BOARD01318

• Board Meeting Date: 9/13/2005
• Description: CWCB Director's Report
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

constitutes an "addition" is required, but if "EP A were required, for example in a judicia] proceeding, to
make a factual determination as to whether a water-body is 'meaningfully distinct' under the Supreme .
Court's decision in Miccosukee" certain relevant factors would be considered. The memo goes on to
discuss those factors.

Western States Water Council Workshop: On September 7-9, the Western States Water Council is
sponsoring its annual Water Information Management Systems (WIMS) Workshop in Missou]a, Montana
at the Wingate Inn (1-866-832-8000). Ray Alvarado of the CWCB is scheduled to give a presentation on
the Decision Support System and Map Server. The deadline to register and reserve rooms is August 22.
For more information and registration forms go to: www.westgov.org/wswc/meetings.html

Symposium on Indian Reserved Water Rights Claims Settlement: The Western States Water
Counci]/NARF's Indian Reserved Water Rights Claims Settlement Symposium will be held at the
University Inn in Moscow, Idaho on September ]4-] 6. Call 1-800-325-8765 for room reservations. For
more information and registratio~ forms go to: www.westgov.org/wswc/meetings.html.

USGS Aquifer Study Released: On August], the U.S. Geological Survey released a report entitled
Estimated Withdrawals from Principal Aquifers in the United States. 2000. It provides a detailed
overview of ground water use. Included are California's Coastal Basin, the Central Valley, the High
Plains, the Snake River Plain and others. About 92% percent, some 56.9 billion gallons per day (bgd), is
withdrawn for three purposes: (I) irrigation; (2) public supplies delivered to homes, businesses, and
industry; and (3) self-supplied industrial uses. The remaining 8% is withdrawn for aquaculture, livestock,
mining, thermoelectric power and self-supplied domestic use. Irrigation withdrawals total 56.9 million
gallons per day (mgd) or some 63.8 million acre-feet (Mat). California uses 10Mafand Nebraska 7.9Maf
(more than any other states).

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The report shows that 55% of combined ground water withdrawals for irrigation, public supply and self-
supplied industria] water uses come from four principal aquifers. The High Plains supplies 23% of total
withdrawals for these three primary purposes, and 30% of the water for irrigation from all aquifers. The
other three principal aquifers are California's Central Valley; the Mississippi River Valley; and the Basin
and Range aquifers predominantly located in the desert Southwest. Irrigation is also overwhelmingly the
largest use of the water from each of these aquifers. Aquifers that produce the most water for public
supply are the glacial sand and gravel aquifers in a large region that extends from Maine to Montana and
southward toward Kentucky; California's Coastal Basin aquifers; and the Floridan aquifer system.

Aquifers were also categorized by five lithologic groups: (I) unconsolidated and semi-consolidated sand
and gravel; (2) carbonate-rock; (3) igneous and metamorphic-rock; (4) sandstone; and (5) sandstone and
carbonate-rock. Eighty percent oftotal withdrawals were from the first group, 8% from the second group,
6% from the third group, 2% each from the fourth and fifth groups, and 2% from "other" aquifers. The
USGS assesses the quantity and quality of the Nation's water resources, in cooperation with other federal,
state, and local agencies, through a nationwide hydrologic-data collection network and a wide variety of
water-resources investigations. The full USGS ground water report is available online at:
htto://vubs. water.usgs.gov/circ I 279.

Search for Assistant Chief Engineer in Kansas: The Kansas Department of Agriculture is hiring an
Assistant Chief Engineer, Division of Water Resources, which is the regulatory agency charged with
water law administration, water allocation and management, irrigation, drainage, flood control, dam
safety and related programs. It is an unclassified professional position with responsibility for supervising
staff and overseeing water-related technical duties. It requires the exercise of sound judgement in the
supervision, coordination and utilization of personnel and budgets. A civil, agricultural or environ-mental .

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