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"Assessing Existing Wells to Expand GSP Monitoring Networks"

 

Presented By:

Sean Spaeth, PG, CHG, Associate Hydrogeologist

Wood Rodgers, Inc.

 

 INTRODUCTION:

Groundwater monitoring is a critical component of groundwater sustainability, vital to inform basin management and for decision-making.  Identifying and implementing a robust monitoring program is imperative to collecting representative data from the underlying groundwater basin.  Through California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), local Groundwater Sustainability Agency’s (GSAs) are tasked with identifying and defining their own monitoring networks as part of their Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP), with the objective to characterize current groundwater conditions and monitor those conditions with the highest possible certainty in regard to temporal and spatial trends.

A primary objective of a groundwater monitoring network is to allow the tracking of changes in groundwater conditions over time.  Of significance is the ability to collect reliable and accurate data from wells, with known well construction details, to reflect conditions within principal aquifers to be able to evaluate and track efforts towards achieving and maintaining sustainability with respect to the GSP management goals. 

In developing a monitoring network, data from existing monitoring programs are compiled along with information about existing monitoring wells and monitored wells, including the location, type of well, well depth, and well screen interval(s).  The resultant monitoring network, in all intents and purposes, is populated to include those monitoring sites which are determined to provide representative groundwater conditions within specific areas for defined principal aquifers.  Where gaps in data are identified, GSA may identify opportunities to collect additional data and/or establish additional monitoring locations. 

One method to fill the identified data gaps is to construct monitoring wells to allow collection of depth-specific measurements and data collection at that location.  Monitoring wells constructed in single aquifers provide the most accurate/representative depth-specific data.  However, monitoring wells can be expensive to construct, when taking into consideration the planning, environmental concerns, available land, access for a drilling rig and the associated equipment, and the number of principal aquifers to monitor.  Existing wells, on the other hand, can be included in a monitoring network at relatively low cost.  Depending on the construction, existing wells have the ability to provide representative spatial and temporal data when certain conditions are met.  Typically, existing wells were originally constructed as either a monitoring well, agricultural well, or municipal well.  These wells may be constructed with multiple perforated intervals, likely representing multiple aquifers.  Additionally, due to age or other factors, an existing well’s structure may be compromised such that groundwater from unintended depths enters the structure.  Prior to incorporating an existing well into a monitoring network, it is essential to document the well structure to be able to qualify that it will provide representative data of the target principal aquifer.  This includes documenting a well’s construction profile, including total depth and well screen interval(s), and the condition of the well structure.  The qualification of a well indicates it will provide the ability to obtain accurate, representative, and reliable data of the aquifer of interest

This webinar will discuss the steps necessary to select and  evaluate  existing well(s), along with exploring possible options for retrofitting a well to become a monitoring well, for consideration for inclusion in a GSP monitoring network. 

SPEAKER BIO:

 

Sean Spaeth

Sean Spaeth is the Hydrogeology Group Manager at Wood Rodgers, Inc., with over 14 years of experience on hydrogeologic projects throughout California. As a California licensed Professional Geologist and Certified Hydrogeologist, Sean provides specialized expertise for a wide-range of municipal and agricultural water supply projects, municipal well assessments, and groundwater management/monitoring activities. Over the past 5 years, Sean helped expand Wood Rodgers hydrogeologic services to Southern California, and simultaneously maintained continued project success for clients in Northern California. Currently, Sean is assisting clients deliver projects under unprecedented circumstances, particularly for projects regarding essential delivery of water for agricultural needs and drinking water supplies for our municipal water agency clients. Sean looks forward to sharing his hydrogeologic experience through his upcoming session on GRACast and encourages attendees to connect with him on LinkedIn.

 

Moderator BIO:

 

Leslie Dunmas

Leslie Dumas is a hydrologist and senior water resources engineer with Woodard & Curran. Leslie graduated with a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Virginia Tech, and an M.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley. In over 25 years of practice, Leslie has provided hydrogeologic, hydrologic, environmental and scientific consultation for projects throughout the United States. She has managed multi-disciplinary teams on a wide variety of projects, including integrated water resources planning, groundwater investigation and modeling, well siting and design, environmental permitting and site remediation, and most recently has been supporting SGMA compliance in several groundwater basins in the State.

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Date and Time

Wed, May 27, 2020

noon - 1 p.m.
(GMT-0700) America/Los_Angeles

Location

Login Instructions will be sent on May 27th at 10:00 AM



This GRACast will use a conference call for audio and WebEx to display the presentation slides. Each registration is allowed access via one phone line and one log in to the WebEx module. More than one person may participate per registration by using a shared computer screen and speaker phone. …

This GRACast will use a conference call for audio and WebEx to display the presentation slides. Each registration is allowed access via one phone line and one log in to the WebEx module. More than one person may participate per registration by using a shared computer screen and speaker phone. GRA reserves the right to invoice those individuals and/or organizations that are logged in or connected from telephone numbers that don't correspond to a paid registration.

Full Description

Event has ended

Group(s): GRA