Nitrate in groundwater is a widespread and persistent problem in California. The activities that contribute nitrate to groundwater – animal operations, crop fertilization, wastewater treatment discharge, septic systems – are essential to the economy of California. Fertilizer use has leveled off after decades of increase and nutrient management schemes are being implemented across the state. But the problem won’t go away and after decades of nitrate loading in shallow aquifers, we find ourselves still grappling with solutions as more and more Californians rely on groundwater for their supply. In 2002, GRA hosted a well-received and well-attended symposium on nitrate in groundwater. It is time for an update – and a continuing look at the problem and its solutions. Specific Symposium sessions will cover a variety of topics, including:
Occurrence and Impact
• Historical trends in California groundwater nitrate contamination
• Observed and predicted impacts of nitrate contamination on deep aquifers
• Nitrate occurrence in private domestic wells in shallow aquifers
• Impact of various land uses and impact of changes in land use (e.g., agricultural to urban) on nitrate source loading to aquifers
Nitrate Loading and Sources
• Nitrate source attribution using isotope tracers or co-contaminants
• Characterization of nitrogen fate, transport and cycling in the saturated and vadose zones
• Nitrate loading from agricultural production and landscape management
Regulation, Management, and Treatment
• Source management under the current regulatory framework
• Managing nutrients from food processing and dairy operations to minimize impacts to groundwater
• Advances in treatment technology and remediation of nitrate-impaired groundwater
• Successful agency partnerships and approaches to working on groundwater nitrate issues
• Nitrate management plan case studies & industry initiatives
Experts from academia, regulatory agencies, consulting, industry, and the legal arena will participate in moderated speaker sessions, posters sessions, and a closing panel discussion. The combination of invited speakers and experts from key areas, along with talks chosen from submitted abstracts, will make this an important event for all professionals working with nitrate in groundwater issues.
Symposium Schedule: Symposium registration will be from 8:00 am to 2 pm on Tuesday, April 4, 2006. On April 4, 2006, the sessions will be from 1:00 pm to 5:30 pm followed by Poster-Exhibitor reception. On April 5, 2006, the sessions will be from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
Exhibitors:
Basin Water | Enviro-Tech Services Company | FGL Environmental | Kinetico, Inc.
Kleinfelder, Inc. | Layne Christensen | Lombardo Associates, Inc. | PRIMA Environmental
Siemens Water Technologies
Sponsors and Exhibitors
If you are interested in exhibiting your organization's services or products, or being an event sponsor, please contact Mary Megarry at mmegarry@nossaman.com or 916-446-3626. GRA welcomes co-sponsors, lunch, refreshment and reception sponsors.
> Sponsor Exhibitor Information Packet
On April 4, 2006, prior to the start of the Symposium, join GRA and Dr. Thomas Harter from the University of California, Davis at the Symposium host hotel for a half-day workshop, "Dairy Groundwater Monitoring: Regulations, Monitoring Network Design, and Data Interpretation." The cost is $65 per person, or if you attend both the Workshop and Symposium, you pay the reduced Workshop fee of $50 (plus the Symposium fee).