High Plains States Groundwater Demonstration ProgramParts1&2

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The cooperative agreements with project sponsors required a final project report once the demonstration phase of the project was completed. The project reports vary in content and detail because some were produced by technical consultants and others were written by the sponsor project manager. Reclamation subsequently worked with the sponsor and EPA regional coordinators to prepare summary reports for each project (based on the full project reports). The project summaries used a common outline to produce a consistent and concise publication for general distribution purposes. The project summary reports are reproduced without revision and compiled in Part III (bound separately). A number of technical journal articles and additional project reports were generated that describe research or engineering investigations that were undertaken to resolve specific issues associated with the projects. Further information pertaining to the demonstration project activities may be found in the full sponsor reports and literature references. Other Program Investigations The program co- sponsored independent investigations to gain comprehensive information relevant to the program objectives. Two studies examined issues concerning recharge technology based on the experience derived from the program demonstration projects and from nonprogram groundwater recharge activities. These investigations were essential to address recharge issues relevant to program objectives that could not be answered solely by the applied recharge demonstration projects. Reclamation collaborated with the Western States Water Council (WSWC) on a study of the economic and institutional factors associated with groundwater recharge applications (WSWC, 1990; WSWC, 1998). Reclamation also cosponsored an investigation by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to evaluate recharge using alternative water sources such as storm runoff and reclaimed wastewater (NAS, 1994). Major results and findings excerpted from the WSWC and NAS investigation reports are summarized in Part II. In addition, EPA technical coordination participants reported on the High Plains States Groundwater Demonstration Program —Water Quality Lessons Learned based on their water quality review and oversight of the program demonstration projects. Reclamation provided cooperative funding and support for this independent review by EPA according to the provisions of the interagency MOU. The EPA water quality results and findings are presented in a brief summary report, also included in Part II. Program Summary Report Part I — Overview, Results, and Findings Z. Y