RECORDING WATER TABLE DYNAMICS T & D Project No. 1E11EM35

1. RECORDING WATER TABLE DYNAMICST & D Project No. 1E11EM35 Project Final Report May 2002 USDA FOREST SERVICE Technology & Development Center 444 East Bonita Avenue San Dimas, CA 91773

2. RECORDING WATER TABLE DYNAMICST & D Project No. 1E11EM35 • Table of Contents • Subject Section • Problem Statement 1 • Project Goal 2 • Project Status 3 • Field Test Plan Outline 4 • Products Selected for Testing 5 • Appendix - Ground Water Level Monitoring 6 • Devices Market Survey

3. RECORDING WATER TABLE DYNAMICST & D Project No. 1E11EM35Section 1 Problem: There are extensive areas of soils in Michigan that have highly fluctuating water tables within four feet of the soil surface. Very little is known about the dynamics of these water tables. This information is of interest to the Forest Service and the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) for developing both soil and ecological site characteristics. Currently the data collection devices being used are prone to vandalism, and collection of data is costly and time consuming.

4. RECORDING WATER TABLE DYNAMICST & D Project No. 1E11EM35Section 2 • Goal: • The goal of this project is to develop a device that is; • Relatively low cost to purchase and maintain, • Capable of recording a water column height to an accuracy of one-inch or better, • Easy to operate (program & download), • Will store up-to one year of data, • Can be easily concealed.

5. RECORDING WATER TABLE DYNAMICST & D Project No. 1E11EM35Section 3 • Project Summary: • Define performance and evaluation requirements. • Coordinated with Joe Gates, R9. • Survey industry for potential data collection products. • See appendix of this presentation. • Select and procure a suitable product for testing. • See Section 5 of this presentation.

6. RECORDING WATER TABLE DYNAMICST & D Project No. 1E11EM35Section 3 • Project Summary: • Prepare a test plan. • Test Plan Outline given in Section 5 of this presentation. • Commence testing by the end of FY 01. • Units installed for seasonal testing in R9.

7. RECORDING WATER TABLE DYNAMICST & D Project No. 1E11EM35Section 3 • Project Summary: • Continue field testing until the beginning of Summer 2002. • All units met performance requirements. • Publish a final report at the end of FY 02. • Document will remain Web-based to enable product updates.

8. RECORDING WATER TABLE DYNAMICST & D Project No. 1E11EM35Section 4 • Field Test Plan Outline • 1. Upon receipt of test systems SDTDC will retrofit each system for installation into a 2-inch well casing at the test site and ship them to Region 9 (R9) for installation. • Test locations shall be selected by R9. • SDTDC will assist, observe, document and photograph installation of the test systems in R9.

9. RECORDING WATER TABLE DYNAMICST & D Project No. 1E11EM35Section 4 • Field Test Plan Outline • 4. SDTDC monitored data downloading during 8 months of use by R9. SDTDC photographed and documented data downloading, and system reprogramming.   • After one season of use, the systems were inspected for deterioration or mechanical failure. • R9 and SDTDC compared observations and collaborated their findings into a project report. All tested systems met requirements; buyers may select a product based on features and pricing offered.

10. Products Selected for Testing Section 5The following slides list the products selected for field testing.

11. Selected ProductsSection 5 (Click on each image for detailed supplier information) Sutron Corporation Digital Water Level Monitoring System Global Water Instrumentation, Inc. WL-15 Water Level Logger System In-Situ, Inc. MiniTROLL Professional System

12. Selected Product (Click on image for detailed supplier information) • Features: • 30 psig submersible pressure sensor w/ data logger • Internal power AA batteries • Batteries last 18 months w/ hourly readings • RS485/RS232 Communications • Palm Top PC data collection system w/ software • Data logger stores 220,000 readings • Well head accessories include, RS485 interface and locking well cap. • System cost w/o Palm Top data collection $2000 • With Palm Top (add $1000 one time cost can be used to download multiple installations) In-Situ Inc. miniTROLL Professional Water Level Monitoring System

13. Selected Product(Click on image for detailed supplier information) • Features: • Submersible pressure sensor • Data logger fits inside 2” pipe at well top • Internal power D size lithium battery • Battery lasts estimated 3 years w/ hourly readings • RS232 communications • Requires laptop to download data, software included • Data logger stores 64,000 readings • Must provide locking well cap • System cost $1400 GSA Contract Sutron Corporation Digital Water Level Monitoring System

14. Selected Product(Click on image for detailed supplier information) • Features: • Submersible pressure sensor • Data logger fits inside 2” pipe at well top • Internal 9 VDC lithium battery • Battery lasts estimated 1 year w/ hourly readings • RS232 communications • Requires laptop to download data, software included • Data logger stores 24,400 readings • Must provide locking well cap • System cost $900 Global Water Instrumentation, Inc. WL-15 Water Level Logger System

15. Appendix Section 6Ground Water Level Monitoring Devices Market Survey Contact: Ryan Becker Mechanical Engineer ryanbecker@fs.fed.us Telephone: 909 599-1267 X260 USDA FOREST SERVICE Technology & Development Center 444 East Bonita Avenue San Dimas, CA 91773

16. Products Reviewed (Click on each image for detailed supplier information)

17. Products Reviewed (Click on each image for detailed supplier information)

18. Products Reviewed (Click on each image for detailed supplier information)