National Ground Water Association

presented by John Jansen, Ph.D., PG 

How will your groundwater resources fare in the future and how will that affect your business? How can we ensure the sustainability of our aquifers through sound science? How should groundwater contractors and scientists confront economic and political challenges affecting the resource that is pivotal to the success of their businesses? How is “sustainability” defined and what tools and strategies can be used to protect groundwater systems as well as those who obtain and develop it? What information must be gathered and compiled to build consensus and present a compelling case to regulators and policymakers?

By attending John Jansen’s 2013 McEllhiney Lecture presentation, you will gain an understanding of:

 

Currently, there are states that manage aquifers by pumping to balance groundwater recharge, which can cause stream depletion. Others limit pumping to protect surface flows, which can have negative economic impacts. Yet still others manage aquifers for controlled depletion in recognition of the severe economic disruption that would occur from either stricter goals or a lack of any planning and management. Many western states manage aquifers to protect surface water rights, while others ignore the connection between surface water and groundwater. Some eastern states seek the use of a hybrid “regulated riparian” approach to balance the free use of water with a reasonable use standard. What are the impacts of these approaches to your local groundwater industry and the reliability of water resources in the future?

 

No one can control, manage, or sustain what is not measured, so monitoring is the first step needed to ensure success. Monitoring can identify aquifers being used in an unsustainable manner and that information can be used to build information and consensus to find remedies to sustain groundwater systems as well as the industries and businesses that rely on them. One example of this is the deep sandstone aquifer of northern Illinois and southeastern Wisconsin, where decades of overpumping have created one of the largest cones of depression in the world. Both states have conducted detailed studies of the aquifer and have begun regional planning to control the human and environmental impacts. Other regional examples from around the country will be presented, and an emphasis will be given to the local conditions and issues of the McEllhiney Lecture host organization.