Joseph C. Scalmanini Receives GRA's 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award

Mr. Scalmanini, president of Luhdorff and Scalmanini, Consulting Engineers was selected because he has been at the forefront of California groundwater issues for more than 40 years. He is one of the most sought after groundwater experts in California because of his comprehensive understanding of the intricacies of groundwater hydrology and his unparalleled abilities in solving the most complex water issues of our time. Mr. Scalmanini has worked in the majority of the groundwater basins in California and has served the courts on technical issues in a number of groundwater basins, including acting as basin engineer and technical advisor, among other roles. Over the length of his career, Mr. Scalmanini has been actively involved in many of the major technical and policy debates concerning groundwater and legal classification of groundwater. Kevin O'Brien of Downey Brand LLP and Chris Sanders of Ellison, Schneider and Harris LLP presented the award to Mr. Scalmanini.

GRA Recognizes the Sacramento County Environmental Management Department for its Abandoned Well Program with the 2012 Kevin J. Neese Award

The Sacramento County Environmental Management Department was selected for its Abandoned Well Program. The Program identifies and properly closes abandoned, unused water wells. Such wells may be conduits for groundwater contamination; many older hand-dug wells and open casings pose a physical falling-in hazard. It is the property owner's responsibility to properly close abandoned wells. Properly sealing abandoned wells protects groundwater quality and mitigates safety hazards. Also, because of the County's outreach efforts, the public has become more aware of the presence and potential liabilities of abandoned wells. This awareness has resulted in substantial savings to prospective property buyers, especially in cases of foreclosed and/or bank-owned properties where the buyers and sellers may be unaware of the existence of abandoned wells. Val Siebel, Director of the Sacramento County Environmental Management Department, accepted the award on behalf of the Department.

GRA 2011 Legislative Leadership Awards Presented to Senator Fran Pavley and Assembly Member Jared Huffman

Senator Pavley and Assembly Member Huffman were honored for their outstanding contributions promoting sound groundwater policy in California. Senator Pavley is Chair of the Senate Natural Resource and Water Committee and Assembly Member Huffman is Chair of the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee, the two key water committees at the state capitol. GRA has found both of these legislators and their committees exceptional to work with and to disseminate scientific and technical information in support of groundwater policy development.

Dennis O'Connor, Chief Consultant to the California Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water, accepted the award on behalf of Senator Pavley.

Tina Leahy, Water Policy Consultant for the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee, received the award on behalf of Assembly Member Huffman.