Status Report

Ad Hoc Steering Committee on Ground Water Monitoring

Presentation for:

Advisory Committee on Water Information

October 4, 2006

Thank You

Advisory Committee on Water Information

Ad Hoc Steering Committee on Ground Water Monitoring

Toni Johnson Chris Reimer

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

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

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

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

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

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

Steering Committee (SC) Formation and Status

Nine organizations invited

Co-chairs invited

SC TOR and work plan begun

Two conference calls held

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

Terms of Reference Sections

Purpose Scope Functions Membership Procedural Sections, e.g. meetings,

time needed, termination

Guiding Principles

Coordinate with other ACWI subgroups

Integrate with ACWI work products Recognize historic efforts

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

Additional Questions

Potable water or other water uses Defining terms Exact deliverable

Open to discussion

Questions on presentation? Advice on SC’s pending questions? Recommendations? Lessons from past experience? Other?