Development and Implementation of the National Ground Water Monitoring Network
Development and Implementation of the National Ground Water Monitoring Network
Presented on Wednesday, March 18, 2015
The Subcommittee on Ground Water (SOGW) of the federal Advisory Committee on Water Information has guided a collaborative effort to develop a framework for design and implementation of a long-term nation-wide groundwater quantity and quality monitoring network (NGWMN). The network, focused on principal / major aquifers in the United States, is intended to provide data and information necessary for sustainable management of groundwater. Groundwater professionals from more than 50 organizations including, government, professional organizations, private sector firms, and academic institutions have participated in the SOGW. The NGWMN is envisioned as a voluntary, cooperative, integrated system of data collection, management and reporting. In 2009 the SOGW released A National Framework for Ground-Water Monitoring in the United States. In 2010 -2011 the SOGW conducted pilot studies in partnership with six states aimed at testing the concepts and feasibility of developing and implementing a NGWMN. In September 2011 the SOGW released National Ground-Water Monitoring Network –Results of Pilot Studies. Lessons learned during the pilot studies were used to make necessary revisions to the 2009 Framework document and in 2013 the SOGW released an updated version. A critical element of the NGWMN is the development of a web-based portal through which groundwater data can be viewed or downloaded. The SOGW is currently focused on implementation of the network. As described in the Framework document, this includes issues such as development of the structure for managing the network and consideration of funding models for the network. Issues related to efficient expansion of new data providers into the network portal are also under consideration. The USEPA is providing interim laboratory analytical support to some states that are participating in the NGWMN.
Daryll Pope
New Jersey Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Lawrenceville, NJ
Daryll Pope has a B.S. in Watershed Science from Colorado State University and a Master's in Contaminant Hydrology from Oregon Graduate Institute. He has worked on groundwater studies and groundwater modeling throughout his career. Pope has been Groundwater Specialist at USGS New Jersey since 1995 and has been involved with the groundwater monitoring networks of the Science Center. He has been involved in several studies looking at groundwater availability.
Michael Wireman
USEPA Region 8 (retired), Boulder, CO
Michael Wireman remains active after retiring recently from the U.S. EPA where he served as National Groundwater Expert. He has a master’s degree in hydrogeology from Western Michigan University. He continues to provide technical and scientific support to several EPA programs, other federal agencies, International programs, and to state groundwater programs. Mr. Wireman has significant experience in the legal, scientific, and programmatic aspects of groundwater management. He is a member of the Colorado Ground Water Association, the National Ground Water Association, the Geological Society of America, and past Chair of the North American Chapter of the International Association of Hydrogeologists.
Robert Schreiber, PE, BCEE, D.WRE
Water Resources, CDM Smith
Mr. Schreiber is a registered professional engineer with over 44 years of experience in water resource planning and computerized engineering analysis. He graduated from MIT’s Civil Engineering Department where he focused on groundwater hydrology and water resource systems analysis. He is a senior technical leader specializing in modeling of groundwater flow and contaminant fate and transport, and serves as a company-wide resource at CDM Smith. He has served on the Federal Advisory Committee on Water Information as ASCE’s representative to and co-chair of its Subcommittee on Ground Water, focusing on implementation of a National Ground Water Monitoring Network. For NGWA, Mr. Schreiber has served as Chair of the Scientists and Engineers Division Board of Directors and on the NGWA Board of Directors.
William L. Cunningham
Office of Groundwater, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA
Bill Cunningham is the Chief of the U.S. Geological Survey Earth Systems Processes Division. This office is the single focal point for disciplinary and interdisciplinary process studies research and development. Prior to joining the ESPD, Bill was the Chief of the Office of Groundwater, and prior to that he worked on groundwater science investigations in the Ohio and North Carolina Water Science Centers. Cunningham also serves as Co-Chair of the Subcommittee on Ground Water for the Federal Advisory Committee on Water Information. He received undergraduate and graduate degrees from The Ohio State University.