November 17, 2015
The best water solutions move the most water the least distance. Sustainability does come at a price; dependability, reliability and predictability. That sounds good to me! Let’s talk.
We ought to know! Operation Unite conducted a 10-year groundwater study on fractured rock aquifer behavior in rural residential and small agricultural environments in Placer and Nevada counties.
Our study confirms that water wells are vulnerable in different ways and can be remedied with proper mitigation strategies. The answer is a lot like only flossing the teeth you want to keep. The water user needs to monitor and build resiliency. Prudent well owners that monitor their well’s water levels have a significantly greater success in avoiding the experience of a failed well. Know Your Water® and enjoy a healthy well. Call Operation Unite® and ask to become a member.
Designed to aid counties, cities, water agencies, groundwater districts, home owners associations, road associations, neighborhoods, real estate groups and associations and individual groundwater users.
Societies have generally considered groundwater to be a renewable resource. This has been demonstrated by water strategies that treat groundwater as a primary source or a back up source of water when surface water is not available. A recent study has quantified the degree of renewable groundwater that is available in the world. There is only 350,000 cubic kilometers of water less than fifty years old. You can find approximately 6% of groundwater within the topmost 6,300 feet of the mantle that is renewable within a single human lifetime.
No wonder the Ogallala aquifer, the aquifers beneath the Central Valley of California, the Denver Basin and so many other locations are experiencing severe declines in aquifer water levels. These old aquifers filled with water during long time periods when glaciers were melting over 10,000 years ago. Today conditions are different.
Today’s drier climates don’t provide enough water for recharge back into deeper aquifers. We need to match our water demand to what the aquifer actually receives each season, naturally and mankind enhanced. These regions require a different kind of water strategy; percolation fields and other artificial recharge systems that enhance natural groundwater recharge.
Groundwater is renewable in certain regions like mountainous areas of the Sierras, CoastalRange and Cascades in California or the Rockies of the western U.S.. Knowing this suggests different water strategies for different ages of groundwater. Operation Unite® outreach programs are designed to support these more renewable areas. The best part is Operation Unite® engages the water user into the management solutions; bringing people together to solve water problems.
POST- NEVADA COUNTY COMMUNITY WATER FORUM
Broadcasted Live by KVMR 89.5 PM from the historic Nevada Theater, Nevada City, California
The Nevada County Community Water Forum was an opportunity to share this year’s responses to our efforts in Nevada County as well as mitigation ideas for our upcoming water year (2015-2016). Thank you to Brian Hamilton, The Union newspaper, Pascale, Yubanet and Paul Emery, KVMR, for contributing to the forum. A very special thanks goes out to KVMR. Here is a recap of what we learned.
This is the fourth year of a record setting drought in California. We in Nevada County, however, have been blessed with the amount of precipitation that western Nevada County has received this fiscal year. There was a slight impact noticed by our groundwater users. The precipitation delivered to our region must have maintained satisfactory good health for most of the vulnerable groundwater wells. Preparation in Nevada County for avoiding aquifer depletions experienced by other less fortunate Sierra mountain foothill communities include taking steps, on an individual basis, in groundwater monitoring of private and public wells, continued water conservation, reuse (gray water) and recycling, supplementation of water supplies with rainwater harvested water and groundwater recharge programs.
Chris Paulus, CalFire, is greatly concerned with the fuels that have accumulated in creating today’s fire hazard. This is due to past and present management practices, the drought and the Bark Beetle. Good personal land management by Nevada County property owners will facilitate good water management and reduce fire hazards that currently exist. Fuel reduction is key to increasing watershed yield. You can increase both your defensive space and increase groundwater recharge. The Pine beetle epidemic is in a critical phase. This is due to overstocking of trees in our forests. What makes this worse is the lag time that continues the problem even after the Pine Beetle epidemic ends (3-5 years lag time).
Nevada County office of Emergency Services, Vic Ferrera, pointed out that if the drought continues, Nevada County may qualify for state and federal emergency funds. Many Nevada County citizens would become eligible for government assistance programs. These would include assistance for potable water and low cost loans for deepening wells. Past normal years are not the same as our future normal years so our current worries will likely continue even with more precipitation.
Chip Close, Nevada Irrigation District wants everybody to know the snowpack is critical. The District is prepared for a severe drought year. Nobody knows what a normal year is however if we have a normal year, NID reservoirs will do well. Regardless, water conservation will be asked under any circumstances by the State and NID.
This is a time of blessings that begins on Christmas day and continues through the next year. Knowing this, Operation Unite® wishes everyone a very merry holiday season and, more specifically, gifts that will support people from around the world with prosperity and joy.
Blessings to the Central Valley of California farmers, farm workers, processors, Bureau of Reclamation, municipalities and irrigation districts, city, county and state departments and staff that implement drought emergency responses and state leaders that grapple every day to find fair and effective ways to satisfy current water needs with the water that is available.
Blessings to all medium and high priority watersheds that work towards creating a united community under the umbrella of a groundwater sustainability agency (GSA).
Blessings to our scientists, water managers and other water buffalos that seek groundtruthing actual water conditions and remedies that are fair for all Californians.
Blessings to communities living and working in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta counties, to the health of the inland estuary, the network of rivers that feed the Delta and relations that the fresh water of California has with the salty Pacific Ocean.
Blessings to all Californians living in urban, suburban and rural regions of the state and their recognition that each play a part in water conservation, reuse and recycling on a daily basis.
Blessings to our Native People that share their water wisdom and hopes for a healthy 21st century for California.
Blessings to the United States for the understanding, good will and wisdom to seek problem resolutions that minimize pain for everyone and optimize successes among all citizens.
Blessings to all international nations for seeing the strengths in each other and seeking relations that bring joy to their people.
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Solstice and Happy Holidays to all.
Year 2015 has been a wonderful year for Operation Unite®. When we experience successes, it is because success has occurred in the communities that we serve. We wanted to share some of the highlights from this year’s activities. Wishing each of you a very happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.
MENTOR AWARD
Stephen Baker, founder of Operation Unite®, received the American Institute of Professional Geologist 2015 Mentor Award this year in Anchorage, Alaska.
· Stephen exemplifies the make-it-happen attitude of the professional geologist giving back to California geology students and the professional community.
· By 2013 he agreed to be an official UC Davis AIPG Student Section Mentor. As an official AIPG Student Section Mentor, Steve has participated in meetings and field trips, including giving two resume and interviewing workshops.
· In 2014, Steve developed the "Meet Your Mentor™” internet radio program to connect mentors in the water industry with listeners who have interest in training and education in vocational and academic schools, finding a job, continuing education, ethics, education and dealing with setbacks experienced in the industry. Based on the initial success of the program, with appropriate funding, Steve plans to take the “Meet Your Mentor™” program nationally.
· In helping the profession in California, Stephen Baker participated as an AIPG Student Mentor at the 2015 International Goldschmidt Conference in Sacramento where he spoke about career development to 95+ enthusiastic geology students.
While Stephen is thrilled to be recognized for his work and honored to receive this award, his passion is expanding to include dialog with the public surrounding water usage, conservation and new solutions in his drought-ridden home state, California.
OPERATION UNITE® 30-DAY PILOT PUBLIC FACILITATION PROGRAM IN NEVADA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
Operation Unite® spent thirty days talking, interviewing, educating and modeling positive community behaviors of citizens and water stakeholders in Nevada County on drought vulnerabilities in the community. Operation Unite® found that public facilitation really works when the citizens and water stakeholders are engaged together in creating successful responses to drought and water issues. Operation Unite® public facilitation programs are available to:
· bring people together in developing local groundwater sustainability agencies in California,
· enhance water conservation practices in communities and water districts,
· develop cultural changes that enhance resiliency to water shortage through campaigns that increase acceptance and construction of rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge systems, or
· enhance public recognition of the important connection between food and water when deciding who gets a limited supply of the available water.
Educational water and drought presentations were scheduled, several thirty minute videos describing water conservation, domestic well monitoring, and ranching in the drought were produced, newspaper articles were written and consistent weekly water reports on local radio and community television were broadcasted. The Operation Unite® Facebook page received a lot of traffic during the event.
We gained a lot of insight from completing this project, especially the public’s perception of their vulnerability to the current drought. Some citizens were highly engaged in actively conserving their water while many others were unaware that their personal actions could be causing problems within the community or towards themselves. We found that concentrated and consistent messaging through a period of time offered by an Operation Unite® public facilitation program far exceeds the effectiveness in relying on conventional local radio, TV and newspapers coverage. The bottom line is this; An Operation Unite® public facilitation is a critical ingredient that generates uniform understanding and perceptions of vulnerability, community values, common goals and a direction for solving the water problem. Since the pilot project, we have increased efforts via YouTube and other on-line vidcasts.
NEVADA COUNTY COMMUNITY WATER FORUM
Operation Unite® wanted to bring attention to 2015’s drought response successes and next year’s actions so we organized a Nevada County Community Water Forum through the KVMR 89.5 FM radio station in Nevada City, California. Operation Unite® selected and prepared a very prestigious group of panelists; CalFire, Nevada County Office of Emergency Services, Nevada Irrigation District and Operation Unite’s very own Stephen Baker. The Nevada Theater donated their stage and auditorium for the December event.
Radio listeners emailed questions and the forum audience created a lively, real-time interactive discussion of concerns, actions, ideas and comments with the listening audience and panelists- a true success. Feedback received after the broadcast described the forum as highly informative, motivating and engaging.
Operation Unite® incorporates community forums into its public facilitation strategy on many projects. It has proven to be an effective tool used to bring people together to solve the water issues at hand.
OPERATION UNITE® FACEBOOK® AND YOUTUBE® CHANNEL
Operation Unite® has been very busy bringing to you boots-on-the-ground reporting through videos and News Alerts appearing on the Operation Unite® Facebook page. This has proved to be a very effective conduit and helpful to well users, managers and the agricultural sector across the western states.
A thirty minute video describing Operation Unite’s Know Your Water® groundwater management program for fractured rock aquifers is now available on YouTube (Know Your Water®- Faces in the Drought by Operation Unite®). Other videos incorporated in the Faces in the Drought video series include Drought and Ranching, Water Conservation and a one hour Special Climate Change lecture presented by Stephen Baker (Founder of Operation Unite®) this past summer.
Social media and videos have proven to reach and teach communities with water problems. Operation Unite® has added internet resources by creating content that builds a commitment by the public to find and implement answers. This is accomplished by adding Operation Unite® messages through a Facebook page and an internet radio channel for each Operation Unite® public facilitation project; concentrated, relevant and accurate information delivered with a personal touch.
OPERATION UNITE’S LIVING WATER® PROGRAMMING
Operation Unite® has had many memorable interviews and experiences for its radio channels this year. Water is a Many Splendor’ed Thing has reached 251 short segment shows from all over the world and water topics that are pertinent to each of our lives. The Conversations show has included interviews with Felicia Marcus, Chair of the State Water Resource Control Board, David Bowker on adaptive management, Dr. Ben Santer, Climatologist with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories and Phil Isenberg, Delta Stewardship Council. Each conversation addresses misconceptions present in the world regarding the water topic and suggested perspectives that can bring opposing groups and individuals together to solve water problems. Meet Your Mentor® has completed the pre-recorded shows for two mentors (18 shows) and is searching for the next water mentor. Our community values show, Senior Wisdom, has topped off with 42 recorded shows that identify the common community values expressed through the experiences of our senior population. What a great way to demonstrate the values that need to be maintained when addressing water issues of the state, regionally and locally. Our seniors are key contributors in identifying community values that are upheld during water discussions, public forums and stakeholder negotiations. The combination of these programs is wrapped in a very concentrated and consistent broadcasting schedule with plenty of interactions. This media tool is proving to rally people behind a common goal while addressing the controversial details that are present between groups through community values. People are hearing the messages and making a difference in their own communities through Operation Unite® custom created public facilitation programs.
OPERATION UNITE’S EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS
Operation Unite® has been on the road for a whole year presenting groundwater and drought related presentations in Paso Robles, Sierra County, Amador County, Sacramento County, portions of Washington state and Colorado. Ground based, data driven education on groundwater and other water issues have been presented in front of very responsive audiences. Two topics have been particularly popular; groundwater management in fractured rock aquifers and the California drought. Audiences have shown strong interest and a desire to make changes in their communities.
Operation Unite® is proud to have outreach programs available for helping communities and individuals. Operation Unite® takes citizen enthusiasm and turns it into actions that solve water issues.
OPERATION UNITE’S NEIGHBORHOOD WATER ALLIANCE OUTREACH PROGRAM
Operation Unite® is having a positive impact through the Operation Unite® Neighborhood Water Alliance outreach program. This program helps neighborhoods in fractured rock aquifer environments prepare a water contingency to be used whenever domestic groundwater wells go dry within the neighborhood. When we say, “We will always have water working together”, we mean it! We are already starting Neighborhood Water Alliance outreach programs in Nevada County, California. As more neighborhoods ban together, our communities will become unaffected by the adverse impacts of drought. The Neighborhood Water Alliance program removes the pressures placed on county and state governments by encouraging and enabling neighbors to work together. Government intervention is rarely necessary.
OPERATION UNITE® KNOW YOUR WATER® OUTREACH PROGRAM
The Know Your Water® outreach program is helping well users manage their water supply by giving them the information they need and teaching them how to use it. Operation Unite® provides groundwater levels, water quality data and other information generated from a member’s well. Farms and rural residential property owners that rely on water wells for their water supply have never had this opportunity.
Fractured rock aquifer environments are ideal for this program. People are learning how to make good water decisions for their properties. Without this program, these water well users have no motivation and direction for avoiding the dysfunction created from a dry well. Knowing your water provides these families and farms with the necessary information to choose real time life style modifications and well pumping adjustments that navigate a property owner through the difficulties of a low water year. These Know Your Water® members continue having a water supply, all year round. No more dry well nightmares.
OPERATION UNITE® SUPPORTS THE UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY’S GAMA PROGRAM
Operation Unite® founder, Stephen Baker, is supporting the U.S. Geological Survey GAMA program by volunteering his personal domestic water well and contributing data generated through the Operation Unite® Know Your Water® program. This information is being used to quantify water quality and other conditions that have generated as a result of land development activities and the drought in northern California. Results from this program will be published in future U.S. Geologic Survey publications and made available to the general public. Operation Unite® is proud to support the United States Geologic Survey.
Managing groundwater is critically important. This is because groundwater is either the only available supply or it is the backup supply when no surface water is flowing. Hardship is waiting if no attention is given to this critical resource.
A goal that benefits all Californian’s is to find a way to reduce the vulnerability experienced when undesirable results like aquifer depletions, degraded water quality, subsidence or seawater intrusion begin to develop.
Today, Californians can maintain reliable groundwater resources by forming a Groundwater Sustainability Agency. Manage locally through commitment with one another. Now is the time to come together.
Due to so many technical uncertainties and the need to include social engagement, Operation Unite® has re-written the sustainability definition that recognizes a practical capacity that addresses making dynamic changes in the water system:
The ability to create, test and maintain an adaptive capacity that can be maintained during the operation of lands present within the water basin without causing unreasonable adverse environmental, economic, or social consequences.
Well, what do you think? This definition can be realized.
One of the biggest water user concerns is self exposure to punitive actions taken from information that is volunteered (metered water use, water levels, water quality) for managing groundwater. Focus on the real goal; “We Never Want to Run out of Water!” Safe usage of water user’s data while maintaining the confidentiality of information is possible. Groundwater monitor information does nothave to create vulnerability to the water user. Ask Operation Unite®!
Managing surface and groundwater means managing uncertainty. Always be transparent with uncertainties in evaluations and project implementation. Trust doesn’t happen by accident. Yes, there are people that just don’t want to know but most of the pubic water users would rather hear the real story with a solution. Build the trust.
The best way to avoid significant and unreasonable groundwater conditions is to change our behavior before undesirable circumstances happen. Build groundwater management triggers into your strategy. Choosing warning thresholds gives you time to get the word out and make the right adjustments. Isn’t it nice to know that significant and unreasonable groundwater conditions will be something that you never experience?
Enhanced groundwater recharge accompanied with groundwater storage monitoring is more than half the solution. It is simple. It is fundamental! Give your aquifer a big gulp. Ahhhhh, that’s satisfying! Now, it’s time to balance the equation!
Northern California Republicans, Democrats and the Tea Party will be taking action to solve one of California’s most troubling water issues; refilling groundwater aquifers beneath the Central Valley breadbasket. It's the common community values that underlie our water solutions. Come and discoverthe thread that connects us with one another. Operation Unite® and KVMR 89.5 FM in Nevada City, California have scheduled a one to two hour broadcast today beginning at 6 PM PST. If outside the area, listen to the live stream broadcast at www.kvmr.org/player.
Operation Unite and KVMR 89.5 FM in Nevada City, California assembled the Republican Party, Democratic Party and Tea Party for a one and a half hour live broadcast round table focused on strategies for refilling the depleting Central Valley groundwater aquifers. The underlying focus of the round table was to discover the common community values that decisions are made by our political parties.
A Tea Party member made a very insightful statement. If our level of responsibility to one another was greater, we wouldn’t experience government taking over our lives. Everyone needs to be more engaged in problem solving. Empowerment of individuals will result in more self-sufficiency.
Republicans and Democrats, alike, agreed that reliable, sustainable and safe water supplies are our mutual goal. This can only be accomplished with fairness across the state. Republicans weigh in through accountability and Democrats rely on science and a holistic perspective.
All participants agreed that property rights are a consideration however fairness in its application is key to good decision making.
Due to the uncertainty of water forecasting and other unknowns, Republicans believe pro-active actions will narrow the gap between the painful consequences of water crisis and the outcomes that we embrace. Of course, the devil’s in the detail.
It is fundamentally important to engage all possible water stakeholders as potential Groundwater Sustainability Agency stakeholders. Representation of all public concerns from the beginning stages of agency development is critical to ensure that affected interests are considered in decisions. Anything short of this effort can potentially prevent formation of a vibrant and effective Groundwater Sustainability Agency.
A Groundwater Sustainability Agency grounded in science and a technical process is only half the picture. Needs and perceptions of society are also important because they also influence successful management.
Consider societal perceptions and needs. This will add built-in flexibility and transparency in how you operate your Groundwater Sustainability Agency. Built-in flexibility means a social process that supports adaptation and the goals of the Groundwater Sustainability Agency. Sounds like a recipe for success!