USGS Washington Water Science Center
| Ground-Water Records Project Page | Publications and Products | Related Links | Data | Project Summaries | Partnerships | | |
Long-term water-level records are needed to evaluate the effects of climate variations on the recharge to and discharge from ground-water systems, to provide a database from which to measure the effects of development, to assist in the prediction of future supplies, and to provide data for management of the resource. The data are used to determine long-term trends in water levels and sustainable yields in an aquifer, to assess the effects of climate on water levels, and to develop flow and transport models that allow prediction of future conditions and detection and definition of contaminant and water-supply problems. The data are critical to local, State, and regional water managers for broad-based planning and managing of water-resources projects concerning drought warning and assessment, subsurface water storage, the effects of changing land use, and interstate water-rights agreements.
To effectively assess the Nation's ground-water resources, the USGS monitors water levels in thousands of wells, determines aquifer characteristics in principal aquifers, and monitors the quality of water in wells and springs using standardized methods. The data are published in annual data reports, reports on specific aquifers, and modeling reports, and are available on the World Wide Web. The ground-water data collected in Washington are an integral part of the nationwide ground-water data program.
U.S. Department of the Interior |
U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://wa.water.usgs.gov/projects/gwrecords/index.htm
Page Contact Information: webmaster
Page Last Modified: Friday, 04-Apr-2008 18:08:19 EDT
