Course Description

Drinking Water Source Assessment and Protection (DWSAP) is California's answer to federal mandates for wellhead protection and source water assessment. It is one of many pillars for sustainable development and protection of water resources in California. Today, through the implementation of programs such as DWSAP, professionals, executives, and employees of diverse background and in a wide variety of private, non-profit, and government responsibilities at the local, state, and federal level are directly or indirectly involved in the management and assessment of groundwater and surface water. Yet, many find themselves lacking the multidisciplinary background, expertise, or means to meet the technical and regulatory challenges related to water and drinking water resources management. The amount of technical information available is often overwhelming.

This Course will review the fundamental principles of groundwater and watershed hydrology, water quality, and water contamination. It will provide an overview of the most common tools for measuring, monitoring, and assessing groundwater and surface water resources, particularly with respect to California's DWSAP program. The Course is specifically geared towards an audience that is involved in the management and assessment of water resources. Course attendees, who may have some experience with, but no formal training in hydrology or related engineering or science fields, will benefit from the basic Course goal to provide a good understanding of the topics as listed below.

The Course will be taught by experienced instructors with a broad, in-depth knowledge of California groundwater and watershed hydrology and of California's Drinking Water Source Assessment and Protection Program. Participants will be given a set of booklets that address the Course topics and accompany the lectures.

Who Should Attend

The Course is geared to consultants, and technical and management personnel in private and public water supply companies, irrigation districts, water districts, local and state agencies, and in resource conservation districts. While focusing on drinking water source assessment and protection in the second half of the Course, it is also a good introduction to water resources assessment and monitoring for watershed advisors, watershed group participants, and members of environmental and stakeholder groups and citizens alliances.

Course Topics

• Overview of California's Drinking Water Source Assessment & Protection Program
• Surface Water Hydrology and Watersheds
• Groundwater Hydrology
• Water Rights and Water Law
• Surface Water Quality
• Groundwater Quality, Sampling and Monitoring
• Surface Water Contaminants
• Groundwater Contamination
• Delineation of Surface Water Sources
• Delineation of Groundwater Sources
• Potentially Contaminating Activities
• Vulnerability Assessments
• Protecting Water Resources
• Drinking Water Source Assessment and Protection: Case Studies
• Use of TurboSWAP to file a Drinking Water Source Assessment with CA DHS

Continuing Education Credit

This Course is DHS-approved for 14 Continuing Education contact hours for California water system operators.

Course Instructors Include:

Graham E. Fogg, Ph.D., is a professor of hydrogeology with the Hydrology Program of the Department of Land, Air, and Water Resources, University of California, Davis. He received a B.S. in Hydrology at the University of New Hampshire, a M.S. in Hydrology from the University of Arizona, and a Ph.D. in Geology from The University of Texas at Austin. He is currently teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in groundwater hydrology and groundwater modeling. His research interests include geologic-geostatistical characterization of subsurface heterogeneity, mass transport in heterogeneous porous media, numerical modeling of groundwater systems, and regional system hydrogeology. Fogg has 20 years experience characterizing and analyzing groundwater under a diversity of conditions in the southwest and western United States.

Thomas Harter, Ph.D., received a B.S. in Hydrology from the University of Freiburg, Germany and a M.S. in Hydrology from the University of Stuttgart, Germany. He received his Ph.D. in Hydrology (with emphasis on subsurface hydrology) at the University of Arizona. Since 1995, when Harter joined the faculty at the University of California, Davis, he has been in charge of the University's Cooperative Extension Program in Groundwater Hydrology. His research focuses on nonpoint-source pollution of groundwater, groundwater resources evaluation under uncertainty, groundwater modeling, and contaminant transport. Dr. Harter has done extensive modeling of heterogeneous aquifer/vadose zone systems.

Anthony Saracino, Principal, Saracino-Kirby-Snow, received a Bachelors degree in geology from Fresno State University and a M.S. degree in Geology from Colorado State University. He is registered by the State of California as a Geologist, Certified Hydrogeologist, and Certified Engineering Geologist. Mr. Saracino is a recognized expert in groundwater management, providing consultation to public and private clients on issues related to conjunctive use, groundwater banking, and groundwater quality protection. Mr. Saracino has worked with a variety of stakeholders to resolve complex water resource planning and management issues. He also has been a federal and state court-appointed consultant on matters related to water quality.

Leah Walker, Senior Sanitary Engineer, California Department of Health Services, received a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. She is a registered Civil Engineer in California. Since 1997, Ms. Walker has coordinated the development and implementation of the California Drinking Water Source Assessment and Protection program for the Department of Health Services. Ms. Walker has worked with public water systems at the state and local level and as a private consultant.

Rhea Williamson, Ph.D., P.E., San Jose State University, is a professor of environmental engineering with the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at San Jose State University. She received a B.A. in Biology at San Jose State University and a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley. Dr. Williamson currently teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in environmental engineering including water and wastewater treatment, hazardous waste treatment, water chemistry, pond design for wastewater treatment, applied limnology, and laboratory methods. Her research interests have focused on the chemical and biological impacts of wastes on receiving water quality and on biota. She has worked extensively on watershed management projects, including the completion of watershed sanitary surveys for several National Park Service parks, the development of monitoring plans for municipal utilities, the assessment of urban practices on water quality in creeks and streams and the establishment of nutrient objectives in large watershed basins.

NOTE: Not all instructors will provide instruction at each Course.

Course Benefits

At the end of the Course, participants will have a greater understanding of:

• Groundwater flow and groundwater quality
• Watershed hydrology, river water quality, and water contamination
• The professional vocabulary used in water resources reports
• Water resources investigation tools used to measure, assess, and monitor groundwater and surface water properties and processes
• Drinking water source assessment and protection
• The relationship between a Source Water Assessment and a Watershed Sanitary Survey
• The scope, limitations, and pitfalls of various options in DWSAP and where to take the initial DWSAP
• How to prepare an effective DWSAP

Overnight Accommodations

For June 5 & 6, the Radisson Newport Beach has set aside a block of sleeping rooms that is available on a first come, first serve basis at the rate of $102 + tax per night (single or double). The deadline for making reservations is April 22, 2002. Please call the Radisson directly at (949) 833-0570.

Course Cost

• GRA Members - $395.00 per person
• Government Agencies - $395.00 per person
• Registration plus membership in GRA - $460.00 per person (save $10 on membership)
• Non-GRA members - $450.00 per person