NDEP Review of Truckee River Water Quality Standards Workshop

The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) is undertaking a review of the Truckee River water quality standards and would like the participation of the Nevada water community!  We have scheduled a workshop for January 12, 2012 to introduce the topic to the public and get initial comments on the project.  Please download a copy of our workshop flyer for more information on our workshop!

 

TRPA Announces Winners of the Lake Spirit Awards

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency announced the winners of the Lake Spirit Awards honoring "real people making real progress protecting Lake Tahoe" at their first-ever  Community Appreciation Day event held Thursday, September 29th at TRPA's office.

The NWRA would also like to congratulate Tim Rowe of the USGS for his Honorable Mention award by the TRPA as "The Face of the USGS" in the same ceremony.  Congratulations, Tim!

To read the entire article please visit this link at the Tahoe Daily Tribune website.

 

Water Quality Studies of the Southwest Basin-fill Aquifers

US Geologic Survey Technical Announcement for October 5, 2011

Recent studies by the National Water-Quality Assessment Program improve our understanding of the hydrogeology and groundwater quality of unconsolidated basin-fill aquifers in the arid to semiarid Southwest, and of the natural and human factors that affect the water quality in these aquifers. Results are available in two reports describing (1) hydrologic and groundwater-quality conditions in 15 Southwest basins (available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/1781/), and (2) regional conceptual models of the natural and human factors affecting groundwater quality across these basins (available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2011/5020/). Study basins are located in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah.

Water development, such as importation of surface water and redistribution of within-basin water, has changed saturated thicknesses, and altered groundwater flow velocities and directions. In some basins, development has caused recharge of excess irrigation water and discharge of groundwater from pumping to exceed natural rates of recharge and discharge by up to six or seven times. Development also has increased the susceptibility and vulnerability of aquifers to anthropogenic and natural contamination. Groundwater-quality issues that can be affected by development include elevated concentrations of dissolved solids, nitrate, arsenic, and uranium, and the presence of human-related organic compounds, such as pesticides and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Conceptual models indicate which sources and controls are most likely to influence concentrations of water-quality constituents. Natural factors, such as aquifer geologic composition, have important effects on dissolved solids, arsenic, and uranium. Flushing of natural accumulations in the soil zone to the water table is important for nitrate. Among human sources, infiltration of excess irrigation water is an important agricultural source of dissolved solids, nitrate, and pesticides. Point sources, irrigat­ed turf, and leakage from distribution pipes and sewer systems can be important urban sources of dissolved solids, nitrate, pesticides, and (or) VOCs. Factors unrelated to sources also influence susceptibility and vulnerability of aquifers to contamination. Important natural factors include presence of confining units, direction of vertical hydraulic gradients, concentrating effects of evapotranspiration, and aquifer geochemical conditions (such as redox and pH). Human-related factors include depth to water (in areas of artificial recharge), contribution of artificial recharge, pumping, well depth, preferential groundwater flow along wellbores, and changing land use, such as from agricultural to urban.
Information presented in the reports serves as a resource and foundation for those interested in the hydrogeology and groundwater quality of basin-fill aquifers in the southwestern United States. A related report describing statistical models of nitrate and arsenic occurrence is planned for release in 2012.
If you have any questions, please contact Susan Thiros (sthiros@usgs.gov; 801-908-5063).  Please feel free to distribute this information to your colleagues and members.
USGS provides science for a changing world. Visit USGS.gov, and follow us on Twitter @USGS and our other social media channels. Subscribe to our news releases via e-mail, RSS or Twitter.

 

"Lake of the Sky" video

The United States Geologic Survey (USGS) has developed a short video that sprang from the ideas at a USGS Lake Tahoe Committee meeting this spring, developed and produced by Steve Wessells of the USGS Office of Communications in Henderson, NV.  This video was presented at the Lake Tahoe Summit.  You can see this video on the USGS' YouTube channel, on regular YouTube, or at the USGS Website.  If you have a minute please take a look at this video, and be sure to leave your feedback for the folks at the USGS!

 

American Water Works Association Workshops

The AWWA will be hosting two one-day workshops in August discussing the topic of pre-treatment on desalination operations.  The workshops, titled "The Effects of Pretreatment on Desalination Operations for Seawater, Brackish Water & Recycled Water" will be held on Tuesday, August 9th, in Fountain Valley, California, and again on Tuesday, August 16th, in Oakland, California.  Pre-registration is required.  For more information, please download the event flyer by clicking this link.

 

Nevada Board of Certification for Waterwater Treatment Plan Operators

Information on the examination and certification procedures can be found here: Certification Board

 

Resolution for Non-NWRA Events

The Board of Directors for the Nevada Water Resources Association has assembled a
Resolution of Guidelines for conducting non-NWRA events through the NWRA.  To view this important information please click on this link for a PDF copy of the Guidelines.