Conference and Theme:

For 48 years, the Biennial Groundwater Conference has provided policy-makers, practitioners, researchers, and educators the opportunity to learn about the current policies, regulations, and technical challenges affecting the use and management of groundwater in California. The theme of the 24th Biennial Groundwater Conference was "The Role of Groundwater in Integrated Water Management" and emphasized the interconnected nature of water resources at basin-wide, regional, and global scales. Presentations explored the role of groundwater in formulating water policies, planning and managing water resources, and optimizing beneficial uses.

Keynote:

The Plenary session began with a keynote speech by Dr. Chip Groat, Director of the US Geological Survey. His speech focused on recent publications and programs of the USGS that have emphasized the integrated nature of water resources, challenges of groundwater sustainability, the importance of long-term groundwater monitoring for water resources management, the importance of assessing water availability and use, and national goals for collecting and disseminating the necessary information for integrated water resources planning and management.

Venue:

The two-day Conference featured a Plenary session, concurrent policy and technical sessions, and a final general assembly.

The Session Topics:

• Regulatory and legislative actions affecting groundwater
• Developing a sound groundwater management plan
• Integrated water management
• Wastewater management
• Public outreach and public involvement strategies
• Desalination technologies
• Tools for quantifying groundwater resources
• Emerging contaminants
• Contaminant fate and transport
• Calculating a groundwater budget
• Transboundary and international issues