National Groundwater Monitoring Network Progress Report: Framework Document Basis for Pilot Testing

The ACWI Subcommittee on Ground Water (SOGW) has been working steadily to develop and encourage implementation of a nationwide, long-term ground-water quantity and quality monitoring network.  Recently, the development of the coastal water quality-oriented National Monitoring Network triggered related interest of several groundwater professionals.  This led to the development of a steering committee and a strong show of support through volunteer participation from federal, state, private sector, and academic areas.

 With approval from ACWI, the SOGW formed from the steering committee.  Its primary goal is to develop and implement a national framework to facilitate assessments of the quantity of U.S. groundwater reserves, as constrained by groundwater quality. Significant progress includes the release of a framework document in August 2009, with recommendations for implementation of the network.  Now, implementation of its recommendations has involved entering the next phase, for piloting of the concepts in the Framework Document.

 The SOGW mission includes addressing several issues regarding network design and implementation, including the development and testing of a web portal for data sharing and transfer, and the evaluation of costs and benefits in relation to the design constraints and data standards set by the framework document. The SOGW also wants to move from pilot test results to full-scale implementation within a reasonable time period.

 To facilitate this, the SOGW wants to present results related to development of the framework document and then moving from that foundation into the testing and implementation process. In addition, given the challenges related to funding the efforts of state and federal agencies involved, the plans put forth by the framework document need to be assessed and reevaluated, in light of the call for volunteer efforts. Such reassessment can be furthered by open discussion with conference participants, for helping the SOGW as it moves toward accomplishing its overall mission.