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3 <br /> non-growing season, November through March, is the period during which most <br /> significant groundwater recharge occurs. Most recharge takes place when precipitation <br /> infiltrates into the ground and reaches the water table, rather than evaporating, being <br /> used by plants, or exiting the system as runoff. Recharge also occurs from surface <br /> water streams, especially during the drier months of the year. Infiltration increases the <br /> amount of groundwater held in storage, raising groundwater levels in the regolith <br /> (upper) aquifer and then the underlying bedrock aquifer. Typically this recharge is then <br /> available for use during the subsequent growing season. Periods of drought or dry <br /> weather can, of course, reduce recharge which could then impact the amount of <br /> groundwater available during the growing season. As noted above, the surface water <br /> and groundwater systems are linked and interdependent, with changes to one system <br /> affecting the other. <br /> Going Forward <br /> Orange County's Groundwater Observation Well Network has been a beneficial project <br /> from the beginning. While its findings and data over the last 17 years have not resulted <br /> in many dramatic results or trends, this is in fact good news. The County's groundwater <br /> resources have remained stable and for the most part predictable during the period of <br /> collection, which admittedly has not seen a severe drought or extended duration. <br /> Findings from the OWN are used to inform the public and officials about groundwater <br /> supply issues including the impact of natural phenomena on groundwater in Orange <br /> County. This collection of data allows the public to have no-cost access to the <br /> groundwater level information collected here in the County at any time. The nominal <br /> annual operating cost of this network (—$1,600 per year) compared to the long-term <br /> groundwater trend information it provides, is highly useful to water resource <br /> professionals, hydrogeologists and other scientists. <br /> The OWN has proven to be a low-cost data collection system that is providing important <br /> contextual long-term data, which to date has not generated short-term time-critical <br /> policy information, but very well may someday prove to be of vital and timely importance <br /> when the next inevitable wave of drought or excessive precipitation occurs. <br /> Orange County Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks & Recreation <br /> PO Box 8181 <br /> Hillsborough, NC 27278 <br /> Phone: (919) 245-2510 <br /> Fax: (919) 644-3351 <br />