Subject: GWSI and LULC data for NAWQA wells Date: Fri, 9 Jan 1998 19:29:51 -0400 From: "Timothy L Miller, Chief, NAWQA, Reston, VA" (Timothy L. Miller) To: " , NAWQA 91 Study-Unit Project Chiefs, Reston, VA" , " , NAWQA 94 Study-Unit Project Chiefs, Reston, VA" , " , NAWQA 97 Study-Unit Project Chiefs, Reston, VA" , " , NAWQA 91 Study-Unit Ground Water Specialists, Reston, VA" , " , NAWQA 94 Study-Unit Ground Water Specialists, Reston, VA" , " , NAWQA 97 Study-Unit Ground Water Specialists, Reston, VA" , "Jeffrey T Armbruster, Asst. Reg. Hydr.-NAWQA, Norcross, GA" , "Ivan C James II, Asst. Reg. Hydrologist-NAWQA, Denver, CO" , "Marc A Sylvester, Asst. Reg. Hydrologist-NAWQA, Menlo Park, CA" , "Michael C Yurewicz, Asst. Reg. Hydrol.-NAWQA, Reston, VA" , "William G Wilber, National Synthesis Coordinator, Reston, VA" , "Walton H Low, Staff Hydrologist, Reston, VA" , " , NAWQA National Synthesis Chiefs, Reston, VA" CC: "Michael T Koterba, Hydrologist, Baltimore, MD" , "Wayne W Lapham, Hydrol(Geol) GW Spec, Reston, VA" , "Sarahnell L Laible, Secretary, Reston, VA" , "Rosemary Musson, Program Assistant, Reston, VA" , "Theresa A Carr, Office Automation Asst., Reston, VA" , "Wayne E Webb, QW Spec, Reston, VA" , "Albert T Rutledge, Ground Water Specialist, Reston, VA" , "Gary L Pederson, Reg QW Spec, Norcross, GA" , "William L Cunningham, Supv. Hydrologist/GW Spec., Raleigh, NC" , "Robert E Broshears, Reg. QW Specialist, Denver, CO" , "Alan W Burns, Reg GW Specialist, Denver, CO" , "Keith R Prince, Hydrologist, Menlo Park, CA" In Reply Refer To: Mail Stop 413 SENT VIA EMAIL MEMORANDUM January 9, 1998 TO: Study-Unit Chiefs (1991, 1994, 1997), NAWQA Ground-water Specialists, National Leadership Team, National Synthesis Project Chiefs, National Water-Quality Assessment Program FROM: Timothy L. Miller Chief, National Water-Quality Assessment Program SUBJECT: Required Ancillary Data (GWSI and LULC) For NAWQA Wells-- SITE, SURFACE, WELL, AND SUBSURFACE DATA _________________________________________________________________________ This Memorandum provides guidance to all study units; however, for 1994 study units an additional Memorandum on the logistics for getting the data assimilated in computer files will be forth coming. NAWQA headquarters is discussing with the Iowa District, central processing of the data, and it is just a question of their ability to accommodate our needs, or our finding the best approach to get the work done this fiscal year. BACKGROUND This guidance focuses on required ancillary data (well and subsurface data) required for all wells used to collect water-quality data for the NAWQA Program of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and require land- scape data for all Study(Sub)-Unit Survey and Land-Use Study Wells. The purpose of this memorandum is to provide information on how each Study Unit (Pilot, FY91, FY94, and FY97) can obtain this guidance, and the manner in which study-unit teams are to complete this guidance. This guidance expands on the list of required landscape, well, and subsurface data described by Lapham and others (USGS OFR 95-398). In addition to information expected in NAWQA well files (ibid, p. 41), Lapham and others the described minimum data required to establish a site in two USGS databases-- the National Water Site Inventory I (NWIS) and the National Ground-Water Site Inventory (GWSI, ibid, Table 11, p. 44). The authors also indicated that the landscape classification would be revised (ibid, p.41). Plans to modify the the required ancillary data also were described in a subsequent NAWQA Memorandum, by Miller (June, 1996). The current guidance reflects the aforementioned modifications, and is based on a pilot study by six FY94 Study Units, and extensive discus- sions with members of NAWQA National Synthesis Teams and their support groups. Detailed information on the required landscape, well, and subsurface data, and the methods to be used to collect, compile, document, and verify these data are provided in the guidance and related documents which can be obtained as follows: (set up directory for GWSI.LULC, and in that directory): ftp 130.11.112.1 cd pub cd NAWQA/GWSI.LULCFS get D97* (or retrieve each of following individually): D97.GWSI.LULC.guid.fm (the guidance, framemaker file, 60 pgs) D97LULCFS.fs.fm (the revised LULC field sheet,framemaker file, 8 pgs) D97LULC.50m.fs.fm (a template for 50-m buffer, framemaker file, 1 pg) D97LULC.Codes.fm (the NAWQA LULC codes, framemaker file, 40 pgs) D97LULC.ex.agric.ps (example, postcript file, color, 500-m buffer, 1p) D97LULC.ex.urban.ps (ditto, for urban) D97LULC.ex.min.ps (ditto, for mining) D97LULC.ex.agric.tab.txt(table of buffer data, agric, 1p) D97LULC.ex.urban.tab.txt(ditto, for urban) D97LULC.ex.min.tab.txt(ditto, for mining) EXECUTION: All study-unit chiefs and ground-water specialists should read the introductory through general guidance sections for GWSI and LULC. All ground-water field personnel should read the above, and to extent possible, the remaining parts of this document. The first opportunity to discuss this guidance will be at the NAWQA National Meeting in February, 1998. A section of this meeting is being devoted to the discussion of this document. This would be the best opportunity to discuss the implementation of this guidance en masse. All study-unit teams should be prepared to discuss this guidance and their efforts to complete it during the next round of FY97 workplan reviews. In general, all FY97 Study Units are expected to obtain these data for each LUS and SUS in a timely fashion (within a year) of the time they conduct ground-water-quality sampling for a given LUS or SUS. All FY94 Study Units are expected to begin to obtain these data beginning this fiscal year for all LUS and SUS they already have conducted and complete their efforts for all LUS and SUS within the first two years of their LIP. All FY91 and Pilot studies are expected to begin to obtain these data for the LUS and SUS studies they conducted during their HIP and complete this activity within the first few years of their LIP. For each FY91 and FY94 Study-Unit the priority is LUS first, then SUS with nested LUS, then other SUS. As data for each LUS and SUS is obtained, that for LULC should be sent for central processing, and that for well and subsurface should be stored in the GWSI database. QUESTIONS Questions regarding data that already have been collected are answered in the guidance (for example, see p. 46 footnote 1). Questions concern- ing this guidance should be sent (email) to Wayne Lapham (email), who will forward them to Michael Koterba. Michael, will be unavailable until the National Meeting, and address as many of these questions as he can then.