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1
Investigating
Groundwater
Systems
on Regiollal and
National Scales
COMMITTEE ON USGS WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY BOARD
COMMISSION ON GEOSCIENCES, ENVIRONMENT, AND RESOURCES
NATIONAl RESEARCH COUNCIL
NATIONAL ACADEMY PRESS
Washington, D.C.
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NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by
the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members
are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the Na-
tional Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The mem-
bers of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their spe-
cial competencies and with regard for appropriate balance.
Support for this project was provided by the U.S. Geological Survey under
Contract No. 9SHQAG2028.
International Standard Book Number 0-309-07182-8
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 00-110372
Investigating Groundwater Systems on Regional and National Scales is
available Tom the National Academy Press, 2101 Constitution Avenue,
N.W., Washington, D.C. 2041S, (800) 624-6242 or (202) 334-3313 (in the
Washington metropolitan area); internet ~http://www.nap.edu>.
Cover photo, Greer Spring in the Missouri Ozarks, courtesy of Randy
Ombortf, U.S. Geological Survey.
Copynght 2000 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Printed in the United States of America
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National Academy of Sciences
National Academy of Engineering
Institute of Medicine
National Research Council
Advisers to the Nation oil Scie`'ce, Engineering, acid Medicine
The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating
society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research,
dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the
general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress
in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal gov-
ernment on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Bruce M. Alberts is president of
the National Academy of Sciences.
The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the
charter of the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of out-
standing engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of
its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility
for advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also
sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages
education and research, and recogIiizes the superior achievement of engineers.
Dr. William A. Wulf is president of the National Academy of Engineering.
The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of
Sciences to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in
the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The
Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences
by its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, upon
its own initiative, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr.
Kenneth I. Shine is president of the Institute of Medicine.
The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of
Sciences in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology
with the Academy's purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the federal
government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the
Academy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of bow the
National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in
providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engi-
neering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies
and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Bruce M. Alberts and Dr. William A. Wulf
are chairman and vice chairman, respectively, of the National Research Council.
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COMMITTEE ON U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
KENNETH R. BRADBURY, Chair, Wisconsin Geological and
Natural History Survey, Madison
VICTOR R. BAKER, University of Arizona, Tucson
ANA P. BARROS, Harvard University, Cambndge, Massachusetts
MICHAEL E. CAMPANA, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque
BENEDYKT DZEGELEWSKI, Southern Illinois University at
Carbondale
KIMBERLY A. GRAY, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois
(through December 1999)
C. THOMAS HAAN, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater (through
December 1999)
DAVID R. MAIDMENT, The University of Texas, Austin
DAVID H. MOREAU, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
(through December 1999)
KAREN L. PRESTEGAARD, University of Maryland, College Park
STUART S. SCHWARTZ, Consultant, San Diego, California
DONALD I. SIEGEL, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York
VERNON L. SNOEYINK, University of Illinois at Urbana-
Champaign
MARY W. STOERTZ, Ohio University, Athens
KAY D. THOMPSON, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri
National Research Council Staff
WILLIAM S. LOGAN, Project Director
ANITA A. HALL, Project Assistant
RHONDA J. BITTERLI, Editor
v
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WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY BOARD
HENRY J. VAUX, Jr., Chair, Division of Agriculture and Natural
Resources, University of California, Oakland
RICHARD G. LUTHY, Vice Chair, Stanford University, Stanford,
California
RICHELLE M. ALLEN-KING, Washington State University,
Pullman
GREGORY B. BAECHER, University of Maryland, College Park
JOHN BRISCOE, The World Bank, Washington, D.C.
EFI FOUFOULA-GEORGIOU, University of Minnesota,
Minneapolis
STEVEN P. GLOSS, University of Wyoming, Laramie
WILLIAM A. JURY, University of California, Riverside
GARY S. LOGSDON, Black & Veatch, Cincinnati, Ohio
DIANE M. MCKNIGHT, University of Colorado, Boulder
JOHN W. MORRIS, J.W. Morris Ltd., Arlington, Virginia
PHILIP A. PALMER (Retired), E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co.,
Wilmington, Delaware
REBECCA T. PARKIN, The George Washington University,
Washington, D.C.
RUTHERFORD H. PLATT, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
JOAN B. ROSE, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg
JERALD L. SCHNOOK, University of Iowa, Iowa City
R. RHODES TRUSSELL, Montgomery Watson, Pasadena,
California
Staff
STEPHEN D. PARKER, Director
LAURA J. EHLERS, Senior Staff Officer
CHRIS ELFRING, Senior Staff Officer
JEFFREY W. JACOBS, Senior Staff Officer
MARK C. GIBSON, Staff Officer
WILLIAM S. LOGAN, Staff Officer
M. JEANNE AQUILINO, Administrative Associate
PATRICIA A. JONES, Study/Research Associate
ANITA A. HALL, Administrative Assistant
ELLEN A. DE GUZMAN, Senior Project Assistant
ANIKE L. JOHNSON, Project Assistant
Vl
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COMMISSION ON GEOSCIENCES, ENVIRONMENT
AND RESOURCES
GEORGE M. HORNBERGER, Chair, University of Virginia,
Charlottesville
RICHARD A. CONWAY, Union Carbide Corporation (Retired),
S. Charleston, West Virginia
LYNN GOLDMAN, Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health,
Baltimore, Maryland
THOMAS E. GRAEDEL, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
THOMAS J. GRAFF, Environmental Defense Fund, Oakland,
California
EUGENIA KALNAY, University of Maryland, College Park
DEBRA KNOPMAN, Progressive Policy Institute, Washington, D.C.
BRAD MOONEY, J. Brad Mooney Associates, Ltd., Arlington,
Virginia
HUGH C. MORRIS, El Dorado Gold Corporation, Vancouver
British Columbia
H. RONALD PULLIAM, University of Georgia, Athens
MILTON RUSSELL, University of Tennessee (Emeritus), Knoxvill
ROBERT I. SERAFIN, National Center for Atmospheric Research,
Boulder, Colorado
ANDREW R. SOLOW, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution,
Woods Hole, Massachusetts
E-AN ZEN, University of Maryland, College Park
Staff
ROBERT M. HAMPTON, Executive Director
GREGORY H. SYMMES, Associate Executive Director
lEANETTE SPOON, Administrative and Financial Officer
SANDI FITZPATRICK, Administrative Associate
. .
V11
e
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Preface
This report is a product of the Committee on USGS Water Re-
sources Research, which provides consensus advice on scientific, re-
search, and programmatic issues to the Water Resources Division
(WRD) of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The committee is one of
the groups that work under the auspices of the Water Science and Tech-
nology Board of the National Research Council CNRC). The committee
considers a variety of topics that are important scientifically and pro-
grammatically to the USGS and the nation, and it issues reports when
appropriate.
This report concerns the work of the WRD in science and technol-
ogy relevant to assessments of groundwater resources on regional and
national scales. The USGS has been conducting scientific activity rele-
vant to groundwater resources for over 100 years and, as summarized in
Appendix A, today groundwater-related work occurs throughout the
WRD.
Groundwater is a basic resource for humans and natural ecosystems
and is one of the nation's most important natural resources. Groundwa-
ter Is pumped from wells to supply drinking water to about 130 million
U.S. residents and is used in all 50 states. About 40 percent of the na-
tion's public water supply and much of the water used for irrigation is
provided by groundwater.
Despite the importance of groundwater as one of our most precious
natural resources, an organized, effective program to provide an ongoing
assessment of the nation's groundwater resources does not exist. With
IX
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x
Preface
encouragement from the U.S. Congress, the USGS is planning for a new
program of regional and national scale assessment of U.S. groundwater
resources, thus helping bring new order to its various groundwater re-
sources-related activities. The Survey's senior scientists requested ad-
vice in regard to the desigr~ of such a program. In response, the com-
mittee undertook this study in support of developing an improved pro-
gram relevant to regional and national assessment of groundwater re-
sources.
Specifically, the Statement of Task to the committee was to "provide
guidance to the USGS on development of an improved program relevant
to regional and national assessment of ground-water resources." The
Statement of Task lists six major topics to be addressed:
1. what constitutes the "regional" and "national" assessment of
groundwater resources,
2. how regional studies are chosen (e.g., on the basis of geography,
issues, or otherwise),
what are emerging issues of regional and national concern,
4. what data and information the USGS should collect and supply
and how best to display it,
what methods development (e.g., models, geophysical methods,
etc.) and research the USGS should pursue for improved future activity,
and
6. what are program coordination needs so as to engage outside ex-
pertise in priority setting for groundwater studies and to assure commu-
nication of results so as to be most useful.
The committee laid out plans for the study in mid-1998 and subse-
quently met four times before completing this report. At meetings,
members were briefed by USGS personnel on a variety of programs and
activities. The committee learned about WRD's relevant effort in sev-
eral hydrologic regions, such as Cape Cod, the southwestern and south-
ern United States, and the Albuquerque and High Plains aquifers.
Committee members drafted individual contributions and deliberated as
a group to achieve consensus on the content of this report.
As the study proceeded and the committee became more cognizant
of USGS activities, productive discussions occurred among committee
members and personnel from the USGS and other organizations. This
interaction was critical to the success of the project. The committee
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Preface
Xl
heard from more than 20 USGS staff members and representatives from
the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, and state and local resource management agencies. The list of
individuals providing information to the committee is too long to include
in this preface, but we are indebted for the many perspectives and for the
information provided. We do wish to single out four individuals from
the USGS with whom we interacted throughout the project and thank
them for the assistance, information, and cooperation they provided:
William M. Alley, chief of the Office of Groundwater; Norman G.
Grannemann, coordinator, Groundwater Resource Program; Robert M.
Hirsch, chief hydrologist; and Gail E. Mallard, senior hydrologist, who
serves as the USGS's continuing liaison with our committee.
The committee hopes that this report will help promote the devel-
opment of, and appreciation for, improved hydrologic data, information,
and knowledge as the USGS supports the nation's effort to manage
groundwater resources wisely. The USGS should continue to provide
strong, effective, and sustained leadership in this area.
This report has been reviewed by individuals chosen for their di-
verse perspectives and technical expertise, in accordance with proce-
clures approved by the NRC's Report Review Committee. The purpose
of this independent review is to provide candid and critical comments
that will assist the authors and the NRC in making the published report
as sound as possible and to ensure that the report meets institutional
standards for objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to the study
charge. The content of the review comments and draft manuscripts re-
mains confidential to protect the integrity of the deliberative process.
We thank the following individuals for their participation in the review
of this report, and for their many instructive comments: John D. Brede-
hoeft, The Hydrodynamics Group; Denise Fort, University of New
Mexico; Hugh C. Morris, E1 Dorado Gold Corporation, C. Kent Keller,
Washington State University; John M. Sharp, Jr., University of Texas at
Austin; Marios A. Sophocleous, Kansas Geological Survey; and H.
Maurice Valett, Virginia Tech.
Although the individuals listed above provided many constructive
comments and suggestions, responsibility for the final content of this
report rests with the authoring committee and the NRC.
Kenneth R. Bradbury
Chairman, Committee on USGS
Water Resources Research
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Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1 GROUNDWATER AND SOCIETY
A Critical Resource, 9
An Overdeveloped Resource, 17
The Necessity for Conjunctive Management, 20
Conclusions, 24
2 APPROACHES TO SYNTHESIS OF GROUND-
WATER ISSUES AT THE REGIONAL SCALE
USGS Groundwater Programs-Past and
Present, 26
New Opportunities and Mandates, 39
Proposed Framework for Regional-Scale
Groundwater Studies, 42
Conclusions, 47
3 INSTITUTIONAL INTEGRATION AND
COLLABORATION
External Collaboration, 48
Internal Collaboration, 57
Conclusions, 64
. . .
x`~'
1
6
25
48
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XIV
4 SCIENTIFIC ISSUES
Aquifer Management, 67
Natural Groundwater Recharge, 72
Groundwater Quality and Movement
in Surficial Materials, 76
Groundwater-Surface Water Interactions, 78
Groundwater in Karst and Fractured Aquifers, 83
Characterization of Subsurface Heterogeneity, 88
Numerical Modeling, 91
Facilitating Use of Goundwater Information
in Decision-Making, 94
Conclusions, 98
5 DELIVERY AND ACCESSIBILITY OF
GROUNDWATER DATA
Users of Groundwater Data, 100
Content of Groundwater Data, 101
Format of Groundwater Data, 102
Conclusions, 107
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Scientific Assessment of Critical
Groundwater Issues, 109
Regional and National Overviews, 110
Access to Groundwater Information, 112
Methods Development, 114
REFERENCES
APPENDIX A
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROGRAMS THAT
SUPPORT GROUND-WATER RESOURCES
STUDIES
APPENDIX B
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Preface
66
99
116
133
138
