2012 NGWA Ground Water Summit: Innovate and Integrate

For the past century, water planners have worked to manage the nation’s surface waters. These efforts have led to abundant agriculture and a reliable supply for hundreds of millions of Americans. However, dramatic precipitation fluctuations and temperature swings are undermining the certainty of once-dependable surface water resources, forcing water agencies to adapt or face potentially catastrophic shortfalls. While surface waters will always be important, groundwater and its conjunctive use with surface supplies will become increasingly critical as a tool to minimize uncertainty and optimize reliability. Because aquifer storage is often vast and somewhat stable relative to rivers, groundwater aquifers react more slowly to climate variability than do surface water bodies. Additionally, through recharge activities, aquifers provide storage opportunities that are no longer feasible through many surface reservoirs. The ability to utilize a water resource less susceptible to climate change is essential for planners whose horizons extend decades into the future.