There is a need for an organized venue to improve and refocus water resource protection and management by strengthening ground water programs and initiatives at all levels of government. The NGWSC was established to meet this need by addressing four priority activities—evaluating the status of governmental efforts; developing positions to suggest a model national water strategy inclusive of ground water; identifying, developing further, and advocating for coordination across related programs and efforts; and identifying methods and tools to market ground water protection. This meeting will focus on identifying priority issues for action and on the organizational structure to focus on specific aspects of the priority activities.