Proposed criteria for design of a data collection system for groundwater hydrology in California, 1970–2000

Abstract

Design of a groundwater data collection system requires the recognition of several important concepts. (1) Groundwater is not an isolated resource; precipitation and surface water are important boundary conditions and water quality is an essential parameter. (2) Most groundwater data are not transferable; thus the network must be based on unique programs for each basin. (3) Data needs must relate to the anticipated stress on the basin, and stress should be related to time, both lag time in the response to hydrologic stress, and lead time needed by management. (4) Cost of data is related to data density and accuracy so program design must consider levels of funds. (5) The relatively small time variability and pronounced spatial variability of the environmental factors necessitates major emphasis on the appraisal of areal units. (6) The parametric data needed for completing areal investigations at several levels of study are based on physical, hydrologic, and chemical heterogeneity coefficients derived for each basin. (7) Ultimately the complexity of the water use and the resulting changes of the system, in relation to the undeveloped state, will be such that first generation models of the groundwater basin can no longer supply answers to the intricate and complex questions needing answers. A management model of each heavily stressed basin will be needed to ensure that data collection programs fulfill the requirements imposed by the economic, political, legal, social, and hydrologic constraints.