Agenda - 01-27-2009 - 4 - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: January 27, 2009 Action Agen Item No. SUBJECT: Observation Well Network Project DEPARTMENT: Environment and Resource PUBLIC HEARING: (YIN) No Conservation ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Powerpoint Presentation Handouts Thomas W. Davis, 960-3878 FY 2009-19 CIP Cost Estimates David Stancil, 245-2590 PURPOSE: To provide the Board with an update regarding the plans for the Orange County Observation Well Network, and to receive feedback from the Board on the proposed project. BACKGROUND: Groundwater is the sole source of water for approximately 40 percent of the residents of Orange County. Orange County has a history of proactive measures regarding the investigation and protection of surface water and groundwater resources. A Water Resources Committee was first organized in the County in early 1992 in conjunction with a multi-year Water Resources project. This project featured cost-share cooperation with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) on the production of three technical publications regarding groundwater quantity and quality issues in the County. Upon completion of the studies, the Water Resources Committee issued its Report of the Water Resources Committee in March, 2001. In the cover letter to the committee report, Chair Don Cox noted several key points including: "...the committee recommends that the county institute a long-term program of well measurements that can provide information as to the effects of land use changes and climatic changes on the availability of ground water. The USGS data (the reports mentioned above) gives us a base line of information that can be useful into the future with the addition of a good monitoring program." Subsequently, the Orange County Commission for the Environment produced the Water Resources Initiative in early 2005. This report was adopted in principle by the BOCC in May 2005, and included three main areas for further investigation: Droughts and Floods, Ground- Water Contamination, and Resource Evaluation, Public Service and Education. The first goal in the Droughts and Floods section was: "Planning and creation of an observation well network to increase available ,knowledge and data about the impact on ground water supplies from drought." Additionally, the first goal included in the Ground-Water Contamination section was: "Further research on elevated radon findings in some ground water samples from the United States Geological Survey studies of 1996/2001."