering-agents,hormones, and antibiotics; there are alsoendocrine disrupting compounds,disinfection byproducts, commonlyconsumed substances (e. g. caffeine),personal care products, solvent stabilizers(e.g. 1,4- dioxane), and the list goes onand on. Pathogens also present a greaterpotential health risk than previouslyconsidered, particularly since moreresistant forms are being detected ineffluent streams.

This session will explore: research andstudies conducted (or underway) to betterdefine the occurrence of pharmaceuticals,pathogens, and other emergingcontaminants; the potential for chemicalbioaccumulation and persistence in theenvironment; approaches for identifyingthe presence of these emergingcompounds in the watershed; the status ofregulatory activity to establish health-protective limits; and contaminanttransport mechanisms on local andregional (watershed) scales, includingtransport in groundwater.

DAY 2 - GENERAL ASSEMBLY: ComprehensiveApproaches to Groundwater QualityCharacterizationWater quantity is intrinsically linked towater quality. The approaches used tocharacterize groundwater qualityconditions, and especially projectedconditions resulting from future water useand management scenarios, must accountfor potential changes in water quality tomeet designated demands. This sessionwill explore approaches for characterizingquality, including long-range hydrologicand ecosystem processes; effective long-term, regionally based monitoringprograms; nonpoint source pollutionmonitoring and control strategies; andevaluating the source of "new"constituents of concern.

CONFERENCE WHITE PAPERIn addition to establishing the frameworkof the Conference, a second purpose of



8

Federal Legislative/Regulatory CornerFederal Legislative/Regulatory CornerCurrent Happeningsat U.S. EPA

BY JUDY BLOOM, U.S. EPA& GRA DIRECTOR

US EPA Reviews National Primary DrinkingWater Regulations

The U.S. EPA recently conducted areview of the existing NationalPrimary Drinking Water

Regulations (NPDWRs). The 1996SDWA requires EPA to periodicallyreview existing national primarydrinking water regulations (NPDWRs)and, if appropriate, revise them. Theintended purpose of the review is toidentify those NPDWRs for whichcurrent health risk assessments, changesin technology, and/or other factors,provide a health or technical basis tosupport a regulatory revision.

Based on its review, and pending anevaluation of public comments, theAgency preliminarily believes that the68 chemical NPDWRs remainappropriate at this time. It is suggestedthat the Total Coliform Rule (TCR) berevised.

Stakeholders have suggestedmodifications to reduce the burden ofimplementing the TCR. EPA hasdetermined that an opportunity forimplementation burden reduction exists andwill analyze the effect that such changeswould have on public health protection aspart of the Agency's regulatorydevelopment/revision process. Only EPAwill consider those measures that reduce theTCR implementation burden while stillassuring public health protection.

EPA intends to undertake a rulemakingprocess to initiate possible revisions to theTCR. As part of this process, it may beappropriate to include this rulemaking in awider effort to review and address broaderissues associated with drinking waterdistribution systems. This would be one wayof addressing some of the recommendationsof the Microbial/ Disinfection Byproducts(M/DBP) Federal Advisory Committee in the

Stage 2 M/DBP Agreement in Principle (65FR 83015, December 29, 2000 (USEPA,2000h)). As part of the TCR rulemaking,EPA plans to assess the effectiveness of thecurrent TCR in reducing public health risk,and what technically supportablealternative/additional monitoring strategiesare available that would decrease economicburden while maintaining or improvingpublic health protection.

EPA will publish the findings in August2002. The written response to commentswill also be published. For generalinformation about, and copies of, thefederal register notice [Federal Register:April 17, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 74)] orinformation about the existing NPDWRs,contact the Safe Drinking Act Hotline at(800) 426-4791.

Wanted: Groundwater/Surface WaterInteractions - Research Needs EPA's Office of Research Development(ORD) is looking for suggestions onresearch needs for groundwater/surfacewater interaction issues. If you haveencountered a research question or issuein the gw/sw interaction arena, perhapsthis is a venue to get some answers.Your question/issue must be one that isviewed as critical by a regulatory agencyor nonprofit, and must be submitted toEPA ([email protected]) by thatagency or nonprofit by June 30, 2002.The research questions can be gearedtoward hazardous health, human healthor ecological risk...there is a lot offlexibility in the questions. We havebeen asked to think about the outcomeor desired product and what it wouldlook like - - a model, an equation, orenhanced knowledge. Please take thisopportunity to raise the gw/swinteraction issues that are so importantin California and get them on the tablefor consideration.

Comprehensive Nutrient ManagementPlanning & CAIn California, a new guidance (workingdraft) that could help prevent the over-application of nutrients via animalmanure applied on croplands will soonhit the pavement. Manure waste is a by-product of the livestock productionindustry that can also be a valuableproduct for cropland production - ifhandled properly. Over-application ofanimal manure can result in increasedlevels of nitrates in the underlyingground water and may runoff to nearbysurface waters. The proposed revisionsto the NPDES regulations and EffluentLimitation Guidelines for AnimalFeeding Operations recognize a need forproper nutrient management. Anutrient balanced system will helplivestock operators comply with theirpermit requirements and help ensurethat manure-contaminated runoff willnot reach surface waters. In addition,many counties are now requiring thatdairies and other feeding operationsdevelop a nutrient management plan fortheir facility. To address this need, theconcept of "Comprehensive NutrientManagement Plans" (CNMP) wasdeveloped. Prepared by qualifiedindividuals, with the participation of thelivestock producer, these customizedplans will lay out a strategy for theproducer to use to make sound manureapplication decisions. It will also helpthe producer to identify any neededimprovements on the facilities to controlmanure handling and storage and assistin tracking nutrients from the feed to theland application.

Since the CNMP covers a variety ofexpertise areas, the USDA NaturalResources Conservation Service (NRCS)brought together a team to develop theCNMP guidance manual. Led by theNRCS, the group is composed of the CADairy Quality Assurance Partnership,State and Regional Water Quality


9

groundwater monitoring in the subbasin.In addition, DWR began a hydrogeologicinvestigation to evaluate existing andfuture groundwater development in thebasin.

DWR's Northern District groundwatersection and TID worked quickly toproduce a well installation contract forbid. Drilling began in May 2001. Thelocation and design of the new wells wasbased on TID's canal distribution system,available power, and the hydrogeology ofthe area. Most new wells were placednear the top of the distribution system tofacilitate gravity flow through the canalnetwork. The wells were drilled deeply tointercept the basalt aquifer in anticipationof high yields and to minimize impacts toshallow domestic wells. Ten highproduction wells were drilled, with thelast well completed on September 7,2001. Figure 2 shows the locations of thenew wells. You can find Figure 2 on thewebsite at www.grac.org/hv.html.

Tulelake Subbasin GeologyThe Upper Klamath Basin lies on the eastside of the Cascade Mountain Range onthe western boundary of the extensionalBasin and Range Province and thenorthern boundary of the Modoc Plateau.The Tulelake Subbasin is consistent withthe regional geologic and tectonic setting.It is a graben valley separated by horstmountain blocks as a result of extensionaltectonic forces. Numerous north-northwest trending faults, which exhibitnormal displacement, have been mappedon the edges of the subbasin. The horstmountain blocks are composedpredominantly of basaltic lava flows. Thegraben valleys are filled with surficialdeposits consisting of Quaternary fluvialand lacustrine deposits. Tertiarypyroclastic deposits and Tertiarysedimentary continental deposits also existlocally in the subbasin. Generalizedgeologic cross sections from west to eastand from south to north across thesubbasin are shown on Figure 3 on thewebsite at www.grac.org/hv.html.

The predominant and oldest basaltunit exposed in the subbasin is the LowerBasalt of the Tertiary High Cascadevolcanic sequence. This unit is Mioceneto Pliocene in age, is exposed in the horst

Reclamation (USBR).

In 1905, the USBR began building theKlamath Project to deliver surface waterfrom Upper Klamath Lake to reclaimed

agricultural land in the Klamath Basin.Since 1928, the Klamath Project hasprovided an abundant supply of surfacewater for agricultural use in the basin. Inspring of 2001, the USBR was directed bythe U.S. District Court to reduce surfacewater deliveries to about 26 percent ofnormal. This decision was a result of aU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)opinion and the Endangered Species Act.The USFWS issued a biological opinionaddressing water requirements for twospecies of suckerfish in the upper basin

and the coho salmon in the lower basin.Drought conditions were present due tonatural climatic conditions and wereexacerbated by diminished surface waterdeliveries. TID had no alternate supplyof water and farmers faced economicdisaster. As a result, the governors ofCalifornia and Oregon declared droughtemergencies.

California Governor Gray Davisrequested that the legislature fund anemergency well installation programwithin Tulelake Irrigation District. TheCalifornia Office of Emergency Servicesissued a $5,000,000 grant to TID for theinstallation of production wells in thesubbasin to help offset surface watersupply deficiencies. The CaliforniaDepartment of Water Resources (DWR)worked closely with TID during the wellinstallation and was responsible for

Conjunctive Use - Tulelake SubbasinContinued from page 1


10

primary water resource for the domesticwells in the area but do not yield sufficient

quantities of water for irrigation.Groundwater in these sediments isunconfined. Recharge to the sediments islocal from precipitation and surface water

infiltration.

Pyroclastic and continentalsedimentary deposits exist locallyand also contribute to thegroundwater resources in thesubbasin. The pyroclastics includescoria and ash vent deposits andtuffaceous material. Lenses ofscoria or vent deposits can yieldmoderate to high quantities ofwater suitable for irrigationpurposes. Tuff deposits in thesubbasin yield varying quantitiesof groundwater, generallyinadequate for irrigation.Groundwater in these units isunconfined to confined dependingon subbasin location.

Depths to water are similar inboth the volcanic and alluvialaquifer systems and range from

less than 10 to about 30 feet in theinterior of the subbasin to 60 to 100 feeton the edges of the basin due mainly totopographic relief. Groundwater in thesubbasin generally flows southwardtoward Tule Lake under a gradient ofabout 2.1 feet per mile.

mountain blocks, and underlies the entiresubbasin. There are two other majorbasalt flows that originated from theMedicine Lake Highlands to the southand flowed in a northerly direction intothe subbasin. These two units are theIntermediate and Upper Basalts and arePleistocene and Holocene in age,respectively. The Lower and IntermediateBasalt both outcrop on the mountainblocks on the east and west margins of thesubbasin, indicating that faulting occurredfollowing deposition. The Upper Basaltoverlies the Intermediate Basalt andinterfingers with lacustrine surficialdeposits as it terminates in the southernportion of the subbasin.

Tulelake Subbasin HydrogeologyThe volcanics and the surficial depositscomprise the two major aquifer systems inthe subbasin. The volcanic aquifer systemis deepest in the north-centralportion of the basin and becomesshallower toward the margins of thesubbasin. Due to extensivefracturing, this aquifer is typicallyhighly permeable and it is the majorsource of groundwater for irrigationand municipal wells, yielding verylarge quantities of water.Groundwater in this unit is stronglyconfined along the axis of thesubbasin where it underlies thesurficial deposits. At the edges ofthe basin to the east and west,groundwater is unconfined or semi-confined by the Lower Basalt. Inmuch of the Klamath Basin, thelower volcanics serve as a relativelydeep layer of transmission forregional groundwater (Gates,2001). Recharge to the LowerBasalt aquifer is from the higherportions of the basin including theCascade Range to the west and otherelevated upland areas to the north, east,and south.

Based on the well completion reportsand aquifer test data, wells installed in theLower and Intermediate Basalts yield9,000 to 12,000 gallons per minute (gpm)in the west to middle portion of thesubbasin to 4,000 to 7,000 gpm near the

east side. The specific capacities of thewells range from 17 to 396 gpm/ft ofdrawdown. Aquifertransmissivities in theLower and IntermediateBasalts near the centerto west side of the basinrange from about700,000 to 1.7 milliongpd/ft. In the easternthird of the basin,transmissivities of theTID wells range fromabout 50,000 to180,000 gpd/ft. Thedifference in productionbetween the west tomiddle and the easternside of the subbasin isdue to a change ingeology from well-fractured basalts tobasalts with interbeddedtuffaceous siltstones andclaystones that exhibit lower water-bearingcapabilities. Drilling, construction, andproduction characteristics of the new wells

are posted on GRA's webpage atwww.grac/org/HydroVisions.

The surficial deposits, composed offluvial and lacustrine sediments, areunconsolidated to semi-consolidated andrange in thickness from about 1,100 feetin the north central portion of thesubbasin to a thin veneer along themargins of the subbasin. Thesesedimentary deposits comprise the

Conjunctive Use...Tulelake SubbasinContinued from page 9


11

Education CornerEducation Corner“Ask-A-GroundwaterSpecialist” Education

Outreach ProgramSeeks More VolunteersBY SUSAN GARCIA, GRA DIRECTORAND EDUCATION COMMITTEE CHAIR

GRA needs more "GroundwaterSpecialists" to support our website-based, "Ask-A-Groundwater

Specialist" education outreach program.The objective of this program is toanswer groundwater-related questionsposed by students and the generalpublic. Since the program was initiatedin December 2001, it has averagedabout three questions a month, withquestions coming from northern andsouthern California, Oregon, andNigeria. Questions have ranged fromgeneral water quality within a specificgroundwater basin to drinking waterquality and specific contaminants. Wewould like to increase our current poolof "Groundwater Specialists" so that wecan expand the program to theeducation community.

Questions are forwarded to"Groundwater Specialists," who in turnare expected to respond to the questionwithin a few days. Question responsescan be as detailed as desired, but willtypically take between 5-to-20 minutesto respond. Responses can also refer theinquirer to other references either on- oroff-line. Become a "GroundwaterSpecialist"; sign-ups are being taken atour Education page on GRA's website(http://www.grac.org).

Highlights from “Ask-A-Groundwater Specialist”GRA would like to thank our"Groundwater Specialists" for takingthe time to respond to student questions.In today's article, I highlight threeinquiries/responses that may be ofinterest to our members. Minor editshave been made to the text. Thank youSteve Zigan, Jim Jacobs and Tim Parkerfor your responses.

Question:I am doing a project that requiresknowledge in the field. Since theproblem of perchlorate seems relativelyunheard of, I have had a bit of aproblem trying to find someone. Ifanyone that reads this can help pleaseemail me back.

1. When was perchlorate firstdetected in our drinking water?

2. Do we know for sure how it gotthere?

3. Are there any actions being takento remove perchlorate from the drinkingwater?

4. What is the standard forperchlorate in drinking water?

5. Are there any set plans in place toremove perchlorate from the drinkingwater?

6. Why isn't the public more readilynotified about this problem?

Thanks for taking the time to answerthese questions; if you have any otherpertinent information that you thinkmight help please feel free to attach it.

Thanks, Sarah

Answer:Perchlorate is commonly used as adegreaser. That is, it takes the grime andgrease off of clothes and parts. As such,it is commonly used in manufacturingplants, such as airplane and spacemanufacturing, metal plating shops, andelectronic industries. It is also used indry cleaning industries. The chemical isusually stored in vats, andunfortunately, sometimes those vesselsor their piping leak. When thathappens, the chemical can leach downto and impact the groundwater.

Perchlorate has been used fordecades, but my friends tell me that, dueto increased sensitivity of laboratoryanalytical equipment, its widespreaddetection dates from just a few years

ago. Whereas large contaminant plumeswith high concentrations have beenknow for a while, some of the plumeswith lower concentrations have justrecently been discovered.

The California drinking waterstandard for perchlorate is only 5 partsper billion (ppb). That means that forevery billion drops of water (about oneswimming pool), you can only have 1drop of perchlorate. You can see by thislow ratio that perchlorate is a very toxicchemical. But don't worry. Although itis in the groundwater, all of our drinkingwater is tested, and cannot be deliveredto you unless it is less than thisconcentration. Also, please feelcomforted in the fact that the 5 ppblimit has a 1000 fold safety factor builtinto it. That means that we believe thatone drop in a swimming pool would bea danger, but place the limit at one dropper 1000 swimming pools just to besafe. People in my industry are wellaware of the problems with perchlorate.The general public and news agenciesmay not discuss it much. Maybe thatreflects the quality of the job that theregulatory agencies and people in myindustry (groundwater cleanup) aredoing to protect your water supply.When it is found at concentrationsexceeding the drinking water standard,there are many (albeit complex) ways ofremoving it. That is the job that I do.

I hope that this answers yourquestions. Please feel free to contact meif you have more questions.

Sincerely,Steve M. ZiganCertified Hydrogeologist

Question:How do you remove arsenic from myhome drinking water? The levels arerunning 90 ppb and that's kind of high.The state just lowered it to 10 ppb.

Thanks, Chad, Pioneertown, CA


12


establish cover crops so the region's soilwould not be lost to wind erosion.OWRD in 2001 issued dozens ofemergency drought permits and limitedlicenses on the Oregon side of the Basin toaccelerate supplemental groundwaterdevelopment.

Groundwater also played animportant role in satisfying the demandsof the two national wildlife refuges servedby the Project. The refuge complex is animportant stopover for Pacific Flywaywaterfowl and provides habitat for over200 species of migratory and residentbirds, including threatened bald eagles. Acoalition of environmental groups filed itsintent to sue the Department of theInterior on behalf of refuge eagles in May2001. The groups delayed legal actionafter Reclamation began providingpurchased and donated non-project water,taken from wells, to the refuge on amonth-to-month basis. Despite the extrawater, the Lower Klamath refuge barelymanaged to meet its needs last year.

The actions undertaken last year havecontributed to the heightened involvementthat agencies are now taking relative toKlamath Basin groundwater issues. Theactivities by the California Department ofWater Resources are discussed further inthe companion article in this issue ofHydrovisions.

The flurry of groundwater managementactivities last year - particularly the federalprogram that provided well water to therefuges - also caught the attention ofdomestic well owners near the California-Oregon border, who claimed thatincreased groundwater pumpingadversely impacted their shallow wells.This very controversial issue brought tolight many of the complexities inherent inan emergency situation involving multipleagencies and jurisdictions. While manyquestions remain regarding theimportance of specific reasons fordeclining groundwater levels, the shallowwells were likely impacted the most due toreduced recharge caused by: 1) Lack ofsurface water in the extensive irrigationdelivery system; and 2) Loss ofpercolation to shallow aquifers fromapplied irrigation water. In certain cases,it appears that additional groundwaterpumping in 2001 may have had a directimpact on neighboring wells. However,clear correlations of such occurrences

have, for the most part, been establishedthus far for wells contained within thesame fault zone, producing from a deepervolcanic aquifer. Resources agencies inboth states are still wrestling with thechallenge of delineating drawdownimpacts associated with the drought, newwells, and existing wells. Again, this taskis made all the more daunting due to thepolitical and jurisdictional complicationsassociated with a shared groundwaterbasin that underlies two states, threecounties, and two national wildliferefuges.

By many accounts, the emergencygroundwater development programsimplemented last year were successful.However, the outcry raised late last fall bylocal domestic and agricultural wellowners near the California-Oregon stateline should provide a warning to all watermanagers of the risks associated withincreased reliance on a relativelyunknown resource.

The Role of Groundwater in a ProjectEnvironmental Water BankLocal water users and producers havedeveloped initial principles and a draftimplementation framework to guide avoluntary environmental "water bank"within the Klamath Project. Preliminarily,this bank would seek to secure between 0and 90,000 acre-feet of water (maximum,in critically dry years) from the KlamathProject to help meet environmental waterrequirements for endangered suckers andcoho salmon. This water would bedeveloped using three primary tools: 1)Winter storage; 2) Compensated one-yearidling (20,000 acres, maximum); and 3)Groundwater substitution. A keyprinciple of this program is that, inexchange for participation in the waterbank, 100 % of the irrigation demand forthe remaining acreage from participatingproducers will be satisfied, season-long.Another critical principle supporting thisprogram is ensuring that groundwaterimpacts to third parties are avoided orminimized.

Local water users have proposed thatall groundwater development related tothis program will first be used to offset theneed for any idling of farmland.Conceptually, the total maximum amountof water generated through groundwater

Groundwater Management - Upper Klamath BasinContinued from page 1

The 2001 Klamath Basin CrisisThe Project had been operated for nearlya century to provide a reliable watersupply up to 210,000 acres of farms andranches, and to two wildlife refuges nearthe California-Oregon state line. Since1995, Reclamation has issued annualproject operations plans that addresspotential impacts on federally listedspecies, including two sucker populations,coho salmon and bald eagles.Reclamation is required to consult withthe Service on the two sucker species andeagles, and with NMFS for coho salmonon the Klamath River. The combinationof the Service BO that holds UpperKlamath Lake at high levels, the NMFSBO, which calls for historically high riverflows, and the drought all contributed tothe problems facing the Project.

The 2001 water cutoff imposedimpacts to the local community that wereimmediate and far-reaching. Loss ofirrigation supplies devastated farmers andimparted an estimated $200 millioneconomic "ripple" effect through thebroader community. Last year's cutoffalso tragically underscored the vitallinkage that exists between irrigatedfarmland and wildlife. Water that wouldnormally flow through farmland habitatwas directed instead towards three speciesprotected under the ESA. The vitality ofover 430 other wildlife species wasthreatened when they were subjected tothe same fate as farmers.

Recent, Ongoing and Planned GroundwaterManagement Efforts in the BasinPrior to the 2001 water crisis,Reclamation, the U.S. Geological Survey,California Department of WaterResources (DWR) and the Oregon WaterResources Department (OWRD) were allengaged in various groundwatermanagement activities in the Basin, whichwere suddenly put on the back burnerwhen the urgent needs of the water cutofftook precedent. Aggressive and successfulemergency actions were undertaken onthe California side when DWR teamedwith local irrigation districts to developsupplemental groundwater supplies to

13

Student/Research CornerComparative Analysisof Groundwater

ManagementStrategies

BY RANDOLPH B. FLAY AND T. N.NARASIMHAN

MATERIALS SCIENCE AND MINERALENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF

CALIFORNIA BERKELEY

Editor's Note: The authors will bepresenting on this subject at GRA's 11thAnnual Conference and Meeting,"Sustaining Groundwater Resources: TheCritical Vision" in Newport Beach,California on September 18 and 19, 2002(see page 3 for more conference details).The views expressed are those of theauthors and do not represent those ofGRA.

The following quote from the case ofCline v. American Aggregates,which came before the Supreme

Court of Ohio in 1984, reasserts thefundamental need to apply improvementsin groundwater science to our institutionaland legal arrangements that manage it.The court stated: "Finally, a primary goalof water law should be that the legalsystem conforms to hydrologic fact.Scientific knowledge in the field ofhydrology has advanced in the past decadeto the point that water tables and sourcesare more readily discoverable. Thisknowledge can establish the cause andeffect relationship of the tapping ofunderground water to the existing waterlevel. Thus, liability can now be fairlyadjudicated with these advances whichwere sorely lacking when this courtdecided Frazier more than a century ago."1

While California has since 1903 notobserved the English Rule of Capture withregards to property rights in groundwater(which was overturned in Ohio by the caseabove), there is a significant need to movebeyond the current system of managementwhich has done little to ensure certainty ingroundwater rights and protectgroundwater quantity and quality for thelong-term. Given the recent effort

undertaken to examine the authority of theState Water Resources Control Board(SWRCB) to control groundwater,2 this isperhaps a suitable occasion to examine howfar California has come since the Report ofthe Governor's Commission to ReviewWater Law in California some two decadesa g orecommendedto the statel e g i s l a t u r eseveral stepsfor Californiato incorporateadvances inscience into our systems of management.3

The management of groundwater in thewestern United States has evolved greatlyover the past 70 years. States such asArizona, New Mexico, and Texas have putin place systems that impart expandedregulatory and management activities onthe part of state government. In moststates, except Texas, common lawtraditions recognizing the English Rule havebeen replaced by the correlative andappropriation rights doctrines. Theseactions have been in response to conditionsof overdraft, subsidence, and, in somecases, contamination from nitrates andother contaminants of anthropogenicorigin. More recently, interstate compactsand endangered species concerns haverequired the accurate quantification of allwater resources in basins, leading to thequantification of rights and permittingprograms.

California remains one of a handful ofstates without a formal administrative rolein the protection of groundwater. Exceptfor limited circumstances where basins havebeen adjudicated or statutorily createdgroundwater management districts exist,the vast majority of groundwater extractionis unquantified. In overdrafted regions,decisions over allocation are largely left tothe costly and uncertain processes ofadjudication, while issues of protection andmanagement are left to the motivation oflocal districts with few venues for basin-scale planning. Reliance on existing

Student/Research Cornerinstitutions has not been successful inreducing the uncertainty associated withgroundwater rights. Further, it has failedthroughout many regions of the state, inparticular the San Joaquin Valley, tomitigate conditions of overdraft,salinization, and trace element

contamination,all of which arei n t i m a t e l yconnected to thepatterns ofgroundwater use.

Our researchexamines the

approaches of Arizona, Colorado,Nebraska, New Mexico, and Texas to themanagement of groundwater to seeksolutions that are compatible withCalifornia's hydrologic and legal settings.These states have taken steps to integraterecent scientific knowledge of groundwaterflow and chemistry into their legalmechanisms of allocation and protection.Recent advances in understanding theimportance of regional groundwaterflow and chemistry must be reconciledwith California's laws and institutionsthat dictate its allocation andmanagement. Optimal and sustainablegroundwater use requires theinstallation of institutions that managegroundwater at the temporal and spatialscales at which it interacts with surfacewater and the land. The San JoaquinValley is an example of where thecurrent management system lacks thecapacity to manage groundwateroptimally at large scale, cognizant ofgroundwater-surface water connections.Utilization of the Institutional Analysisand Development framework has helpeddiscern where conventional approachesto groundwater management (e.g. AB3030 and adjudication) are notappropriate in large, arid basins withdiverse water uses.


“Recent advances in understandingthe importance of regional

groundwater flow and chemistry mustbe reconciled with California's laws

and institutions that dictate itsallocation and management.”

14

Alliance CornerAlliance CornerWaterloo, "Fully-Integrated Modelingof Surface and Subsurface Water Flowand Solute Transport: Model Overviewand Applications"

Garth van der Kamp, EnvironmentCanada

William Woessner, University ofMontana

The Action Demonstration Sessions,sponsored by The HDD Well Team, willbe a unique series of technologydemonstrations designed to showcasethe latest in ground water monitoringequipment in a format conducive totechnology transfer and applicationexchange. Following live demonstrations,attendees will be encouraged to interactwith the presenters. In addition to theAction Sessions, attendees will have theopportunity to see the latest ideas andtechnology from more than 250exhibitors

The information exchange willcontinue with TIPs, a new approachdesigned to encourage the activeexchange of ideas between presentersand interested conference attendees.TIPs are composed of poster material,field equipment, site samples, andcomputer displays. Every TIP will be ondisplay for a specific day, and each TIPpresenter will also be assigned a 30-minute period in which to present.Attendees again will have anopportunity to ask questions and discussthe project with the presenter.

The AGWSE Annual Meeting andConference is part of the NationalGround Water Association's annualGround Water Expo, to be heldDecember 9 -11 at the Las VegasConvention Center. The event willfeature a range of additional activitiesopen to all conference attendees,including several workshops. Includedamong the workshops are

Darcy Lecture Series: Dr. DavidHyndman - "Efficient Large-ScaleBioremediation in a HeterogeneousAquifer: The SchoolcraftBioaugmentation Experiment."

Neil Manusuy - "Water WellRehabilitation - UnderstandingProblems and Solutions"

Dr. Norman Jones and Jeff Davis -"GMS: Conceptual Modeling andMODFLOW 2000"

Dr. Aziz Eddebbarh, Bruce Robinsonand George Zyvoloske - "YuccaMountain Ground Water System"

McEllhiney Lecture Series: DavidHanson - "Introduction to the Year ofthe Professional."

For details on NGWA's 2002Ground Water Expo, visit the Exposection of the NGWA Web site-www.NGWA.org-where visitors canalso register for the event and findinformation on the Las Vegas area.Register anytime now through October31 and get the discounted registrationfee of $75 for NGWA members.

New NGWA ConferenceFormat Designed toEnhance Impact ofProgram on Ground

Water/Surface WaterInteraction

BY JULIE SHAW, NGWA

Ready for new ways of exploringhot topics and breakthroughfindings in the realm of ground

water? Then plan now to attend theAnnual Meeting and Conference of theAssociation of Ground Water Scientists andEngineers (AGWSE), a membership divisionof the National Ground Water Association,December 9-11, Las Vegas, NV.

Enhancing the exchange ofinformation among attendees andpresenters is the goal behind the formatchanges for this year's program, titled""Linking Surface and SubsurfaceHydrology-From Science toTechnology." There will be three basicelements to the three-day conference:

Featured presentations by leadingauthorities in the ground waterindustry

Live demonstrations

Technical Interactive Presentations(TIPs).

Featured speakers will include:Scott Bair, Ohio State University,

"Intoxicating Cases of Ground WaterUnder the Influence of Surface Water"

Cliff Dahm, University of NewMexico, "Hydrogeology andBiogeochemistry of Surface Water andGround Water Interfaces"

David Pyne, ASR Systems LLC,"Aquifer Storage Recovery: Science,Technology and Regulation"

Bridget R. Scanlon, University ofTexas

Edward Sudicky, University of

CGA UpdateBY MIKE MORTENSSON

CALIFORNIA GROUNDWATER ASSN.EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Guy Waterman encourages waterconservation and protection

In the last issue of HydroVisions, Iwrote about the California WaterAwareness Campaign and its efforts

to conduct a year long campaign toencourage Californians to Use WaterWisely... and Keep It Clean....It's A Wayof Life! The Campaign introduced GuyWaterman, its new spokesman in May.He'll be bringing you water saving tipsthrough the media and local wateragencies. Later this summer, theCampaign will issue its secondeducational booklet, Water Sources, foruse by elementary students in the 4thand 5th grades in the ensuing schoolyear. You can visit the campaign's web


15

Alliance CornerAlliance CornerGSA/IAHThe Geological Society of America(GSA) has accepted the IAH/USNC asan Associated Society. Among otherbenefits, this will allow any member ofIAH to pay registration fees for GSAMeetings at discounted GSA Memberrates. This should also lead to closercooperation between IAH and theHydrogeology Division of GSA, as wehave many interests in common. Moreinformation about GSA can be obtainedthrough their web site at:<www.geosociety.org/>. IAH/USNC isorganizing two special sessions at thenext GSA Annual Meeting in Denverduring Oct. 27-30, 2002. These include:

Groundwater Depletion and Overexploitation: A Global ProblemThe volume of fresh groundwater instorage has decreased significantlyduring the past century, but themagnitude and global impacts areuncertain. This session focuses on themagnitude and effects of groundwatermining, methods to quantify depletion,U.S. and international case studies,status and future trends, global impacts,and management solutions.Detrimental environmental side effectsof overexploitation include reducedgroundwater discharge to springs,streams, and wetlands, water-qualityand salinity degradation, and landsubsidence. The magnitude ofworldwide depletion of groundwater instorage may be so large as to constitutea measurable contributor to sea-levelrise, but the magnitude of depletion ispoorly documented worldwide. Themanagement concept of "sustainabledevelopment" may offer a viableapproach to dealing withoverexploitation of groundwaterresources, but its implementation hasbeen largely subjective and sometimesarbitrary.

Groundwater and Hardrock MiningThe Rocky Mountains of the westernUnited States have tens of thousands ofabandoned, inactive, and active sitesrelated to precious-metal mining.Mining activities often resulted inmobilization of and transport ofassociated heavy metals that can pose asignificant threat to aquaticcommunities in mountain streams.Papers are solicited on all related topics.

In addition to these two IAHsessions, the overall HydrogeologyProgram at the 2002 Annual GSAMeeting will also include many othersessions of interest to groundwaterspecialists. More information on theoverall meeting is available at:http://www.geosociety.org/meetings/2002/. The abstract deadline for electronicsubmissions is July 16.

IAH Commission for Management of AquiferRechargeWater banking and bank filtrationharness natural processes to manage andenhance aquifer recharge, a vital tool inthe sustainable management of theworld's groundwater resources. IAHrecently formed a permanentCommission to focus on this importantissue. The Commission aims to expandwater resources and improve waterquality in ways that are appropriate,environmentally sustainable, technicallyviable, economical, and sociallydesirable by encouraging developmentand adoption of improved practices formanagement of aquifer recharge. Moreinformation is available on their web page:www.iah.org/recharge/index.html.

InternationalAssociation of

HydrogeologistsUpdate

BY LENNY KONIKOWPRESIDENT, U.S. NATL. CHAPTER

GRA/IAH Alliance

The Groundwater ResourcesAssociation of California (GRA)and IAH developed an allied

partnership in 2001 and launched aJoint Membership Program beginning in2002. From the perspective of IAH, thishas been a great success. On behalf ofIAH and its U.S. National Chapter(USNC), I would personally like towelcome the 55 new members who havejoined IAH through this GRA program.Please feel free to contact me (e-mail:[email protected]) if you have anycomments, suggestions, or questionsabout IAH activities.

GRA members interested in learningmore about IAH, please check the IAHweb site at http://www.iah.org. For thosewho are interested in the particulars of theGRA/IAH Joint Membership Program,please check the GRA web page (see"Support GRA" tab and Membership), orfor a PDF file discussing the option, seehttp://www.grac.org/IAH_GRA.pdf

32nd Congress of IAHThe 32nd IAH Congress will be held inMar del Plata, Argentina, in October2002. The overall theme is"Groundwater and HumanDevelopment," but the technicalsessions will focus on a variety oftechnical and managerial groundwaterissues. It will also include workshops,several organized field trips, as well aspre-Congress short courses. Moredetails are available on the web site at:http://www.mdp.edu.ar/exactas/geologia/iah2002/version_english.html

16

Organizational CornerOrganizational Corner2002 AnnualAwards Program

GRA Board of Directors Seek Nominations forthe “Kevin J. Neese Memorial Award” and“Lifetime Achievement Award”

The Board is acceptingnominations for the 2002 "KevinJ. Neese Memorial Award" and

the 2002 "Lifetime AchievementAward". The "Kevin J. Neese MemorialAward" recognizes a significantaccomplishment by a person or entitywithin the most recent twelve-monthperiod that fosters the understanding,development, protection andmanagement of groundwater. GRA's"Lifetime Achievement Award" ispresented to individuals who havededicated their lives to the groundwaterindustry and were pioneers in their fieldof expertise.

Nominations for either award shouldindicate the reason you are making thenomination, a brief statement ofqualifications of the nominee and yourfull contact information. for the award byAugust 8th. Email nominations to KathySnelson at [email protected] byAugust 8, 2002. Nominations will bereviewed at the August 10, 2002 GRABoard meeting. The awards will be givenat GRA's Annual Meeting, which isSeptember 18-19, 2002. If you have anyquestions or need additionalinformation, please contact Brian Lewis,Chair of the GRA Awards Committee,

2002 AnnualAwards Program



the 2002 "Lifetime AchievementAward". The "Kevin J. Neese MemorialAward" recognizes a significantaccomplishment by a person or entitywithin the most recent twelve-monthperiod that fosters the understanding,development, protection andmanagement of groundwater. GRA's"Lifetime Achievement Award" ispresented to individuals who havededicated their lives to the groundwaterindustry and were pioneers in their fieldof expertise.

Nominations for either award shouldindicate the reason you are making thenomination, a brief statement ofqualifications of the nominee and yourfull contact information. for the award byAugust 8th. Email nominations to KathySnelson at [email protected] byAugust 8, 2002. Nominations will bereviewed at the August 10, 2002 GRABoard meeting. The awards will be givenat GRA's Annual Meeting, which isSeptember 18-19, 2002. If you have anyquestions or need additionalinformation, please contact Brian Lewis,Chair of the GRA Awards Committee,at (916) 255-6532.

A Message from theGRA Executive Director

BY KATHY SNELSON

This is the timeof year thatGRA focuses

on connecting withGRA members whohave not yet renewedtheir membershipfrom the previousyear. Since thisprocess is similar to fishing, I decided toreview a book titled Fish! by Stephen C.Lundin, Ph.D., Harry Paul and JohnChristensen. The book was written tohelp managers with motivating andretaining employees, but its primaryfocus is about "choosing and learning tolove" the work a person does. Like thebook cover reads, "Catch the Energy andRelease the Potential," GRA wants to"catch" non-renewing members and helpthem understand the "potential" of theirloyalty to GRA and groundwaterresources in California.

Fish! implies that if the "quest forideal work focuses on the future, we willmiss the amazingly wonderful life that isavailable today." I see membership in a

In January 2002, the GRA Boardapproved a project to create a web-based administrative system that will

automate many administrative tasksrelated to processing membershipapplications and event registrations. The

GRA Web Site/Database Integration Project UpdateBY KEVIN BLATT, GRA WEB & DATABASE MANAGER, AND

MARTIN STEINPRESS, ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE CHAIR

system will increase operationalefficiency, reduce labor costs, and addconvenience for our members.

In a nutshell, the system will connectthe GRA web site (grac.org) to acomprehensive membership and event

registration database. Members will beassigned a login ID and password thatwill allow them to access a restrictedportion of the web site where they cancheck membership status, renew, updatecontact information, and register for


Continued on page 34 Continued on page 34

GOALThe purpose of the GRA Awards Programis to recognize noteworthy projects andunique individual contributions related tothe protection and management ofgroundwater in California.

ObjectivesThe objectives of the Annual AwardsProgram are:

1. To provide recognition to indivi-duals who have demonstrated leadershipand continuous dedication in the field ofgroundwater management;

2. To provide recognition for uniquecontributions to the field of groundwatermanagement in 2001; and,

3. To provide recognition to GRA (asan organization) whose mission isdedicated to resource management thatprotects and improves groundwaterthrough education and technicalleadership.

AWARDSLIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT: presentedto individuals for their exemplarycontributions to the groundwaterindustry, contributions that have been inthe spirit of GRA's mission andorganization objectives. Individuals thatreceive the Lifetime Achievement Awardhave dedicated their lives to the

2002 AnnualAwards Program



the 2002 "Lifetime AchievementAward." The "Kevin J. Neese MemorialAward" recognizes a significantaccomplishment by a person or entitywithin the most recent twelve-monthperiod that fosters the understanding,development, protection andmanagement of groundwater. GRA's"Lifetime Achievement Award" ispresented to individuals who havededicated their lives to the groundwaterindustry and were pioneers in their fieldof expertise.

Nominations for either award shouldindicate the reason you are making thenomination, a brief statement ofqualifications of the nominee and yourfull contact information. for the award byAugust 8th. Email nominations to KathySnelson at [email protected] byAugust 8, 2002. Nominations will bereviewed at the August 10, 2002 GRABoard meeting. The awards will be givenat GRA's Annual Meeting, which isSeptember 18-19, 2002. If you have anyquestions or need additionalinformation, please contact Brian Lewis,Chair of the GRA Awards Committee,at (916) 255-6532.

17

Organizational CornerOrganizational Cornerevents. While the web site is currentlybeing used for these functions, they arenot automated. Data submitted via theweb site is manually entered into adatabase, credit card transactions aremanually processed, and emailconfirmations and receipts are manuallygenerated. The new system will automateall of these tasks and will make themmore convenient for our members. Forexample, when a member uses the website to register for an event, their contactinformation will be called from thedatabase and automatically inserted intothe event registration form to save themfrom typing. Any edits made to thisinformation will be automaticallyupdated in the database.

The initial investment for this projectwill be about $8,000. We anticipate thatthe project will pay for itself in the firstyear. The benefits will be numerous andare difficult to fully describe and measure.However, the most quantifiable savingswill come in the form of reduced laborcosts. These savings will be largelydetermined by the extent to which ourmembers and customers use the web siteto submit membership applications andevent registrations. Encouraging people touse the web site will be helped by the factthat the online processes will be moreconvenient than the alternative methodssuch as fax, phone and mail.

The project began in April with thehiring of a contractor (Don Kuhwarth ofMidtown Computer Services inSacramento (midtown.net), which hasbeen GRA's internet service provider forthe past 6 years. The project is expectedto take approximately three months.Upon completion, members will beencouraged to use the web site for onlineevent membership renewals and eventregistrations. Questions should bedirected to Kathy Snelson, GRA'sExecutive Director, [email protected].

GRA 2001 Statement of Activity - UnauditedChanges in Unrestricted Net AssetsRevenues:

Program Fees $218,095Membership Dues 41,709Contributions 3,575Other Income:

Advertising $4,125Reimbursed Expenses 3,527Interest 2,083Special Activity - Lapel Pins 110

Total Other Income 9,845

Total Unrestricted Revenues $273,224

ExpensesProgram Expense (Seminars) $146,312Executive Director 34,700Printing and Reproduction 18,550Web Site 7,245Contract Labor 6,657Postage and Shipping 2,727Dues and Subscriptions 2,250Insurance 2,191Fundraising 1,964Travel 1,089Professional Fees, (Tax Prep./Accounting) 885Telephone 717Legal Fees 450Supplies 338Miscellaneous 3,449

Total Expenses $229,524

Increase in Unrestricted Net Assets $43,700

Changes in Permanently Restricted Net Assets

Grants Received $20,000Grant Labor and Admin. 750

$19,250

62,950

BEGINNING NET ASSETS (CASH) $40,246ENDING NET ASSETS (CASH) $103,196

=======

Increase in Net Assets

Increase in Permanently Restricted Net Assets

Website/Database Integration ProjectContinued from page 16

18

Organizational CornerOrganizational Corner2002 CONTRIBUTORS TO GRATHANK YOU!

FOUNDER($1,000 and up)Hatch & ParentLeah Walker

PATRON($500 - $999)Geomatrix Consultants, Inc.

CORPORATE($250 - $499)LFR Levine Fricke

CHARTER SPONSOR($100 - $249)City of Stockton, M.U.D.Peter HolzmeisterRoscoe Moss Manufacturing Co.Ed WinklerDavid AbbottMorris BaldermanMartin FeeneyThomas JohnsonTim ParkerCadiz, IncMartin SteinpressMontgomery Watson HarzaRobert Van Valer

SPONSOR($25 - $99)City of LodiEnvironmental Resolutions, Inc.Carl HaugeJudy BloomCambria Environmental Technology, Inc.Conor PacificPam CosbyEMAX Laboratories, Inc.ENVIRON InternationalJohn FarrSusan GarciaBarry HechtCurtis HopkinsDavid KirchnerTaras KrukRobert "Tony" MartinJohn McAsseyPeter MesardMission Geoscience, Inc.Northgate Environmental ManagementChris PetersenIris PriestafPhyllis StaninRobert StollarEric StrahanKelly TilfordSusan TragerJames UlrickGary WeatherfordBookman-EdmonstonDaniel B. Stephens & Associates, Inc.Environmental Resolutions, Inc.Linda SpencerJennifer BeattyFran Forkas(Michael) Joe WeidmannMurray EinarsonDan Day Lawrence

GRA Welcomes the Following New MembersMARCH 1, 2002 - MAY 15, 2002

Till Angermann Luhdorff & Scalmanini, C.E.Tom Barnes ESACary Bean Precision Sampling, Inc.Anthony Bouquillon Maxxam Analytics, Inc.Ralph Boyajian, PE BSK, Inc.Garrett Broughton England Geosystem, Inc.Kim Brower Luhdorff & Scalmanini C.E.James Bunker ENVIRON InternationalChristopher Campbell Baker, Manock & JensenMark Capps ENSR InternationalMichael Cassidy Gradient Engineers, Inc.Guy Chammas Mary Cheung US FilterRobert Cheung Geomatrix Consultants, Inc.Yueh Chuang CH2M HillRobert Coffin San Diego Public Utilities

Advisory CommissionEric Cole Baker, Manock & JensenJim Connell West Yost & AssociatesCraig Corbell Welenco, Inc.Dan Davis Daniel B. Stephens &

Associates, Inc.Larry Disque City of SunnyvaleMichael Donovan Charles Drewry Calgon CarbonBarry Epstein Fitzgerald, Abbott &

Beardsley, LLPStanley Feenstra Applied Groundwater

Research Ltd.Jonathan Ferris Daniel B. Stephens &

Associates, Inc.Cole Frates Layne Water Development

& Storage, LLCMark Gage Geomatrix Consultants, Inc.Luis Gomez Foster Wheeler

EnvironmentalDave Goorahoo Center For Irrigation

Technology - CSU FresnoAllen Gribneu LA County Dept. of

Public WorksMichael Guilbert Kleinfelder, Inc.Jeffrey Hart The Environmental

CompanyYemia Hashimoto GeoSyntec ConsultantsJuliana Herrington Bookman-EdmonstonDavid Holland Baker, Manock & JensenTamlyn Hunt Hatch & ParentChris Ingalls CDMGreg Issinghoff CA RWQCB, Central Valley

RegionDavid Johnson Harding ESEChristopher Johnson Kleinfelder, Inc.Douglas Jones, PE ENVIRON InternationalChristian Knoche Law/Crandall, Inc.Elizabeth Lafferty Lahontan RWQCBMariana Lake Valley County Water

District

Cheryl Lehn Tulare County FarmBureauStephen Lofholm Golder AssociatesMichael Malone Giblin AssociatesMary Ann Mann Sweetwater AuthorityVicki McCartney Tetra Tech EM, Inc.Mary McClanahan California Water InstituteMike Menne California Water Service

CompanyElizabeth Mergener UW-Madison/Golder

AssociatesPhilip Mihopoulos Tait Environmental

Management, Inc.Philip, PE Miller England Geosystem, Inc.Leslie Moulton ESABruce Myers CA RWQCBBassil Nahhas City of MonroviaHooshang, PhD, PE Nezafati CH2M HillObiajulu Nzewi Fugro West, Inc.William O'Braitis Law/Crandall, Inc.Charlie O'Neill CDMDeems Padgett TRC SolutionsBill Perkins St. Mary's CollegeTim Peschman US Filter Recovery

ServicesCathy Reed Tetra Tech EM, Inc.Kyle Rheubottom ENV America, Inc.Stephen Ross Komex-H2O Science, Inc.Manuel Saavedra John Sankey Westbay Instruments, a

Schlumberger CompanyClive Steggals Komex-H2O Science, Inc.Jenny Sterling Sterling EnvironmentalChris Tatum Precision Sampling, Inc.Lucius Taylor CH2M HillDennis Tucker Malcolm Pirnie, Inc.Christine Tulloch Santa Clara Valley Water

DistrictDonald Warner, III Kleinfelder, Inc.Jeannette Weber California Water Service

CompanyTodd Webster Envirogen, Inc.Katherine Weeks AMEC Earth &

Environmental, Inc.(Michael) Joe Weidmann Haley & Aldrich, Inc.Joe Wells Andrew Werner Layne Water Development

& Storage, LLCJacob Westra Kings River Conservation DistrictKaylea White S.S. Papadopulos &

Associates, Inc.Casey Whittier US FilterThomas Wright Mission Geoscience, Inc.

19

WESTERVILLE, OH (May 20,2002) - What does the U.S.EPA's new Ground Water Rule

mean and what are the latest advances inclean water? The National Ground WaterAssociation (NGWA) is sponsoring"Innovative Approaches to Ground WaterDisinfection: Coliforms, Pathogens andTreatment," an upcoming conference tobe held September 5-6, 2002, inSacramento, California. Additionalcosponsors include the GroundwaterResources Association of California(GRA), California Ground WaterAssociation, and Texas A&M University.

The conference covers the issuessurrounding bacteria and viruses andground water, and provides training onthe new Ground Water Rule. Conferenceattendees will learn how to monitor andtreat domestic wells along with municipalsystems. The two-day event will includethe following topics:

Bacteria and Viruses

FEMA Report on Wells

Emerging Regulations

Walkerton E-Coli Tragedy

Water Well Construction

Disinfection Byproducts

Anthrax and Water Security

Chlorination

Ozonation

Electron-Beam Virus Treatment

Zeolite Barrier Technology

Advances in Genomics

The conference will feature a specialguest lecture on water wells by FletcherDriscoll, author of Ground Water andWells. John Schnieders, principal chemistof Water Systems Engineering, Inc., willgive the keynote address on "Disinfectionand Coliform in Water Wells." The EPA'sJohn Cicmanec will provide an update onnew testing methods and risk

management. More than a dozenadditional well experts, manufacturers,and rule makers will make presentationsat the event.

For more information or to register,contact the NGWA Customer ServiceCenter at (800) 551-7379, or visithttp://www.ngwa.org/education/clean.html. National Ground Water Associationmembers include more than 16,000 U.S.and international ground waterprofessionals-contractors, equipmentmanufacturers and suppliers, and groundwater scientists and engineers. NGWAmembers are committed to this basicunderstanding: when you are a groundwater professional, it's more than justwater. NGWA provides members,government, and the general public withthe scientific knowledge and economicguidance necessary to responsiblydevelop, protect, and manage the world'sground water resources.

The environmental industry inCalifornia is still attractive, basedon the number of calls received

from new graduates wanting careeropportunities. Although everyone has aresume, new hires are always calling tofind out about how to break into the jobmarket. A Catch-22 exists where manycompanies won't hire new workerswithout some experience. But how does anewly graduated environmentalprofessional get that first job withoutexperience? Here are a few ideas thatmight help:

Upcoming NGWA Conference to Feature Advances in Water Disinfection BY JULIE SHAW, NGWA

Obtain internships while in school

Join associations (like GRA)

Get to California first

Take the required training

Prepare for a medical exam

Keep a clean driver's record

Bring references and letters

Practice interviewing

The full article is on GRA's webpage atwww.grac.org/Jacobs-jobhunt.pdf along

with on-line employment opportunities.Best wishes on your job search and seeyou at the local Groundwater ResourcesAssociation meetings and events!

Jim Jacobs, CHG, is ChiefHydrogeologist for FAST-TEK EngineeringSupport Services. His specialty is in-situremediation of metals, hydrocarbons andsolvents. He has over 20 years of experienceand is on the GRA Board of Directors. Youcan mail email him at [email protected].

Catch 22 - Getting That First Good Jobin the California Industry (Summary)

BY JIM JACOBS, GRA DIRECTOR

20

Answer:Arsenic, chromium and other heavymetals are usually removed from drinkingwater by using reverse osmosis filters,which utilize the bonding properties ofthe metal atoms you want to remove. Tofilter out these metals, you must give themsomething that is more attractive to bondwith than the bond they presently have.Zeolites, commonly found in nature, areoften used for this purpose.

Other methods are ion-exchangeresins, which are not common amonghome users. There are dozens of sites onthe web related to home use filters andpurifiers. Carbon filters are less likely towork, since most metals don't bond wellwith carbon. Carbon will remove"metallic" or other tastes or odors, butcarbon is generally not effective atremoving the metals themselves.Unfortunately, the cost of some of the

filtering units is more than the cost ofbottled water that has been certified.Consumer Reports in August 2000 listsbottled waters which do not containarsenic on page 17 and filters on page 50.Check the individual filters on what theyremove and what they do not remove.You can find back issues of ConsumerReports in your local library.

At those high levels, I would suggestthat you call the local environmentalhealth department and see if somethingcan be done. Arsenic at 90 ppb is a largeamount, and ingested over time, couldcause problems, the details of which arebeyond my expertise. The local regulatorsmight be able to offer solutions.

Good luck--Jim Jacobs, R.G., CHG

Question:Is there a definition of "remediation well"used in California (by some/all agencies),and if so what is it and what does it coveror not cover?

Steve, Palo Alto, CA

Answer:That's an interesting question. CarlHauge, DWR's Chief Hydrogeologistasked me a similar question on Monday.To my knowledge, and after searching theWater Code and Health & Safety Code,the term "remediation well" does nothave definition or use. Typically, the termsthat I have heard and used in the industryare either monitoring, extraction orinjection well for components of agroundwater remediation system. Hopethis helps.

Tim Parker, RG, CEG, CHGGRA Board Member

Ask a Groundwater SpecialistContinued from page 11

Hydrovisions2002 Advertising Rates

4 Issues AnnuallyBlue & White

cost per issue

Color advertisements are additional based on current printing rates.The above prices assume advertisements are received camera ready (via film).* Special request only.

For additional information, visit GRA’s Web site at www.grac.org or contact Kathy Snelson,GRA Executive Director, at [email protected] or 916-446-3626.

1/4 page1/2 pageFull page

Two pages*

$175.00350.00700.00

1,400.00

$600.001,100.00

2,200.004,800.00

1x 4x

21

Control Boards, University of Californiaresearchers, State Air Resources ControlBoard, Merced County and other localcounties, and U.S. EPA. The objectives ofthe group are to develop a guidance manualthat will satisfy the local, state, and federalregulatory agencies, while also being afarmer friendly document. (When milkingcows twice a day, 365 days a year, whoneeds more paperwork?).

It is clear, however, that a criticalinterface will be the liaison between theNRCS guidance document and the livestockoperators who will need the document.

Somehow, the information must get to theproducers and in a manner so that they canuse it. Recognizing that NRCS does nothave nearly enough staff to be the onlyliaison, the use of "certified specialists"who can assist producers as they developand implement the CNMP, is beingexplored. NRCS will be identifying theminimum training and educationalrequirements for a person to be "certified."

The draft guidance will be available forreview late this summer. Work willcontinue on the document past this datehowever as it continues to be refined. A

Prop 13 grant from the State WaterResources Control Board to MercedCounty will be used to develop a softwareversion as well as to fund some researchactivity and ground-truth the concepts anddocument. Training through the CA DairyQuality Assurance Partnership and UCDavis may be available as early as fall2002.

For more information [email protected], [email protected], or [email protected]

EPA Seeks Comment on Watershed InitiativeOn May 23, EPA published in the FederalRegister a request for comments on theProcess for Designing a WatershedInitiative. Specifically, ideas and possibleapproaches are sought on the nomination

and selection process of the grantees. In2003, $21 million will be availablenationally, for up to 20 watershedorganizations. This will be a competitivegrant program. For more information pleasesee (http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-WATER/2002/May/Day-23/w12968.htm)or contact the Region 9 representative SamZiegler ([email protected]).

the Plenary Assembly, complemented byinformation presented in other sessions, isto generate a white paper concerning theintrinsic status of groundwater as a vitalpart of our natural resourcesinfrastructure. For more than a century,groundwater has been subconsciouslyconsidered to be a limitless resource, to bediscovered, used, and sometimesexploited. However, earth scientistsgenerally recognize the limits and boundson groundwater systems, which are subjectto annual recharge, depletion, and theuncertainties of climate. The challenge ofthe groundwater profession for the future isto learn to beneficially draw upon thegroundwater resource for human sustenanceand economy, while simultaneously assuringthat the integrity of the infrastructure ismaintained and made available for futuregenerations. There is much to be learned asto how we may go about achieving this goal.This will demand a coming together ofscience, technology, and social behavior. Awhite paper will be developed under the leadof Professor T.N. Narasimhan. This paper isbeing prepared in part to submit to theUniversity of California's Water ResourcesCenter for its efforts for the 2003 BiennialGroundwater Conference to further expandupon the technical and political evaluationof groundwater in California as an intrinsiccomponent of the water resourceinfrastructure.

OTHER PROGRAM FEATURESIn addition to the two-day technicalprogram, the Conference also featuresdistinguished keynote speakers,presentations of GRA's annual LifetimeAchievement Award and Kevin NeeseAward, a President's Reception with exhibitsand a new Interactive Science Program, and afield trip to the OCWD/OCSD GroundwaterReplenishment System the afternoon beforethe Conference. For further details, check theweb site at http://www.grac.org/annual.html;the complete program and registrationinformation will be available in June 2002.For more information, contact KathySnelson at [email protected] orVicki Kretsinger (Conference Chair),Principal Hydrologist at Luhdorff andScalmanini, Consulting Engineers, [email protected].

Current Happenings at US EPAContinued from page 8


22

GRA LegislativeSymposium and Lobby

Day is FruitfulBY TIM PARKER, LEGISLATIVE CHAIR

The Legislative Symposium and LobbyDay was a great success thanks to theefforts of our Legislative Advocates,Chris Frahm and Jennifer Carbuccia ofHatch & Parent, Theo Cline of CarolLiu's office, our sponsors CH2MHill,CRL Associates, Integrated ResourcesManagement, and the 36 attendees,many of whom attended the afternoonlobby visits. The event was held at theSheraton Grande Hotel in Sacramento,with lobby visits to the Capitol aboutfour blocks away.

The morning started off with anencouraging address by AssembleMember Carol Liu, 44th District, on alaw she introduced last year, AB 599The Groundwater Monitoring Act of2001, and the fact that Legislators' havean increasing awareness of groundwaterissues. AB 599 requires the State WaterResources Control Board to form aninteragency task force (ITF) and a publicadvisory board (PAB) to develop acomprehensive statewide groundwatermonitoring program. Also required byAB 599 is that the ITF and PAB developrecommendations on how to betterintegrate state agencies' groundwatermonitoring efforts and data. TheSWRCB is required to submit therecommendations of the AB 599 ITFand PAB to the Legislature by March2003. In anticipation of ongoing interestand need to address groundwater issuescomprehensively, the Speaker of theAssembly has established a SelectCommittee on Groundwater, whichCarol Liu will chair. Informationalhearings will be conducted in bothnorthern and southern California toaddress groundwater preservation andrestoration issues includinggroundwater conservation. Carol Liuhas also been asked to sit on the SelectCommittee on CalFed, which will bechaired by Speaker Emertius Robert

Hertzberg. The significance of theseactions is that the Legislature realizesthe importance of California's waterresources and groundwater, and theneed to be fully informed so that theLegislature can act to preserve andprotect this vital resource.

The first session included an updateby Carl Hauge on the Department ofWater Resources update of Bulletin 118on California's Groundwater Basins.Tim Parker also provided an update onthe AB 599 Groundwater MonitoringTask Force progress, and Wes Stricklandof Hatch & Parent presented adiscussion on the Sax Report. Pendinglegislation that will affect groundwaterresources and industry was provided byChris Frahm of Hatch & Parent, andBob Gore of CH2MHill providedinformation on legislative groundwaterfunding opportunities.

The second session was a paneldiscussion on the role GRA can take inhelping to focus the groundwater policydebates, methods and approaches toeffective education and advocacy withinthe legislature. Panelists included ArtCastanares, chief of Staff for SenatorSteve Peace, Bethany Westfall, PrincipalConsultant to Senator Machado, TheoCline, Staff to Assembly Member CarolLiu, and Chris Frahm of Hatch &Parent. The discussion included theeffects term limits have had on theHouse, which includes that Members nolonger carry the vast institutionalknowledge that they used to have. Thismakes for a greater challenge toaccomplish lawmaking efforts,especially since Legislative staffs are alsomoving along much more quickly.Legislative staff is the people that do thereal work of lawmaking. The staffs arethe individuals to contact with issuesand discussions. Staffs are generally veryresponsive to every citizen, every voterand potential vote. If you have issues ofconcern and wish to discuss them withyour Legislative representative, write aletter or call staff, and set up a meetingto discuss one-on-one.

Senator Mike Machado was ourlunch speaker. Senator Machado hasbeen a long time advocate of protectingCalifornia's groundwater resourcesthrough better groundwatermanagement. Senator Machadodiscussed what he sees in the future forgroundwater legislation and provided agood dialogue on SB 1938, TheGroundwater Management Act of 2002,which he authored. The bill requiresspecific components be included in anyGroundwater Management Plan (GMP)submitted to DWR. The bill also makesan implemented GMP a preconditionfor a local agency to receive State fundsfor the construction of any groundwaterproject. The specific components,inclusive of the AB 3030 GMP elements,include basin management objectivesrelating to groundwater level,groundwater quality, and subsidencecriteria.

Afternoon Lobby Visits wereconducted in groups and led by ChrisFrahm, Jennifer Carbuccia, and TimParker. The Legislators visited are listedbelow. Lobby Visits typically includedan introduction to GRA, a dialogueabout groundwater issues and needsboth on the part of GRA and Legislatorsand staff, and a discussion ofgroundwater bills GRA currentlyrecommends supporting.

In the late afternoon, GRAconducted a groundwater briefing forlegislative staff attendees back at theSheraton. Legislative staff was given apreview of basic groundwater concepts,which will be presented at the firsthearing of the Select Committee andGroundwater Quality. Staff was alsoprovided information on Bulletin 118,and DWR Bulletin 160, The CaliforniaWater Plan. A summary of pendinggroundwater legislation which GRArecommends supporting were alsodiscussed.

California Legislative CornerCalifornia Legislative Corner


23

The day ended with a reception anddebriefs. The reception was wellattended by many legislators, legislativestaff, and GRA members. All hadanother chance to discuss theimportance of California's groundwater,issues and opportunities to help us meetthe continuing challenges in ourgroundwater future.

This Legislative Symposium andLobby Day was a great beginning, abeginning to GRA becoming a bona fidevoice in the state. GRA can be a voice tohelp improve our current groundwaterconditions and assist in meeting theimmense challenges we will need toaddress in the very near future regardingwater availability and water quality. Iam honored to have been involved inthis effort, and I believe we have madeyet another visible leap in thisorganization's continued evolution, evenafter over ten years of presence inCalifornia. I look forward to continued

involvement and success with theLegislative Committee.

GRA would once again like toexpress our appreciation for our goldlevel sponsor CH2MHill; our lunchsponsor, Integrated ResourceManagement, and our receptionsponsor CRL EnvironmentalCorporation. Without the support ofour sponsors, GRA would not have beenable to conduct this very importantevent. And an additional thanks toJennifer Carbuccia and Chris Frahm ofHatch & Parent, GRA's LegislativeAdvocates who put the entire daytogether - great job!

Legislative Visits:Assembly Member PescettiSenator SherAssembly Member LeslieSenator O'Connell

Assembly Member HollingsworthSenator CostaAssembly Member WayneSenator TorlaksonAssembly Member JacksonSenator FigueroaAssembly Member ThomsonSenator PoochigianAssembly Member BriggsAssembly Member DickersonAssembly Member CalderonAssembly Member PavleyAssembly Member WymanAssembly Member CanciamillaAssembly Member Kelley

California Legislative CornerCalifornia Legislative Corner

The California Council ofGeoscience Organizations (CCGO)formed five years ago to speak on

behalf of the geoscience professions inthe legislative process. CCGO is anadvocate for the profession in the publicinterest. The group now has over adozen organizational members anddozens of business members andindividual donors. During the pastseveral years, CCGO has enjoyed greatsuccess in developing and enlarging awide-ranging network of influentialcontacts within the State Capital.CCGO has been approached by theDeputy Appointments Secretary for theCalifornia Governor to makerecommendations on geologists forappointments for various state boards.CCGO assisted in the successful renewalof the Board for Geologists andGeophysicists (BGG) during the sunsetreview process a few years ago. Lastyear, CCGO produced the first annualreview of the BGG, and distributed theresults of the evaluation to CCGOmembers as well as the BGG and policy

makers. CCGO has maintained a website listing our member organizationsand business members, as well asgeologic community calendar, legislativenews, geologic links and job bank. ACCGO geologist in the classroomprogram was developed and posted onthe CCGO web site (www.ccgo.org).CCGO is having two fundraising eventsthis year: one occurred in Los Angelesand is planned for June 5, 2002 inOakland, California. For the secondyear in a row, CCGO awarded twoAIPG Student Geology Awards at theCalifornia State Science Fair.

CCGO has conducted three annualSacramento Drive-In legislative days,meeting with a variety of legislators andpolicy makers. This year's SacramentoDrive-In was on March 13, 2002. TheCCGO delegation traveled toSacramento on March 13 to listen to theconcerns of those visited, offer technicalassistance, if needed, and to deliverseveral important points from theCalifornia geoscience community.

The main points discussed with thelegislators included:

Seismic hazards mapping and miningprograms should be funded;

Earth science education is importantand should be rigorous;

CCGO continues to support the banon MTBE, a gasoline additive;

Groundwater and surface water areimportant resources;

CCGO supports SB1958 requiringREA IIs to be licensed as geologists orengineers;

CCGO supports SB 1244 requiringthe Governor to make Boardappointments within 30days; and

CCGO does not support SB1500,requiring the CGS to remap seismichazards in local areas in detail.

The day started with a meeting withthe California Geological Survey (CGS).

The Council Model: CCGO and the Legislative ProcessBY JIM JACOBS, RG, CHG, CCGO PRESIDENT, 2001-2002; GRA DIRECTOR


24

Conjunctive Use - Tulelake SubbasinContinued from page 10

Water QualityGroundwater quality is an issue ofconcern in the Upper Klamath Basin.Wells discharging from the volcanicaquifer in the Lower Klamath Lake area,just west of the Tulelake Subbasin, haveelevated levels of chloride, sodium,sulfate, and silicate. High temperaturegroundwater also exists in portions of theUpper Klamath Basin indicating deepcirculation (Gates, 2001). In general,groundwater in the alluvial aquifer systemusually contains low concentrations ofdissolved constituents but is moresusceptible to surface watercontamination (Illian, 1970).

DWR collected groundwater samplesthroughout the Tulelake Subbasin duringsummer 2001 and compared them towater quality criteria for aquatic life andagricultural goals. Results were variablethroughout the subbasin but generallyindicated that specific conductance levelswere above agricultural goals anddissolved oxygen levels were low in nearlyall of the groundwater samples collected.Aluminum, iron, lead, zinc, ammonia,and sulfide were detected in groundwatersamples collected from wells in thesurficial deposits. One or more of thesewells were also high in boron, manganese,and molybdenum. Groundwater samplescollected from seven wells in the volcanicaquifer system contained ammonia,copper, and zinc at one or more wells.Boron, chloride manganese, andmolybdenum were also detected at one ormore of these wells. Groundwater fromthe alluvial aquifer system is characterizedas a sodium bicarbonate or a mixedsodium and magnesium bicarbonatewater type. Groundwater from the

volcanics is a sodium bicarbonate watertype.

Conjunctive ManagementDWR is currently developing a plan for aconjunctive management in the TID area.The plan is based on the USBR's draftoperational criteria indicating that in anygiven year the amount of surface waterdelivered will not be curtailed by morethan 50 percent of what is deliveredduring a normal year. Additionally, acumulative cutback of 100 percent overany 10-year period will not be made (U.S.Dept. of Interior, 2002). According to theDWR land use survey, the averageamount of surface water used in a normalyear is approximately 148,000-acre feet(ac-ft). Therefore, groundwater needed tooperate the subbasin conjunctively, duringa dry year with a surface water cutback of50 percent, would be 74,000 ac-ft. DWRis proposing that during seasons ofinadequate surface water deliveries, theareas on the east and west sides of thebasin use groundwater to meet demand.These areas near the edges of the subbasinare on fault zones that yield largequantities of groundwater. Furthermore,nearly all of the irrigation wells requiredfor this plan are installed and operational.Based on yield information obtained fromwell logs, the proposed plan wouldrequire fifty-five irrigation wells.Including the ten new TID wells, forty-seven operational wells exist, leavingeight new wells to be installed. Thiswould allow up to 50 percent of thesubbasin to be irrigated by groundwaterduring the minimum surface waterdelivery year. Groundwater rechargewould be accomplished naturally duringnormal or above normal precipitationyears when surface water deliveries wouldbe the sole source of irrigation water.

Conclusion The Tulelake Subbasin has historicallybeen supplied with surface water and

limited in groundwater development.Due to climatic conditions and instreamfishery concerns, groundwater use in thebasin is increasing. The two majoraquifer systems in the subbasin are thevolcanic basalt aquifer and the alluvialaquifer composed of lacustrine surficialdeposits. The alluvial aquifer is onlysufficient for domestic use and recharge islocal, mainly from surface waterinfiltration. The volcanic aquifer systemin the subbasin typically yields largequantities of water with transmissivityvalues in the 0.5 to 1.5-million gpd/ftrange. Recharge to the volcanic aquifer isprobably regional in extent.Groundwater quality in the basin isvariable, but in general, is marginal foragriculture goals and aquatic life criteria.DWR is currently working on a draftconjunctive management plan in thesubbasin to supplement curtailed surfacewater deliveries. The future of thefarmers in the subbasin is dependent onirrigation water. A well-designedconjunctive use plan may prove to satisfyboth environmental and farmer's needs.

References and the table of wells areprovided on GRA's web page atwww.grac.org/hv.html.

Bill Ehorn is a registered geologist inCalifornia and Oregon. He earned a BAin physical geography from UC SantaBarbara in 1987 and an MS inhydrogeology from CSU Chico in 1991.He worked in environmental consultingfor over 5 years and has been in hispresent position with the CaliforniaDepartment of Water Resources for over2 years. Email: [email protected]: (530) 528-7403

Technical review was provided byToccoy Dudley, Senior EngineeringGeologist, Chief, Groundwater Section,DWR Northern District, Red Bluff, CA.96080

substitution would initially be set at arealistic "cap" level that may increase infuture years as adaptive management andbetter understanding of the groundwaterresource so dictate. As appropriatereliance on groundwater substitutionincreases, a corresponding decrease inland idling will occur under this proposal.The long-term goal will be to diminish theneed for land idling as properly managedgroundwater production increases.

While additional reliance ongroundwater provides flexibility relativeto meeting the needs of other Projectareas, it carries with it the serious risk ofpotential impacts to surrounding wellowners and the related negative localpublic reaction that can result (even in theabsence of a clear relationship betweengroundwater pumping and allegedimpacts). By assigning a "cap" togroundwater use conducted via the waterbank, the groundwater extraction andrelated impacts can be better managed.Given the reaction of local domestic wellowners to last year's groundwaterprogram (particularly those wells used tosupplement refuge supplies), it is criticalthat all groundwater programs arecoordinated with one another. It will bevery difficult for the local community to

support a water bank without suchcontrol.

Most importantly, through closecoordination with other groundwaterprograms, effort must be directed tobetter define local and regionalgroundwater flow direction, dischargeand recharge characteristics, to ensurethat the cumulative effects ofgroundwater pumping do not impairaquifer conditions.

In the next year, local interests willwork with the Reclamation, U.S. Fish andWildlife Service, and state resourcesagencies to further develop animplementation framework for the waterbank. This year, it does not appear thatReclamation will seek new water from aProject water bank, given the currentrunoff forecast.

ConclusionBased on the success of last year'sgroundwater projects, it is clear thatgroundwater will play a role in meetingKlamath Project surface water shortfalls.However, the relative importance ofgroundwater development has yet to bedetermined, and it is but one of severalactions required to reach a balancedsolution for the Klamath Basin. Manylocal water users understand thatgroundwater cannot replace the surfacewater provided by the Klamath Project. Incertain critical years, however, it may

Groundwater Management - Upper Klamath BasinContinued from page 12

25

provide one source to supplement Projectsupplies.

There is no one magic bullet forsolving the problems of the KlamathBasin. The relative importance ofimproved groundwater management hasyet to be determined, and it is but one ofmany actions required to reach a balancedsolution in the Klamath Basin. Localirrigators will continue to push for theincorporation of strong science andmeaningful restoration activitiesthroughout the Klamath Basin for listedspecies in the refuges. Progress must alsobe made to improve storage and developother water management actions - such aswater banking - to satisfy multiplecompeting demands. These types ofactions will ultimately alleviate thedisproportionate ESA burden now borneby Klamath Project irrigators.

KWUA is a nonprofit corporation thathas represented Klamath IrrigationProject farmers and ranchers since 1953.KWUA members include rural irrigationdistricts and other public agencies, as wellas private irrigators operating on bothsides of the California-Oregon border.

Dan Keppen has served as ExecutiveDirector for KWUA since November2001. He has over 13 years of experiencein water resources engineering and policymatters, including California groundwatermanagement issues. Keppen served ongroundwater advisory committees forCALFED and the state of California, andhelped craft legislative provisions thatultimately became AB 303- California'sLocal Groundwater ManagementAssistance Act. Keppen received his MS inWater Resources Engineering fromOregon State University and his BS inPetroleum Engineering from theUniversity of Wyoming.

26

Chemist’s CornerChemist’s CornerRisk-Based ScreeningLevels for Brownfields

BY BART SIMMONS, DTSC

Property owners, through theirlobbyists, have sponsored a newmandated procedure to evaluate

Brownfields. This procedure is includedin SB 32, a bill approved and activatedon January 1, 2002. The approach usedis similar to previous proposals,including Soil Screening Levels (createdby US EPA) and PreliminaryRemediation Goals, which werepromulgated by EPA Region 9. Risk-Based Screening Levels (RBSL), createdby Dr. Roger Brewer of the SanFrancisco Regional Water QualityControl Board, are conservative levels ofsoil and water contamination, based onexisting risk-based numbers and existingmodels, which would be used to screenpotentially contaminated property.

Scientific Peer ReviewCalifornia EPA is sending the proposedlevels to the University of California forscientific peer review, which is requiredfor proposed regulations and policies.The scope of the peer review is theapproach used to create RBSLs,including representative chemicals. Thepeer review is scheduled to be completedby the end of 2002.

Testing issues for RBSLsOnce the scientific basis of the RBSLs hasbeen established, a few practical testingissues arise. They are not new, but arisewhen purely risk-based numbers are

proposed for environmental application.Conservative risk-based numbers oftencannot be measured by currently acceptedlaboratory technologies.

It may be risky, but can we measure it?First, there may not be approved testmethods available to measure substanceswith low risk levels, such as methylmercury. An easy solution would be tomeasure total mercury and not take anyfurther action unless the total mercuryexceeded a level equivalent to the methylmercury level.

How low can we go? Some substances,e.g., 2,3,7,8-TCDD, cannot be measuredby the current method of choice - high-resolution gas chromatography massspectrometry (HR GC-MS). A commonapproach is to use the reporting limit(detection limit or quantitation limit) ofthe method of choice.

What do we really want to measure?The chosen chemicals may not bedetected adequately by accepted practicefor measuring contamination. As anexample, 2,3,7,8-TCDD is now but oneof many "dioxin-like" chemicals,including polychlorinated dibenzodioxin congeners, chlorinateddibenzofurans, and dioxin-likepolychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). InU.S. EPA's recent dioxin reassessment,there was agreement that the entiregroup of dioxin-like compounds shouldbe regulated according to their relativetoxicity according to establishedToxicity Equivalence Factors (TEFs).HR GC-MS can measure all of the

dioxin-like compounds, so no newtechnology is necessary. In addition,cheaper and newer technologies using areporter gene assay or immunoassaymay be alternatives to HR GC-MS.

Is it naturally-occurring? Arsenic,for one, exists in California in water andsoil in concentrations that may exceedrisk-based numbers. The usual cure forthis is to establish a "background"concentration and compare site levelswith an action level, e.g., an uppertolerance level, based on thebackground data. While this approachis often used, there is risk that theresultant action level is overlyconservative in practice, leading tounnecessary expense.

ImplementationRisk-based screening levels can solve areal problem: how to expedite theclearance of sites with minimal or nosignificant contamination. The practicaltesting problems listed above can besolved. In fact, none of them are new.The expanded use of RBSLs provides anopportunity to establish uniformapproaches to measuring contamination.

Bart Simmons is the Chief of theDepartment of Toxic Substances Control'sHazardous Materials Laboratory and canbe reached at [email protected].

27

CCGO developed an "Action List" formembers to help CCGO as a result of theSacramento Drive-In:

Seismic safety and mining programsshould be funded; Members can write totheir legislators requesting funding.Please contact Jim Jacobs([email protected]) for details.

Earth science education is importantand should be rigorous; Please contactSue Jagoda([email protected]) formore details.

CCGO continues to support the banon MTBE, a gasoline additive; pleasenotify your legislator, and write toGovernor Davis regarding the issue.

CCGO supports SB1958 regardingthe REAII Program; please write lettersto Senator Polanco's office and the BGG.

CCGO supports SB 1244 (Figueroa)requiring the Governor to make Boardappointments within 30 days; pleasewrite letters to Senator Figueroa's office.

CCGO does not support SB1500,requiring the CGS to map local areas indetail. Please write to your legislatorsregarding this issue.

In sum, the CCGO 3rd AnnualSacramento Drive-In was a terrificopportunity to connect with thelegislators and government geologists. Itwas gratifying that many of the legislatorsremembered us from previous meetingsand the discussions were interesting andhelpful. All the legislators invited CCGOback again next year for the 4th AnnualSacramento Drive-In in March 2003.

CCGO is poised to expand its role inthe legislative, regulatory, and educationalaffairs of California. In the next year,CCGO will advance programs, requestfunding and legislation that recognize thestate's diverse geologic conditions,advocate knowledgeable use of resources,and work to reduce the impact of geologichazards. CCGO's work is far from over,and our success ultimately depends on thesupport of our membership.

Jim Jacobs, RG#4815; CHG#88

CCGO President 2001-2002; GRABoard Member

Chief Hydrogeologist, FAST-TEKEngineering Support Services (www.fast-tek.com/)

In addition to the several senior CGSstaff, Jim Davis, State Geologist, JohnParrish, Executive Officer of the StateMining and Geology Board (SMGB) andDarryl Young, Director of theDepartment of Conservation, attended.CCGO supports two programs within theDepartment of Conservation that are inneed of additional funding: a CGS SeismicHazards Mapping Program, and theSMGB Mineral Classification Program.In addition, CCGO does not support thepending SB1500, which would have theCGS map local areas, thereby divertingfunds from regional mapping andpotentially shifting the authority toimpose land use requirements andfinancial liability to the State.

CCGO met with Mark Grisby, in theGovernor's Office of Appointments. Wecongratulated him on the SMGBappointments made, and encouraged himto push the appointments still needed forthe Board for Geologists andGeophysicists (BGG) and the State WaterResources Control Board. AssistantSecretary Bob Spurlock in the Office ofthe Secretary of Education met withCCGO. Science education was discussedwith the point that earth science should bepart of the public school curriculum andshould be taught in a rigorous manner.

In the Capitol, CCGO met with PaulSweeney, Executive Officer of the BGGand George Dunfield, Senior Geologistwith the BGG. The main issue for theBGG is unlicensed practice. With theREA II program receiving numerouscomplaints by regulators, CCGOsupports the BGG sponsored bill SB1958carried by Senator Richard Polanco. Theproposed bill requires all RegisteredEnvironmental Assessors II (REAII) to beeither registered geologists (RGs) orprofessional engineers (PEs). Later in theday, CCGO met with Chris Flammer ofSenator Richard Polanco's staff to showCCGO's support of SB1958. CCGO alsomet briefly with Judy Wolen, AEG'sSacramento lobbyist.

By mid-day, CCGO met withAssemblymembers Elaine Alquist and JoeNation, and their staffs, and withAssemblymember Manny Diaz's chief ofstaff. Later in the afternoon, CCGO met

with Senators Byron Sher and LizFigueroa. The lead consultant for theSenate Committee on GovernmentalOrganization is Art Terzakis, who metwith CCGO to discuss seismic safety.CCGO discussed with the variouslegislators groundwater and surface wateras one of California's most valuableresources. The Groundwater ResourcesAssociation of California and CCGOsupported Governor Davis' ban on MTBEa few years ago. Now Governor Davismay retreat on his promise to ban forMTBE, and the legislators were told thatCCGO does not support that change.

As part of CCGO's geologicalsensitivity awareness program, legislatorswere given copies of the CCGO MissionStatement and objectives, annual reportsfrom the State Mining and GeologyBoard, and a copy of the AmericanInstitute of Professional Geologist'spopular Homebuyer's Guide to GeologicHazards. The CCGO delegation includedJames Jacobs, President of CCGOrepresenting the AIPG; Betsy Mathieson,Past President of CCGO representingAEG - San Francisco; Richard Blake,Secretary of CCGO, representing AAPGPacific Section; Sue Jogoda, Vice Presidentand President Elect of CCGO,representing the California Earth ScienceTeachers Association; Tim Parker,Legislative Chairman representing theGroundwater Resources Association ofCalifornia; and Jennifer Carbuccia,Legislative Committee, representing theGroundwater Resources Association ofCalifornia.

CCGO thanks its organizationalmembers: American Association ofPetroleum Geologists, Pacific Section;American Institute of ProfessionalGeologists - California Section;Association for Women Geoscientists -Los Angeles, San Francisco, and SierraChapters; Association of EngineeringGeologists - Sacramento, San Francisco,and Southern California Sections;California Earth Science TeachersAssociation; Central Coast GeologicalSociety; Davenport Geological Society;Groundwater Resources Association ofCalifornia; Inland Geological Society;Monterey Bay Geological Society; andAmerican Association of PetroleumGeologists (AAPG) Pacific Section.CCGO is appreciative of the numerousbusiness members and individual donors.

The Council Model - CCGOContinued from page 23

28

Editorial PageEditorial PageTurbulent FlowIndustry News and More

Bill Motzer (formerly with HydroEnvironmental) is now at ToddEngineers in Emeryville, which

has formed an alliance withKennedy/Jenks (Kennedy/Jenks/Todd).Martin Steinpress (formerly withMWH) has moved to Brown andCaldwell in Walnut Creek as ChiefHydrogeologist and GroundwaterResources Service Leader. Ken Loy(formerly with MWH) is joining WestYost & Associates in Davis.

One recent Monday seemed bleakerfor many Olathe, KS residents whenthey woke up to reports that the city'swater supply was contaminated andunfit for drinking or even bathing.Radio station KQRC (98.9) reportedthat the water contained "high levels ofa naturally occurring substance,"dihydrogen monoxide, that causesincreased urination, profuse sweatingand wrinkling of hands and feet. Boilingthe water long enough would get rid ofthe substance. Jerald Robnett, Olathe'ssuperintendent of water protection, saidhis department received calls from 150customers. City officials said that about30 residents called 911 and that others

questioned the city's main switchboardoperator for guidance.

Turns out it was all an April Fools'Day gag. But the DJs prank left cityofficials less than amused. "It's aterrorist act as far as I'm concerned,"

Robnett said. "It's like going to theairport and shouting that you have agun. It's stupidity." Neal Mirsky,KQRC program director, said that as

soon as the station realized there was aproblem, "we pulled the plug on it. Wedidn't intend for any of this," he said."We thought a couple of people wouldgo to work without a shower." Mirskysaid that the station got calls from somelisteners who said they did not think it

was funny, but thatothers called to say,"You got me."Technically they hadtheir facts straight.Dihydrogen monoxide,after all, is a scientificname for water. It cancause the "symptoms"described, and boilingwill make it go away.That did not placateOlathe officials. (KatieWeeks, The KansasCity Star, April 2,2002).

Send industry newsfor HydroVisions to [email protected]

Letters to the editor, Floyd Flood, arewelcome and encouraged. Please

submit your letter to [email protected]

BY FLOOD FLOYD, EDITOR

29

American Society of Civil Engineers inOakland. Dr. David Sedlak, University ofCalifornia was the speaker.

August 2002 Branch meeting (date andlocation pending). Jean Moran,Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory(LLNL) will be speaking about LLNL'swater supply contamination susceptibilityassessment.

October 2002 workshop onenvironmental forensics. Contact BillMotzer, Workshop Coordinator, fordetails ([email protected]).

The Branch officers are trying toencourage participation from students atlocal universities. At the last meeting inSan Jose, corporate sponsors paid forapproximately ten students to attend themeeting. We hope to continue asponsorship or student discount programat future Branch meetings. The Branch isalso developing an annual scholarshipprogram for students in hydrogeologyprograms at local universities and plans tohost a Branch meeting featuring studentspeakers.

BY GARY FOOTE

The San Francisco Bay Branch is offto a good start in 2002. Branchofficers have been working hard to

put together a high-quality program forthe year and Branch meetings have beenvery well attended. Here is a briefsummary of highlights from 2002 Branchmeetings to date:

January 9, 2002 meeting in Oakland.The meeting was the Branch's annualupdate from the San Francisco BayRegional Water Quality Control Board.Greg Bartow gave an overview of theBoard's current programs and emergingtrends including the recently released draftreport, "Comprehensive GroundwaterProtection Evaluation for South SanFrancisco Bay Basins." Roger Brewer gavea presentation titled "Hidden Menace?Threat to Groundwater Plumes to EstuaryHabitats."

March 13, 2002 meeting in Oakland.The National Ground Water Association2002 McEllhiney Distinguished Lecturer,John Schnieders, FAIC, CPC, gave apresentation on chemical rehabilitation ofwells, an important issue for water supplywells and groundwater extraction wellsthat are part of groundwater remediationsystems.

April 18, 2002 meeting in San Jose.Dr. June Oberdorfer from San Jose StateUniversity spoke on the subject ofsubmarine groundwater discharge andpresented results from a number ofdifferent experiments that were conductedon a coastal aquifer near Perth Australia.

Upcoming activities include:May 15, 2002 Branch meeting in Oakland.Carl Hauge, Chief Hydrogeologist with theCalifornia Department of Water Resourcespresented an update on statewidegroundwater programs and legislation.(Yes, we borrowed this idea from the SanJoaquin Valley Branch).

June 19, 2002 joint meeting with

BY BILL PIPES

Serving the Great Central Valley fromStockton to Bakersfield, the newlyformed San Joaquin Valley Branch of

GRA is off to a great start. The Branchkick-off meeting was January 17, 2002,and we have since held monthly meetingson the third Thursday of every month.The meetings typically attract 40 plusattendees and a diverse stakeholder groupin the valley - academics, regulators,water purveyors, students, waterattorneys, consultants, planners andpoliticians.

The meetings start off with a socialhour followed by dinner and a featuredspeaker. Speakers have included:

Carl Hauge, Chief Hydrogeologist, CADepartment of Water Resources

San Francisco BayBranch Highlights

San Joaquin ValleyBranch Highlights

B R A N C H A C T I V I T I E S

Dr. Ken Schmidt, Kenneth D. Schmidt& Associates

Martin McIntyre, Water Systems Managerand Director, Fresno Department of PublicWorks

Dr. Karl Longley, Dean of the Collegeof Engineering and Computer Science atCSU Fresno and Director of theCalifornia Water Institute

Jon Parker, General Manager of KernWater Bank Authority

Officers elected to serve this year are:President - Bill Pipes, GeomatrixConsultants; Vice President - TomHaslebacher, Kern County Water Agency;Treasurer - Chris Campbell, Baker,Manock & Jensen; and Secretary - MaryMcClanahan, California Water Institute.Serving as Chair of the EducationCommittee is Barbara Houghton,Houghton HydroGeo-Logic and as Chairof the Technical Committee is GregIssinghoff, Regional Water QualityControl Board.

The Branch is grateful to its sponsorsfor this year's meetings and those thathave helped the Branch get started on the"right" foot - GRA, Welenco, RoscoeMoss, Geomatrix Consultants, andHudson*Orth Communications.

The June meeting features JamesGiannopolous, Principal Engineer, StateWater Resources Control Board, speakingon the threat to deeper aquifers fromshallow groundwater contamination.Other meetings this year will be in July(speaker to be announced), October (NeilDubrovsky, USGS), and December(speaker to be announced).

The Branch is looking forward tohosting GRA's "Nitrate in Groundwater"Symposium on November 12 & 13, 2002in Fresno!

30

regulatory agencies that have jurisdictionover their environmental projects.However, this may not be enough toprotect the client from being sued forfailing to take sufficient corrective actionmeasures. Beth then discussed some ofthe appropriate measures that one cantake to better protect their client - eventhough they may meet the current "legalstandard."

The esteemed speaker at the Marchmeeting was Mr. Barry Pulver, AssociateEngineering Geologist with the San DiegoRegional Water Quality Control Board(Region 9). Region 9 includes most ofSan Diego County and portions ofOrange and Riverside Counties.Although there is not extensivegroundwater use in Region 9, there havebeen several serious cases of MTBEimpacts to drinking water. Barry'spresentation conducted an overview ofMTBE impacts in Region 9 and specificcase studies of the Lakeside and Temeculaplumes.

BY TONY MAGGIO

The Southern California Branch hashad an active year so far. Inaddition to myself, officers this

year include Darrell Thompson, VicePresident, Bob Ruscitto, Treasurer,Carmen Guzman, Secretary, and SteveZigen, Member at Large.

The Branch has been fortunate toobtain some very knowledgeable,professional and interesting speakers at itsbi-monthly meetings. We kicked off theyear in January with the first speaker, Ms.Beth Dorris, Esq., a partner in McKennaand Cuneo's Los Angeles Law Practice.Beth's presentation was titled, "IsCompliance with Agency StandardsEnough?" Her presentation addressed thefact that most environmental engineersand geologists focus on satisfying the

The third meeting was held in earlyMay, inadvertently during the same weekas the ACWA conference held inMonterey, CA. Though our attendancewas small, the speaker, Mr. Desi Alvarez,Director of Public Works for the City ofDowney, CA, was extremely interesting.The meeting ended up being held in aninformal manner around the dinner table.Desi gave us an up-to-the-moment updateon recent litigation between the pumpersof the Central Basin (LA) and the WaterReplenishment District, an issue thatdeals with ownership of storage rights inan adjudicated basin. Our questions werenumerous and Desi's answers were greatin that he had the time and luxury, due tothe small group, to elaborate in detailupon the history of the Central Basin andthe issues leading up to the litigation.

The remainder of our efforts have beenin helping arrange for speakers and a fieldtrip at GRA's Annual Meeting September18-19, 2002 in Newport Beach. More tocome on these events.

Southern CaliforniaBranch Highlights

B R A N C H A C T I V I T I E S

Groundwater Resources Association 11th Annual Conference & Meeting

"Sustaining Groundwater Resources:The Critical Vision"

September 18 & 19, 2002Sutton Place Hotel, Newport Beach, California

The global community must recognize the importance andinterrelated nature of the challenges facing our water

resources and implement coordinated managementprograms to preserve the integrity of these resources.

Cooperating Organizations:American Water Works AssociationAssociation of California Water AgenciesCalifornia Groundwater AssociationInternational Association of HydrogeologistsNational Ground Water AssociationNatural Resources Section - California State BarProfessional Environmental Marketing AssociationWater Education Foundation

For additionalinformation please seepage 2 and 3 in this

HydroVisions or visitwww.grac.org.

31

B R A N C H C O N T A C T S

San Francisco Bay Branche-mail: [email protected]

President: Gary FooteGeomatrix Consultants, Inc.

(510) [email protected]

Vice President: J.C. IshamThe I.T. Group


Secretary: Mary MorkinMalcolm Pirnie(510) 596-3060

[email protected]

Treasurer: David AbbottDavid Keith Todd Consulting Engineers


Membership Chair: Bill MotzerHydro-Environmental Technologies, Inc.

(510) 521-2684www.hydroenvironmental.com

Technical Chair: Jim UlrickUlrick & Associates


South Bay Coordinator: Mark WheelerCrawford Consulting


Past President: Linda [email protected]

Central Coast Branche-mail: [email protected]

President: Terry L. ForemanCH2MHill

(805) 371-7817, [email protected]

Vice President: Stephanie Osler HastingsHatch and Parent

(805) 963-7000, [email protected]

Secretary: William (Bill) O’Brien, PEApplications International Corp. (SAIC)

(805) 966-0811 [email protected]

Treasurer: Ryan HardingTetra Tech, Inc.(805) 681-3100

[email protected]

Southern California Branche-mail: [email protected]

President: Tony MaggioSCS Engineers(562-426-9544

email: [email protected]

Vice President: Darrel ThompsonIT Corp

(949) 660-7532email: [email protected]

Treasurer: Robert RuscittoARCADIS/Geraghty & Miller

(714) 278-0992e-mail: [email protected]

Secretary: Carmen GuzmanARCADIS/Geraghty & Miller

(714) 278-0992e-mail: [email protected]

Member At Large: Steve ZiganEnvironmental Resolutions


Past President: Paul ParmentierIT Corp


Past President: James CarterEMAX Laboratories, Inc.


Past President: Louis R. ReimerTait & Associates(714) 560-8200

email: [email protected]

Sacramento Branche-mail: [email protected]

President: Richard ShatzBookman-Edmonston


Vice President: Kelly TilfordDuke Engineering(916) 561-4598

[email protected]

Secretary: Dave ZuberBrown & Caldwell


Treasurer: David Von AspernWallace•Kuhl & Associates, Inc.


Member At Large: Pat DunnUS Geological Survey


Member At Large: Barbara HeinschYolo County Div. of Integrated Wast Mgmt.


Member At Large: Steven P. PhillipsUS Geological Survey


San Joaquin Valley Branche-mail: [email protected]

President: Bill PipesGeomatrix Consultants, Inc.


Secretary: Mary McClanahanCalifornia Water Institute, CSU, Fresno


Vice President: Tom HaslebacherKern County Water Agency


Treasurer: Christopher CampbellBaker, Manock & Jensen, a law firm


32

Main San Gabriel Basin, recounted thediscovery of perchlorate in San GabrielValley Basin aquifers years after theremediation of these aquifers was initiatedto address solvent contamination. Existinggroundwater treatment systems that weredesigned to remove solvents at these siteswere found to be ineffective at removingperchlorate. Ms. Williams discussed howagreements were later reached to usewellhead treatment as part of the approvedcleanup program rather than costly andredundant remediation efforts. Theagreement was a major breakthrough inbringing together parties with diverse andopposing interests, many of which havebeen in litigation for years. Ms. Williamsalso discussed how water supply wellsoperated by the La Puente Valley WaterDistrict and forced to shut down as aprecautionary measure resumed servingcustomers a year ago. Third, Mr. StephenHoch of the law firm Hatch & Parentpresented a fresh perspective on publicperception of environmental contamination.He also discussed a range of legal issuesspecifically related to perchlorate.

After lunch was served, Mr. AlexMacDonald from the Central ValleyRegional Water Quality Control Boardspoke about NDMA and perchloratecontamination in eastern SacramentoCounty from an Aerojet facility thatcaused the shut down of 13 water supplywells. Mr. McDonald provided a historicaloverview of the problem and outlined theefforts in evaluating long-term strategiesand in finding replacement water supplies.

Finally, Dr. Eric LaBolle from theUniversity of California at Davis gave adetailed technical presentation focused onthe use of computer models to predict thesubsurface transport of perchlorate in theSacramento area with an emphasis on howsubsurface geologic complexities impactthe behavior of perchlorate in groundwatersystems.

Session 3: Treatment and RemediationEx-situ water treatment and in-situ soiland groundwater technologies forperchlorate and NDMA removal were thefocus of the third session. Because

perchlorate and NDMA are non-volatileand highly soluble in water, they poseunique remediation challenges. Mr. EvanCox, an associate at GeoSyntecConsultants, started the session withresults of enhanced in-situ bioremediationpilot studies for the removal of perchloratefrom soil and groundwater. In addition tobiologically-based systems, Mr. Coxdiscussed the use of metal catalyzedreduction reactions for the in-situdestruction of perchlorate.

Second, Mr. Bill Guarini, Vice Presidentand Program Manager for Envirogen'sperchlorate treatment program, discussedthe use of various ex-situ bioreactortechnologies for the removal of perchloratefrom water. Most of these systems havebeen successfully tested at full-scale levels(Aerojet Facility, CA; LonghornAmmunition Army Plant, TX; etc.) and arecommercially available. In addition todiscussing ex-situ bioreactors, Mr. Guarinigave a sneak preview of an in-situbioremediation demonstration whichstarted this past spring. In addition, Mr.Guarini discussed the potential for NDMAbiodegradation by a number of purecultures isolated by Envirogen researchers.

Third, Professor Jacimaria Batista andher graduate student Ms. Tina Gingrasfrom the University of Nevada at LasVegas discussed the use of ion exchangetechnologies for perchlorate removal fromwater. Several ions exchange resins weretested in Dr. Batista's laboratory. Dr.Batista reported that a high perchlorateremoval efficiency but low regenerationefficiency were observed with strong baseanionic resins, while weak base anionicresins exhibited a good removal efficiencyfor perchlorate as well as a goodregeneration efficiency. Dr. Batista and herstudent also presented preliminary resultsregarding the use of bioreactors for thetreatment of spent ion exchangewastewater (brine) containing high levelsof perchlorate and the optimization ofsuch reactors to achieve acceptableperchlorate degradation rates.

Finally, Dr. Sun Liang from theMetropolitan Water District of SouthernCalifornia talked about the use ofadvanced oxidation processes for theremoval of NDMA from drinking water.Dr. Liang indicated that pulsed-UVtechnologies are effective for reducing

NDMA concentrations in water and thatthe UV dose is the most importantparameter impacting contaminantreduction efficiency. In addition, Dr. Liangsuggested that ozone alone is ineffective forNDMA destruction, but that thecombination of ozone and peroxideimproves NDMA removal efficiencies.

This symposium was conducted byGRA in cooperation with the InternationalAssociation of Hydrogeologists, theAssociation of California Water Agencies,the Society of Environmental Toxicologyand Chemistry, the National WaterResearch Institute, the ProfessionalEnvironmental Marketing Association andothers.

The event was co-sponsored by DionexCorporation, Envirogen/US Filter, Geo-Syntec Consultants, Malcolm Pirnie, Max-xam Analytical, Pat-Chem Laboratories, theNatural Resources Section of the CaliforniaSate Bar and Welenco.

Due to HydroVisions' publicationdeadline, the Symposium speakers have nothad the opportunity to review thisSymposium summary, which does notnecessarily represent the views of thespeakers or their organizations. Foradditional information on thesymposium, binders containing speakercontact information, slides, abstracts andother supplemental information can bepurchased from GRA (914-446-3626) orwww.grac.org\publications.pdf.

Rula Deeb, Ph.D., is a senior projectengineer and bioremediation specialist atMalcolm Pirnie, Inc., in Emeryville, CA.Dr. Deeb chaired GRA's symposium onperchlorate and NDMA. She is one of themanagers of a WateReuse Foundationproject investigating the removal anddestruction of NDMA in wastewatertreatment processes.

Elisabeth Hawley is an engineer atMalcolm Pirnie, Inc., in Emeryville, CA.She is working on a number of projectsinvestigating the environmental fate andtransport of emerging watercontaminants, and the effectiveness of arange of technologies for the removal ofthese contaminants from soil andgroundwater.

Perchlorate and NDMAContinued from page 5

33

Largely over the past two decades,Arizona, Colorado, Nebraska, NewMexico, and Texas have each devisedunique programs for managinggroundwater. These states have sought tocultivate institutions that manage byhydrologic regions, as in the case ofNebraska where Natural ResourceDistricts largely based on hydrologicboundaries have become the unit forimplementing the state's groundwaterpolicy. Althoughthese programsunders tandab lydiffer, they haveseveral commoncharac t e r i s t i c s ,including: (1) clearmechanisms of groundwater allocationand dispute resolution, (2) long-termplanning and goal setting, (3) clearjurisdiction in administration ofgroundwater policies, (4) comprehensivemonitoring, (5) state oversight withvarying degrees of local implementation,and, in some instances, (6) ambientgroundwater quality protectionprograms. Most of these features areabsent from California's system ofgroundwater allocation and qualityprotection.

A comparison of these states hasyielded several interesting findingssuggestive of potential action inCalifornia. First, given California's longhistory with water districts at theforefront of water allocation andprotection, water districts must be thebasis for achieving this optimal outcome.Currently 157 types of water districtsexist in California, often with conflictinggoals, boundaries, and authority. Second,a comprehensive monitoring andaccounting program needs to take shape.The passage of AB 599 this past year tostudy the potential for increasedcoordination in groundwater monitoring

is a positive step, but substantive changesare necessary. Third, there should be asubstantive groundwater planningcomponent to these districts. Theestablishment of Basin ManagementObjectives (BMOs),4 as has occurred in afew areas in California, would furtherlong-term planning goals. Unfortunately,many AB 3030 plans often lack substantivecomponents. Substantive groundwaterplans could be used to integrategroundwater into the Regional SWRCBs'Basin Plans.

SB 1938 (Machado) as amended (May21, 2002) could foster substantivecomponents in groundwater plans by

linking statefunding to theinclusion ofs u c hcomponents.In order toqualify as a

groundwater management plan for thepurposes of funding, the bill wouldrequire BMOs relating to groundwaterlevel regulation, quality degradation,subsidence, and surface water impacts ongroundwater quality and level. It alsowould require the imposition of amonitoring program sufficient to detectchanges in groundwater level and quality.

The Commission wrote in 1978, ". . .California's extensive and extremelyvaluable groundwater resources are notadequately protected. Except in a fewareas, groundwater extraction is notmanaged to the extent that oil and gasproduction, timber harvesting, mining, oreven surface water diversions are.California's water is usually available toany pumper, public or private, who wantsto extract it, regardless of the impact ofextraction on neighboring groundwaterpumpers or on the general community."Given the array of ideas available forremedying the situation that have beenimplemented in neighboring states, itappears that California could developmore effective institutions to foster thelong-term protection of groundwaterquality and quantity.

References1 Cline v. American Aggregates

Corporation (1984). 15 Ohio St. 3d 384.

2 Sax, J. L. (2002). Review Of The LawsEstablishing The SWRCB's PermittingAuthority Over Appropriations OfGroundwater Classified As SubterraneanStreams And The SWRCB's ImplementationOf Those Laws. Sacramento, State WaterResources Control Board.

3 Governor's Commission to ReviewCalifornia Water Rights Law (1978).Final report - Governor's Commission toReview California Water Rights Law.Sacramento, The Commission.

4 For an excellent overview of theBasin Management Plan concept, seeHauge, C. (2002). GroundwaterManagement. San Joaquin Valley BranchGroundwater Resources Association,Fresno, California.

Randolph Flay ([email protected]) is a graduate student,Department of Environmental Science,Policy and Management, University ofCalifornia, Berkeley. This investigation isa portion of Mr. Flay's M.S. research. T.N. Narasimhan ([email protected])is a professor, Department ofEnvironmental Science, Policy andManagement, Department of MaterialsScience and Mineral Engineering. Prof.Narasimhan also serves as Mr. Flay'sadvisor. They may be reached at MaterialsScience and Mineral Engineering, 591Evans Hall, University of California atBerkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-1760.

Student Research Corner is compiledby Vicki Kretsinger, GRA Director.

“Currently 157 types of water districtsexist in California, often with

conflicting goals, boundaries, andauthority.”

Comparative Analysis ofGroundwater Management StrategiesContinued from page 13

34

trade association as very similar. Howoften do we join an association with ourfocus on how membership is going to reapnew business for us? And then, when newbusiness doesn't flow to us like hot lavafrom a newly erupted volcano, we arequick to point out how benefit-less ourtrade association membership is. Thefollowing are ways to use some of theservices GRA offers, how you can quicklycommunicate your needs, and how youcan become directly involved with GRA.Learning to appreciate your membershipcan provide the benefits you expect.

1. Visit the GRA Web site at leasttwice a month as information is updatedconsistently about new GRA technicalprograms, changes in ongoing and newlegislation, developments in groundwaterresources policy and regulations arenas,new publications, organizationalactivities, job postings, groundwater-related resources and more.

2. Use of the new GRA Web siteprogram will enable you to access yourspecific membership information, viewand print the GRA membership directory,renew your membership, register forconferences and symposiums, sign up forvarious automatic informational emails,order publications and more.

3. Review the new GRA CommitteeList on the Web site that will include theCommittee Chair, Committee membersand Committee responsibilities. If youfind a Committee that you would like toparticipate in, you will be able to join theCommittee and submit your contactinformation to the Committee Chaironline.

4. Use the Contact and Feedback pageon GRA's Web site to quickly submit anyquestions or comments you may haveabout GRA, and its services andprograms.

Fish! includes a written piece by JohnGardner titled "Meaning". He writes,"Meaning is something you build intoyour life...out of the values for which youare willing to sacrifice something. Theingredients are there." He ends by

2002 Annual Awards ProgramContinued from page 16

Annual Meeting Field TripContinued from page 2

Stop 2. After returning from the Forebay,District staff will describe the geology ofthe coastal area, including coastal geologyas related to seawater intrusion andconstruction and operation of theDistrict's injection barrier. This part ofthe tour will include a stop at one or twoof the District's injection facilities.

Stop 3. Tour of OCWD Water Factory21 treatment facility, which receivesprimary treated water from the adjacentOrange County Sanitation Districtfacilities. This water is additionallytreated to meet Title 22 drinkingstandards prior to blending and deep wellinjection at the Talbert Barrier injectionfacilities.

For more information please callKathy Snelson at (916) 446-3626 or e-mail at [email protected] trip details will be posted onGRA's web site at www.grac.org.

groundwater industry and have beenpioneers in their field of expertise.

Previous Lifetime Achievement Awardwinners include:

2001 - Carl Hauge

2000 - Joseph H. Birman

1999 - David Keith Todd

1998 - Eugene E. Luhdorff, Jr.

KEVIN J. NEESE: recognizes significantaccomplishment by a person or entitywithin the most recent 12-month periodthat fosters the understanding,development, protection andmanagement of groundwater.

Previous Kevin J. Neese Award winnersinclude:

2001 - American River BasinCooperating Agencies and SacramentoGroundwater Authority Partnership forfostering the understanding anddevelopment of a cooperative approach toregional planning, protection andmanagement of groundwater.

2000 - Board of Directors of the ChinoBasin Watermaster for delivering aremarkable OBMP that created aconsensus-based approach for makingwater supplies in the Chino Basin morereliable and cost effective.

1999 - Governor Gray Davis for hiswork and leadership in addressing MTBE.

A Message from the Exec. DirectorContinued from page 16


35

site at www.wateraware.org for moreinformation.

Governor Davis declares November 3-9 asCalifornia Groundwater WeekIn another effort to promote wise use andprotection of groundwater, CGA askedGovernor Davis to proclaim November 3-9, 2002 as California Groundwater Week.The Governor's proclamation, dated May8th 2002, notes "groundwater plays animportant role in implementing a long-term comprehensive plan to improve

NGWA McEllhiney Lecture on ChemicalRehabilitation of Wells. The informationgathered at the convention may be usefulin helping answer the public's questionsabout groundwater.

We hope GRA members will considerways that you can increase publicunderstanding of groundwater qualityand supply issues. If you have any ideason how we can work together to promotewise use and protection of groundwater,give me a call at 707-578-4408 or email:[email protected].

California's ecosystems, water supply andwater management..."

We believe holding CaliforniaGroundwater Week in November as weenter our "natural groundwater rechargeperiod" (rainy season) provides anexcellent opportunity for all groundwaterprofessionals to help the state's citizenslearn more about this vast and importantresource. We plan to providegroundwater information, well safety tipsfor consumers and other items to thepublic during that week.

We'll also be holding CGA's 54thAnnual Convention and Trade Show thatweek and will hold seminars of interest togroundwater professionals including the

California Groundwater Assn. UpdateContinued from page 14

A Message from the Exec. DirectorContinued from page 34

CARTWRIGHTAERIAL SURVEYS, INC.

Robert W. Bowcock(909) 621-1266(909) 621-1196 Fax

INTEGRATED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, INC.Water Resources for Government, Agriculture, Mining & Industry

18124 Wedge Parkway, Suite 146 212 North Yale AvenueReno, Nevada 89511 Claremont, California 91711

IR M

writing, "If it does (life have meaning),then the particular balance of success andfailure is of less account." This writingreminds me of the current GRA Board ofDirectors because the individuals whomake up the Board are relentless in theirpursuit of the latest groundwaterresources information, pressing issues,policy and regulation changes, and themost effective avenues and processes in

which this information can be accessibleto you. They are working (on behalf ofGRA) every day to offer you a variety ofways to find "meaning to yourmembership."

Is GRA membership meaningful foryou? If so, keep your GRA membershipin good standing, share your GRAexperiences with colleagues andencourage them to join, communicate tome and GRA Directors how theAssociation is saving you time and money,and connecting you to the "right"resources. Or, if GRA services aren't

meeting your needs, let us know what youwant so that GRA can ensure that youreceive the benefits of "partialownership" that you expect!

Presorted

First Class Mail

U.S. Postage Paid

Sacramento, CA

Permit No. 1277GROUNDWATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATIONOF CALIFORNIA

915 L STREET, SUITE 1000 SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA 95814

Dates & DetailsGRA MEETINGS AND KEY DATES

(Please visit www.grac.org for detailed information unless noted)

GRA Board Meeting August 10, 2002Point Richmond, CA

"Principles of Groundwater Flow September 25, 26, 27, 2002Transport Modeling" San Francisco Bay Area, CA

11th Annual Meeting Field Trip September 17, 2002“Sustaining Groundwater Resources: September 18 & 19, 2002The Critical Vision” (11th Annual Meeting) Newport Beach, CA

"MTBE in Groundwater” October 17, 2002San Jose, CA

"Nitrate in Groundwater” November 12 & 13, 2002Fresno, CA

Other Key Dates (programs in which GRA is a Cooperator or Co-Sponsor)

“AGWSE 2002 and the Innovative September 5-6, 2002Approaches to Ground Water Disinfection: Sacramento, CAColiforms, Pathogens and Contaminants”

groundwater management in the upper klamath basin - a local … · ranchers and planners are...

Documents