GROUNDWATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA VOLUME 19, NO. 3 FALL 2010 GRA Symposium – Geophysics at the Beach By Ted Johnson, John Jansen, Tim Parker, and Ned Clayton roundwater is a critical resource that will increasingly be relied Gupon in the future to meet grow- ing water demands in the face of chang- ing climate, socio-economic pressures, and the decreasing availability and ris- ing cost of surface water. More reliance on groundwater will drive the need for improved characterization of subsurface geohydrology and water quality, and improved tools for predicting the long- term viability of groundwater storage projects. Geophysics is a discipline that utilizes a suite of high-resolution surface and downhole tools that play an important and increasing role in water resources investigations to obtain high-quality and cost-effective subsurface hydrogeologic information critical to making informed management decisions. To provide a link between current and future groundwater regulatory agency staff, university staff, responsible parties, problems and the latest in geophysical tools and technologies case managers, and others. Following is a summary of the that can be applied to help solve these problems, GRA, in information presented at the event. conjunction with the Environmental and Engineering Geo- physical Society (EEGS), held a three-day symposium in Santa May 24, 2010 – Basic and Advanced Ana and Newport Beach in May, 2010. A basic and advanced Borehole Geophysics Short Course short course on borehole geophysics was held on May 24th; This one-day course provided the background informa- a symposium with 17 speakers and poster presentations was tion necessary for selecting appropriate geophysical logging held on May 25th; and a field demonstration of geophysical technologies for various projects, and for interpreting and equipment was held at the beach on May 26th. integrating geophysical logs into hydrogeologic investiga- About 60 people attended the three-day event; their varied tions. Such investigations may include: backgrounds included technical professionals, public and Continued on page 6… HYDROVISIONS – FALL 2010 | PAGE 1 The Groundwater Resources Association of California is dedicated to resource management that protects and improves groundwater through education and technical leadership. EXECUTIVE OFFICERS President, William Pipes AMEC Geomatrix 559-264-2535 | [email protected] Vice President, Sarah Raker, MACTEC Engineering and Consulting, Inc. 707-793-3841 | [email protected] The late Gene Luhdorff (left) standing in an irrigated field. See page 32. Treasurer, David Von Aspern Sacramento County EMD 916-875-8467 | [email protected] Secretary, Ted Johnson Inside this Issue Water Replenishment District of Southern Califnoria Features 562-275-4240 | [email protected] GRA Symposium – Geophysics at the Beach 1 DIRECTORS David Abbott Guest Editorial: Society-Science Synergism in Todd Engineers Santa Clara Valley, by T.N. Narasimhan 4 510-595-2120 | [email protected] Thomas Harter Toward Sustainable Groundwater in Agriculture – An University of California, Davis International Conference Linking Science and Policy 27 530-752-1130 | [email protected] Roy Herndon Obituaries: Eugene E. Luhdorff & Anne M.J. Schneider 32 Orange County Water District 714-378-3260 | [email protected] Columns & Corners Brad Herrema Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck President’s Message 3 805-882-1493 | [email protected] Thomas M. Johnson Upcoming Events 9 ARCADIS, U.S., Inc. 510-596-9511 | [email protected] Technical Corner 12 Vicki Kretsinger Luhdorff & Scalmanini, Consulting Engineers California Legislative Corner 14 530-661-0109 | [email protected] California Regulatory Corner 15 Brian Lewis Cal/EPA, Dept. of Toxic Substances Control Federal Legislative/Regulatory Corner 16 916-255-6532 | [email protected] Tom Mohr Chemist’s Corner 17 Santa Clara Valley Water District 408-265-2607, ext. 2051 | [email protected] Student/Research Corner 18 Jean Moran California State University, East Bay Hydro-History Corner 22 510-885-3486 | [email protected] Alliance Corner 23 Tim Parker Layne Christensen Company Organizational Corner 25 530-662-2825 | [email protected] James Strandberg Branch Highlights 36 Malcolm Pirnie, Inc. 510-735-3020 | [email protected] HYDROVISIONS is the official publication of EDITOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR the Groundwater Resources Association of Steven P. Phillips Kathy Snelson California (GRA). GRA’s mailing address is [email protected] 916-446-3626 | [email protected] 915 L Street, Suite 1000, Sacramento, CA 95814. Any questions or comments concerning EDITORIAL BOARD WEB AND DATABASE MANAGER this publication should be directed to the Roy Herndon | Tom Mohr | Tim Parker Kevin Blatt, iHappi Web Design newsletter editor at [email protected] or faxed to Kathy Snelson | David Von Aspern (916) 442-0382. 510-845-9623 | [email protected] HYDROVISIONS – FALL 2010 | PAGE 2 President’s Message retreat to review where we have been, 3. Repackage events and web content. agree on where we are going, and to Times, they are a-changin’, especially identify strategic initiatives for the in the realm of communication. Call coming 12 months that will help GRA it new media, social media, Web 2.0, achieve its vision, mission, and the goals but it all comes down to Twitter, and objectives laid out in the Plan. Facebook, blogs, podcasts, etc. Under This year’s retreat was held in May this initiative, GRA will be exploring at the USGS office in San Diego. Prior these newer communication tools to to the meeting, Board members were enhance our outreach, respond faster, surveyed about key groundwater issues and be more efficient in the way we of the day, the current state of the as- convey information and educate mem- sociation, and what they would suggest bers and the public, especially when it as strategic initiatives for the next 12 comes to our events and website. months. During the meeting, from a Task groups have been formed list of a dozen or so potential strategic to champion these initiatives. If you initiatives, we identified 3 initiatives to are interested in helping with any of focus on; we then broke into smaller these initiatives, we welcome your involvement—please contact me at bill. [email protected] (much to my teenag- Does GRA know where it’s going? ers’ chagrin, no Twitter or Facebook accounts for me, yet) and I will put you By Bill Pipes in touch with the right people. You’ve got to be very careful if you don’t know where you’re going, One of the pleasures of serving on the because you might not get there. –Yogi Berra GRA Board of Directors is hanging out with some really nice and exceptionally oes GRA know where it’s go- groups and developed action plans for bright people. Dr. Eric Reichard is one of ing? You bet we do. We have a each initiative. The strategic initiatives those people; unfortunately, because of a Dclear vision: “…to be the lead- for 2010-2011 are: potential conflict with his current position ing groundwater resources advocate 1. Expand GRA’s technical leadership at the USGS and Board involvement, Eric and educator of members and the pub- on key groundwater issues. recently had to resign his Board member lic on resource management to protect position. Eric is the Director of the USGS and improve groundwater.” We have a Technical leadership is a bedrock California Water Science Center and has mission “…dedicated to resource man- principle of this organization. Under been with the Water Science Center for agement that protects and improves this initiative, GRA will take a lead over 20 years, during which time he has groundwater through education and in identifying key groundwater issues served as a Research Hydrologist and the technical leadership.” GRA has a and will develop new events, publish Program Chief for Coastal Projects. He strategic plan to realize our vision and technical white papers, sponsor leg- brought to the GRA Board incredible in- to fulfill our mission. First developed in islation, and conduct surveys that sight into the key groundwater issues we 2002, the Plan clearly communicates focus on these issues. face in California, creativity in the events our direction to members and other 2. Strengthen GRA’s Branch he helped plan, and a steady and sure important stakeholders in the ground- organizations. hand in helping to govern the organiza- water resources community. You can tion. On behalf of the entire membership, find the Plan, last updated in May of GRA’s Branches are an important thank you, Eric, for your hard work and this year, on the GRA website. benefit to our members and a key dedication to GRA. resource for the statewide organiza- Dwight D. Eisenhower famously tion. Under this initiative, GRA will And thank you for reading Hydro- said “plans are nothing, planning is help the Branches increase member- Visions! Until next time, everything.” The GRA Board of Direc- ship and become more of a local tors believes this also – so every year resource, and will aid in identifying Bill Pipes we have an all-day strategic planning potential speakers. Bill Pipes, GRA President The statements and opinions expressed in GRA’s HydroVisions and other publications are those of the authors and/or contributors, and are not necessarily those of the GRA, its Board of Directors, or its members. Further, GRA makes no claims, promises, or guarantees about the absolute accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the contents of this publica- tion and expressly disclaims liability for errors and omissions in the contents. No warranty of any kind, implied or expressed, or statutory, is given with respect to the contents of this publication or its references to other resources. Reference in this publication to any specific commercial products, processes, or services, or the use of any trade, firm, or corporation name is for the information and convenience of the public, and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the GRA, its Board of Directors, or its members.