Ground Water Monitoring SC Report: Advancing Quality Monitoring Proposals

1. Status Report Ad Hoc Steering Committee on Ground Water Monitoring Presentation for: Advisory Committee on Water Information October 4, 2006

2. Thank You • Advisory Committee on Water Information • Ad Hoc Steering Committee on Ground Water Monitoring • Toni Johnson • Chris Reimer

3. Today’s Meeting • Demonstrate to ACWI that we have … • High energy, committed volunteers • Made good progress in short time • Want to maintain momentum! • Interact with ACWI by … • Presenting a status report • Seeking guidance for scoping TOR

4. Overview • In January 2006, suggestion made to form a ground water subgroup • In August 2006, an Ad Hoc Steering Committee (SC) formed to develop a formal proposal to ACWI • In September 2006, SC began work on draft Terms of Reference (TOR) • By January 2007 or earlier, SC plans to present draft TOR to ACWI for approval • Today, update ACWI on some of the questions and issues related to TOR and request your input

5. Today’s Discussion Agenda • Historical Items • Steps leading to Jan. 2006 suggestion • Steps since Jan. 2006 • Steering committee formation and status • Major outstanding questions on TOR • Your feedback

6. Historical Items • Ground-Water Quality Networks • Ground-Water Quality Monitoring Framework • Conceptual Frameworks for Ground-Water Quality Monitoring • Ground Water Quality Data Elements • National Coastal Monitoring Network • Ground-Water Level Networks • No national efforts for framework or data elements

7. Steps Leading to Specific Proposal • 2000: USGS survey of long-term well networks • 2003: Ground water supply surveys • 2004: Science and Technology to Support Fresh Water Availability in the United States report • 2005: NSTC staff pose ground water monitoring questions • 2006: Suggestion to ACWI to investigate ground water subgroup

8. Steps Since Proposal • January 2006: “Strawman” developed • May 2006: National Water Quality Monitoring Conference Session • July 2006: National Water Quality Monitoring Council Briefing • August 2006: Formation of Ad Hoc Steering Committee

9. Steering Committee (SC) Formation and Status • Nine organizations invited • Co-chairs invited • SC TOR and work plan begun • Two conference calls held

10. SC Members • USGS – Bill Cunningham (federal co-chair) • ASCE – Bob Schreiber (non-federal co-chair) • AASG – Dave Wunsch • GWPC – Mike Paque • ICWP – Bud Badr/Peter Evans alt. • NGWA – John Jansen • States – Mary Ambrose • USEPA – Chuck Job, Chuck Spooner • WEF – Rob Schweinfurth

11. Terms of Reference Sections • Purpose • Scope • Functions • Membership • Procedural Sections, e.g. meetings, time needed, termination

12. Guiding Principles • Coordinate with other ACWI subgroups • Integrate with ACWI work products • Recognize historic efforts

13. Primary Question on TOR • To what extent should the proposed Ground Water Subcommittee address ground-water quality? • Implicitly: Framework for ground-water level monitoring • Explicitly: Framework for ground-water quality monitoring

14. Additional Questions • Potable water or other water uses • Defining terms • Exact deliverable

15. Open to discussion • Questions on presentation? • Advice on SC’s pending questions? • Recommendations? • Lessons from past experience? • Other?