Development and Implementation of the National Ground-Water Monitoring Network

Transcription

1 Development and Implementation of the National Ground-Water Monitoring Network Daryll Pope, USGS Ground Water Protection Council Annual Forum September 28-30, 2015 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

2 Presentation Outline Development and Implementation Background Network Design Implementation 2016 Competitive Funding Opportunity Overview Q & A

3 Subcommitee on Ground Water and the NGWMN Subcommittee on Ground Water (SOGW) is part of the Advisory Committee on Water Information (ACWI) SOGW Created to fill GW Gap of ACWI Purpose: Develop and Implement the National GW Monitoring Network ( NGWMN )

4 Authorization and Funding P.L SECURE Water Act 2009 Assess the current scope of ground-water monitoring Develop and carry out a Monitoring Plan Consult and coordinate with state and local waterresource agencies Network Funding (FY15) Funding appropriated as part of USGS FY 2015 Budget

5 Overview of SOGW Approach Determine current picture of GW monitoring, survey Network design Framework Document Identify field methods and data standards Pilot the network design and approach 5 pilots Pilot Portal Revise as needed per pilot-testing results Develop implementation plan

6 Framework Document Design for a collaborative National GW Monitoring Network Inventoried Federal and State monitoring programs Guidance for Field Methods Guidance for Minimum Data Elements, Standards, & Management Implementation Plan and Recommendations Initial version in Revised in 2013 after pilot phase completed

7 NGWMN Design Elements Principal and major aquifers GW levels and quality, focus on availability Priority on sites with long-term data Network, not a Warehouse or Master Database Focus on sites where data is already being collected using documented methods: State, Federal, Tribes, others Sites classified by local experts/data providers, and selected sites become part of the Network Data provider is the authoritative data source Subnetworks and Monitoring Frequencies

8 Network Design Principal and Major Aquifers

9 Network Design: Various Subnetworks Baseline Period (5 years of Data) Special Studies Subnetwork for Background Conditions Subnetwork for Suspected or Anticipated Changes Subnetwork for Known Changes Surveillance Points (Synoptic wells) Trend Points (Backbone wells) Surveillance Points (Synoptic wells) Trend Points (Backbone wells) Surveillance Points (Synoptic wells) Trend Points (Backbone wells) Classified based on water level or water quality change and on frequency of data collection

10 NGWMN Data Portal

11 Network Implementation: Recommended Management Structure

12 FY 2015 Implementation Began formation of the National Program Board Expanded portal capabilities USGS will initiate cooperative agreements to help support data providers Complete work on existing Pilots/Pilot States (MT, TX, IL, UT) New Data Providers (OR, SC) USGS Science Centers adding sites to Network FY 2016 Cooperative Funding Opportunity to support data providers is expected in mid-october Complete formation of Program Board and review proposals Awards expected in the Spring of 2016 Presidents FY 2016 budget has an increase for the NGWMN

13 Purpose: Program Board Represent NGWMN data providers. Provide input on issues related to network growth, development, and operation Assist in evaluating proposals submitted to the NGWMN for cooperative funding. Finalizing Board Structure and Operating Principles- will be available on SOGW web page soon Beginning to recruit Board members Membership Six data providers from three regions Federal and SOGW representation

14 Program Board Regions

15 Cooperative agreements to support data providers Funding for new data providers to: Select wells/springs Classify wells/springs Establish database connection to NGWMN portal using web services Document Field Techniques Produce report Ongoing support to pilots/existing data providers Available to state or local water-resource agencies

16 Daryll Pope (609)

17 Cooperative funding agreements to support NGWMN data providers (CFDA ) Funding opportunity available to State or Local groundwater resource agencies Authority under Secure Water Act Objectives Funding to support new data providers Maintenance funding to support existing providers Expect to be posted on Grants.gov by Oct 15 th

18 Initial Focus of the NGWMN The initial focus of the NGWMN will be to add new data providers and build the network with existing sites from those data providers Main tasks will be connecting agency databases to the NGWMN data portal. During this process, agencies and the NGWMN will identify gaps Spatial coverage and density Monitoring or sampling frequency Missing metadata (lithology) Future funding opportunities may allow gap filling. Will not be funded in this first round.

19 Project objectives Proposals will be considered that address the following objectives: Add new data providers to the network Support continued operations of existing data providers The following objectives are not eligible for funding under this announcement: Data collection (water-level or water-quality data) Use of GPS to update location or land-surface elevation of sites New database development Drilling and installation of new wells

20 Projects Projects include USGS funding and agency inkind services Projects can be up to a 2-year duration New data providers objectives funded for first year. These agencies can apply for maintenance funding for 2 nd year Current data providers can apply for maintenance funding for both years Report is required at end of project

21 Application package All Projects Proposal Information Summary Proposal Budget Summary Detailed Budget Will be added to Grants.gov application along with required Standard Forms SF-424, etc.

22 New data provider projects Description of Agency and purpose of monitoring. Identification of USGS principal or other major aquifers. Description of the Agency s existing monitoring networks Water level Water quality IT Infrastructure Work Plan More details on next slides Personnel/Timeline

23 Work plan elements for New Evaluate monitoring sites data providers Provide data for required data elements Classify sites into subnetworks and monitoring categories Populate NGWMN Well Registry with site information and Network classifications Set up web services to provide data to NGWMN portal Water Level, Water Quality, Lithology, Well Construction Document field and data management practices Prepare a brief report documenting project Maintenance funding for year 2

24 Work plan elements for existing data providers Funding available to support existing data providers covers Ensuring that the web services continue to provide data to NGWMN Portal Keep NGWMN Well Registry up to date with changes in Network Populate data elements for sites as needed

25 Tip Sheets Created to help data providers with common tasks Based on NGWMN Framework Document Current tip sheets NGWMN Subnetwork NGWMN Monitoring Categories NGWMN WL Criteria NGWMN WQ Criteria NGWMN Well Registry NGWMN Minimum Data Elements Available on the NGWMN page at: on the Data Provider tab. Resources for New Data Providers

26 Proposal Evaluation Proposals evaluated and ranked by Program Board Criteria Availability of groundwater data (30%) Geographic areas and Principal aquifers monitored (10%) Compliance with Framework Document (20%) Project Proposal (30%) Products (10%) Applicants will be notified and receive feedback on their proposal

27 Support Framework Document NGWMN Web Page Will schedule Webinars to provide support and answer questions.

28 Questions?