The Arizona Legislature recently zeroed-out funding for the Arizona State Geological Survey (AZGS) and has moved it into the University of Arizona.

Which areas in the United States are most dependent on groundwater?

Groundwater use is highest in parts of the country with limited rainfall but high water needs, especially for irrigation. Most of these areas are in the western half of the country, where annual rainfall is typically much lower than in the East and where surface water supplies cannot meet the demand for water.

In 2015, groundwater provided 29% of the total freshwater used in the United States. However, eight states and at least one territory depended on groundwater for at least 50% of their freshwater supply:¹

Interactive map of water wells in Nebraska

The Nebraska Department of Natural Resources provides an interactive map of water wells in the state. Wells are color-coded by use, and include geothermal, injection, irrigation, domestic, monitoring, and commerical wells, plus many other types. Users can click on each well to access registration and ownership information.

Additional map layers include transportation, aerial photography, and lakes and rivers.

Click here to access the Nebraska DNR's map of water wells.

House committee holds hearing on California water supply

The House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Water, Power, and Oceans held a hearing to discuss the state of California’s water supply.

Map of Surficial Aquifer Potential in Connecticut

The Connecticut Geological Survey's (CGS) map of surficial aquifer potential shows the areas with high potential for groundwater supply based on the thickness of coarse-grained deposits. Colors on the map indicate the thickness of coarse-grained deposits and the thickness of fine-grained deposits where they occur over coarse-grained sediments.

Click here to access the CGS's map of surficial aquifer potential in Connecticut.

EARTH: Treated Water That's Too Pure Lets Arsenic Sneak In

In an effort to reduce water use in California, communities are turning to wastewater purification. This wastewater is being made so pure that it's actually causing problems: EARTH Magazine reports on a new study that showed that ultra-purified water allowed minute amounts of arsenic to leach from the surrounding bedrock into the water.

House legislation introduced that will allow farmers tax breaks for water conservation

Rep. Rick Crawford (R-AR) introduced the Groundwater Conservation Incentive Act (H.R. 4175) on December 3, which would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

Making Produced Water More Productive

Friday, December 11, 2015

Overarching questions addressed in this webinar include:

What is produced water and how is it commonly disposed?
What environmental concerns does produced water pose?
What factors are influencing the demand for alternate applications of produced water?
What alternate uses for produced waters exist? What challenges do these alternatives face?

Our speakers include:

Kyle E. Murray, Ph.D., Oklahoma Geological Survey & University of Oklahoma | Slides Video
Jeri Sullivan Graham, Los Alamos National Laboratory | Slides Video
Holly Pearen, Environmental Defense Fund | Slides Video

Webinar Co-Sponsors:
Association of American State Geologists, American Association of Petroleum Geologists

CEU Credits

To earn CEU credits, please complete the associated on-demand GOLI course that was developed from this webinar with a grade of 70% or higher and then submit your application for CEUs. CEUs are awarded from the American Institute of Professional Geologists. To view the full list of on-demand GOLI courses, please browse the GOLI course catalog.

Resources to learn more:

View this webinar's Question & Answer session
Water Resources Research from the Oklahoma Geological Survey
U.S. EPA's Study of Hydraulic Fracturing for Oil and Gas and Its Potential Impact on Drinking Water Resources (www.epa.gov/hfstudy)
National Research Council, 2010, Management and Effects of Coalbed Methane Produced Water in the Western United States
National Academies, 2017, Flowback and Produced Waters: Opportunities and Challenges for Innovation - Proceedings of a Workshop
U.S. Geological Survey, National Produced Waters Geochemical Database
National Energy Technology Laboratory, Produced Water Management Technology Descriptions

Search the Geological Surveys Database for reports and factsheets about produced water.

Making Produced Waters More Productive: Perspectives on produced water and saltwater disposal

Water as One Resource: How interactions between groundwater and surface water impact water availability

Monday, July 13, 2015

Overarching questions addressed in this webinar include:

How do surface water and ground water interact and what implications do these interactions have for sustainable water management?
Are there new tools/resources/partnerships that can be used to better manage surface water and groundwater as connected resources?
What policy limitations exist for managing water as one resource?
Are there best practices that water management organizations can implement?

Our speakers include:

Ken Bradbury, Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey | Slides Video
William M. Alley, National Ground Water Association | Slides Video
Thomas Harter, University of California, Davis | Slides Video

Webinar Co-Sponsors:
National Ground Water Association, Wisconsin Geological & Natural History Survey, Association of American State Geologists

CEU Credits

To earn CEU credits, please complete the associated on-demand GOLI course that was developed from this webinar with a grade of 70% or higher and then submit your application for CEUs. CEUs are awarded from the American Institute of Professional Geologists. To view the full list of on-demand GOLI courses, please browse the GOLI course catalog.

Resources to learn more:

View this webinar's Question & Answer session
U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1139: Ground Water and Surface Water: A Single Resource
U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1376: Streamflow Depletion by Wells - Understanding and Managing the Effects of Groundwater Pumping on Streamflow
U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1766: Groundwater Availability of the Central Valley Aquifer, California
National Ground Water Association: Groundwater Fundamentals
Wisconsin Geological & Natural History Survey: Water & Environment Resources
University of Wisconsin Extension: Water Resource Webinars
University of California, Davis: Groundwater Information & Educational Resources
University of California, Davis: Scott Valley Research

Search the Geological Surveys Database for reports and factsheets on water resources.

Water As One Resource: How Groundwater Interacts with Lakes and Streams

Interactive map of earth fissures in Arizona

Information on this page was collected from the source acknowledged below:
Arizona Geological Survey:

American Geosciences Institute

groundwater

Future of the Arizona Geological Survey