Ground Water Management

Aquifer Evaluations

The National Water Management Center conducts aquifer evaluations and existing data literature reviews by request. Providing information on: safe yields, potentiometric surface change, aquifer materials, conductivity, storage coefficients, saturated thickness, longevity of ground water supplies, ground water quality issues, water use, cone of depression analysis, recharge budgets and sources, well field management, and ground water effects for "what if?" scenarios.

Technology Development & Transfer

The NWMC has created innovative methods to quantify ground water problems and transfer the information to the public in a pleasing and "easy to understand" format. One methodology for analyzing cone of depression migration, for example, was developed at the center and has been adopted by a major water resources agency as standard methodology today. We provide information to the public and project sponsors in the form of fact sheets, reports, videos, 3-dimensional potentiometric maps, aquifer geohydrologic cross sections, periodicals, newspaper articles, and presentations at hearings, meetings and conferences. This information helps educate the audience and assist them in developing the best solution to their particular ground water issue, whether they are developing policy or designing ground water legislation.

Instrumentation and Data Collection

Although, the National Water Management Center is not in the business of data collection, it does assist in the design of ground water data collection strategies and instrumentation installation. Assistance includes aquifer test design, water level and/or water quality network design, piezometer nests and transducer installation.

Sole Source Aquifer & Agriculture

For the Pacific Basin NRCS the NWMC staff explored local groundwater issues, including identifying potential sources of pollution, delineating aquifers and groundwater basins. The team ran the GLEAMS water quality model to examine the potential impact of agriculture over an aquifer and prepared a report of the analysis determining possible additional data collection needs and future project areas.

Policy and Standards

The NWMC provides consultation and review on national ground water documents and policy. The Center writes and provides input for interim state standards, such as "artificial recharge".

USGS Cooperative Agreement

The center has developed an MOU to establish a USGS Geo-hydrologist at the University of Arkansas to develop a common vision for USGS support of locally led conservation through the NWMC in addition to providing additional staff with ground water expertise

Contacts:
Danny Goodwin    501-210-8906     danny.goodwin@ar.usda.gov
 

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