Scientists to discuss initial results of South Coast Ranges-Coastal groundwater study
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Scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) next week will present their initial results of a study of untreated groundwater from 70 wells sampled from May through December 2008 in portions of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties, CA.
The meeting, conducted by the State Water Resources Control Board and the USGS, is set for Tuesday, June 8, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Central Coast Water Authority, 255 Industrial Way, Buellton, CA.
The Water Board’s Groundwater Ambient Monitoring and Assessment (GAMA) Program is collaborating with the USGS and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories to conduct the Priority Basin Project, which monitors and assesses water quality in groundwater basins in California. The main goals of GAMA are to improve comprehensive statewide groundwater monitoring and to increase the availability of groundwater quality information to the public.
The USGS California Water Science Center is the lead for the GAMA Priority Basin Project. With the voluntary cooperation of local water agencies and well owners, USGS is testing untreated groundwater in California over a 10-year period.
The Coastal study unit of the South Coast Ranges includes several California Department of Water Resources-defined groundwater basins in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties, including Santa Maria River Valley, Santa Ynez River Valley, San Antonio Creek Valley, San Luis Obispo Valley, and Los Osos Valley.
It is one of 35 GAMA study units in California.
While scientists have not completed their full report, they will discuss some of their initial findings at the meeting. Their completed report is expected to be available this summer.
The GAMA Priority Basin Project is designed to characterize raw water quality in groundwater basins and aquifers. GAMA does not evaluate the quality of water delivered to consumers, since public water systems typically treat (or mix) it to meet drinking water standards.
More information on the GAMA program is available at: http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/gama/ and http://ca.water.usgs.gov/gama/.
Links and contacts within this release are valid at the time of publication.
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