Groundwater Learning Exchange: Participant Bio's and Learning Objectives

Full contact information can be derived from the participants list.

Guarani Aquifer

Luiz Amore, MSE/General Secretary of the Guarani Aquifer Project, Organization of American States (OAS)

Quick Contacts: +598.2.410.0337, lamore@sg-guarani.org/luiz.amore

Short Job Description

I’m responsible for the coordination of all previously defined project activities. I act under the supervision of a Steering Committee integrated by country representatives from the areas of water resources, environment and foreign affairs of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. I’m accountable also to the OAS that is the project execution agency selected by the countries.

Summary of Relevant Expertise

I’m a geological engineer and I have a Master Degree in Environmental Science Engineer with focus on groundwater, my PhD is under progress on same subject (Berlin Technical University). I’m also a Leadership for Environment and Development fellow (Rockefeller Foundation). My professional experience includes acting in NGOs and Brazilian Governmental Institutions on local, state and federal level in environmental projects with social participation and water resources management.

Learning Objectives

I would like to know about the main aquifers and groundwater management strategies in US states and national level; I’d like to contact professionals on groundwater management in US and all over the world (specifically aquifer project managers) in order to exchange management experience on groundwater and establish future cooperation; Specifically, I’d like to begin planning a workshop on aquifer management to support the Guarani Aquifer’ Strategic Action Plan elaboration process in some South American city, maybe in Montevideo, Uruguay. I would like to integrate National Coordinators in this learning experience to replicate results in all four countries to strengthen management results..

Other Comments

Any other comments you have...or any remarks you have about yourself on a personal level. As much as possible I try to keep vegetarian food behavior. I like very much to know about local people history and culture in order to link to the environment and groundwater use. I enjoy very much a good beer with a new friend.

Jorge Santa Cruz

Roberto Montes, Communication Coordinator, Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development of the Guarani Aquifer System Project

Quick Contact: +598.2.410.0337, rmontes@sg-guarani.org

Short Job Description

I am in charge of the Project’s communication component, which is responsible for the execution of communication strategies at regional, national, and local level. These strategies are aimed to disseminate information on the Guarani Aquifer and to create awareness about its protection through the promotion of public participation. Among my duties is the management of the Guarani Citizenship Fund (a small grants program that has funded 24 NGOs’ information / education / communication projects in the region).

Summary of Relevant Expertise

I hold a Master of Arts in Development Management and Policy from Georgetown University and a Communication Sciences Degree from the University of Buenos Aires.
I have been communication consultant to World Bank’s Water and Sanitation Program, UNDP and UNESCO, among other international organizations and projects and have also developed communication strategies for private sector companies and non-governmental organizations in several Latin American countries. I am Associate Professor at the University of Buenos Aires’ School of Social Sciences. I joined Guarani Project Team in August, 2005.

Learning Objectives

My main expectation is to be exposed to a comprehensive set of “best practices” of transboundary groundwater management, especially those useful in the field of public participation promotion. I look forward to sharing experiences with colleagues from other countries in order to learn (from successful experiences, but also from the “not so good” ones). I hope this exchange/study tour will benefit and improve my current activities in Guarani Project and the goals of the Project itself.

Juan José Ledesma, In Charge of GW Technical Unit, National Hidrography Agency - Uruguay Ministry of Transport and Public Work

Quick Contact: +9164664/66, jledesma@dnh.gub.uy

Short Job Description

1.- The Ministry of Transport and Public Work is the legal authority competent in Water Resources Management of basins, it grants permits and uses of water for irrigation and for public and industrial supply, and mediates in GW conflict use.
2.- The GW Technical Unit carries out projects for the evaluation of aquifers, like the local Raigon aquifer and the transboundary Guarani Aquifer).
3.- The GW Technical Unit has the following objectives: management of GW; inspection of wells; keeping of level monitoring networks records and of national wells database, and the evaluation of GW resources.

Summary of Relevant Expertise

I´ve been working in GW management for ten years in the mediation in GW conflict use, as co-author of legal government decrees on GW topics like the
management of the Thermal Guarani aquifer (Decree 214/00 and Resolution 769/01); in Technical Norms for GW Drilling Wells (Decree 86/04); and in Technical
Norms for Deep Well Drilling (no yet approved).I´ve done also monitoring of level networks of Raigón aquifer; sampling of GW; processing of data; and formulation of conceptual models of aquifers for numerical modelling.

Learning Objectives

I hope to know how other countries which have different climates, bigger demands and are more developed than Uruguay, manage their GW resources.
The discussion of cases and interchange of ideas from different points of view will open my mind and help me in the application of new tools and technics in my work. In our countries the management of transboundary aquifers is just beginning with the Guarani Project. The knowledge and experience of other countries in this topics will help us to propose criteria for a good management of the Gaurani shared aquifer. I´m interested in getting a global vision of all the components which take part in the management of shared aquifers (legal, technical, public participation and economical aspects).

Other Comments

As I´m also a University professor of Geology, I´m interested in obtaining bibliography and didactic material about the topics treated in the Study Tour
for improving the level of my classes.

Miguel Angel Giraut

Quick Contact: +54.11.4349.7405, mgiraut@miv.gov.ar

Short Job Description

I am the National Coordinator of the Guaraní Aquifer System Project and also coordinate the GIS & Remote Sensing programme, of the National Water Resources Information System, NWRIS, of the Undersecretary of Water Resources, República Argentina.

Summary of Relevant Expertise

Ph.D. Geologist - La Plata University
Remote sensing & GIS specialist - Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, EPFL, Suisse
Professor of Geomorphology at Buenos Aires University

Elena Isabel Benitez Alonso, Directora General, de la Dirección de Recursos Hídricos de Paraguay, Secretaria del Ambiente de Paraguay

Quick Contacts: +595.21.615811, +595.981.428614, dgpcrhpy001@yahoo.com, elenajefe@gmail.com

Short Job Description

I am General Director of the Water Recourse Management of the Environment Secretariat, and A National Coordinator of the Guarani Aquifer System, and Technical representative of the Plata Basin for Paraguay in the CIC-PLATA.

Summary of Relevant Expertise

I am Civil Engineer, Master degree in Hydrology and Hydrogeology, I have work in wells building, and water supply for small community in Honduras and Ecuador and also in Water treatment and water pollution control en the Sanitary Corporation in Paraguay, also in Hydraulic modeling in rivers.

Learning Objectives

Well, I aspect to learn ground water management specially for transboundary water management, and groundwater pollution control specially to drilling with vulnerability and economical and sustainability of the ground water exploration.

Other Comments

I like very much to have the opportunity to share knowledge, and specially field training works!!

Júlio Thadeu Kettelhut

Northwest Sahara Aquifer

Djamel Latrech, Project Coordinator

Quick Contact: +216.71.206.633, djamel.latrech@oss.org.tn

Short Job Description

Responsible for management of NWSAS program with objectives:
a) To realize a management model and an information system on the scale of the basin
b) to strenghen the technical assistance and partnership between the technicians and engineers for three countries (Algeria – Libya – Tunisia)
c) To further strenghen the hydraulic methods with socio economic and environmental aspects for a sustainable management
d) To initiate a consultation mechanism on the political and technical level

Summary of Relevant Expertise

Hydrogeologist having contributed to:
- several hydrogeologic studies
- the development of a water resources management model with an information system
- the production of the Sahara water resources map
- the rainfall map of Algeria
- regulation for a deep drillings studies
- use of the isotops in aquifer studies

Learning Objectives

I would like to expose the step by step « implementation » in NWSAS project and to show how to aim the political level while starting from the technical level.

During this workshop, I wish to get learn more about the following item of interest:
- about water resources management, in particular in Arizona
- about the existing consultation mechanisms
- how to involve the users (agricultures…) in water resources management and decisions making processes
- techniques and modes of networks installation and management
- used software for the models and information systems
- given trainings

Issues : the problematic of the shared water resources deserve to be treated in detail, in particular:
- the management of the water demand
- the contribution of virtual water

The gained experience should be able to further strenghen the GEF projects process in its component related to managing shared water resources

Other Comments

Documents and plaquettes related to NWSAS will be distributed during the workshop

Iullemeden Aquifer

Abdel Kader Dodo, Regional Coordinator/Hydrogeologist Ph.D, Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS)

Quick Contact: +216.71.206.633, abdelkader.dodo@oss.org.tn

Short Job Description

I’m a regional coordinator of the project entitled “Managing Hydrogeological risks in the Iullemeden Aquifer System IAS” shared by Mali, Niger and Nigeria, in Western Africa zone. The project is starting since January 2004.
The Project Number: GF /2328 - 2731 - 4728 PMS: GF/1030 – 03 – 06.
The sub-programme title: International Waters – 9: Land and Water
The Implementing Agency: Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS) = the employer based in Tunis (Tunisia),

The general objective is to establish capacity under a sustainable cooperative framework for joint management of risk and uncertainty, to jointly identify, reduce and mitigate transboundary risk from changing land and water use and from climate change in the shared Iullemeden Aquifer System.

The immediate objectives are:
- to establish joint mechanisms and capacity to identify risk and uncertainty issues,
- to establish mechanisms to formulate policies for management of identified risk and uncertainty issues, and
- to establish a legal and institutional IAS cooperative framework,
by developing the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis, the database, GIS and groundwater flow model, isotopes techniques, and the establishment of tripartite consultative mechanism.

Summary of Relevant Expertise

After my Ph.D degree in Switzerland (September 1992), I am a senior lecturer at the University of Niamey (Niger) in the Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences. My research items are focused on groundwater recharge using isotope techniques, groundwater modelling. I was a national scientific coordinator for Niger on several IAEA projects: NER/8/007 (1999-2001) RAF/8/022 (1996 – 1998), (1993-1997). In addition, European project (ENRICH) GASPAL: Groundwater as Paleoarchive.
Consecutively, from 2000 to 2004, I was the National Director of Water resources in the Ministry of Hydraulic and Environment of Niger.

Learning Objectives

I’m very interesting to know the approaches used to manage shared groundwater resources in USA, and the approaches used to include the stakeholders. In the details, I hope to learn:
• The applied technical approaches in USA using some tools as geophysics, models, isotope techniques, remote sensing, to address regional shared groundwater issues (to improve groundwater flow),
• the strategies developed and applied in USA in shared water resources management including the participatory, legal and communication approaches,
I’d like to present my experiences and the approaches applied on Iullemeden Aquifer System from the beginning to now.
In addition, I hope to get lot of appropriate software on decision tools (Modelling, Rockworks, Chemistry, Remote Sensing, Geophysics, etc…) and to examine the availability to attend to short training sessions. Finally, as coordinator, I’d like to attend next time, a short training session on facilitator (participatory component).

How will the tour benefit you, your GEF IW project and/or home institution?
The tour will benefit me to address better the transboundary groundwater management. It’s so relevant to control properly GEF IW tools on shared groundwater management for further applications in our projects activities, home institutions.
What issues or questions do you hope to see answered over the course of the tour?
Among the five International Waters domains, transboundary aquifers are so specific because of data availability. For example, Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) is applied mainly on shared surface water domains. In the Iullemeden Aquifer System area, groundwater is closely linked with surface water (Niger river).

Other Comments

Nubian Aquifer

Chad Participants

Mr. Abakar Ramadan Souleymane – Minister of Water of Chad

Ismail Musa Mohamed -Nubian Project National Project Coordinator

Egypt Participants

Dr. Ahmed R Khater - National Project Coordinator

Dr. Sameh Afifi - National Expert

Libya Participants

Lotfi A. Madi Farag, Hydrogeologist/ Director of Kufra & Sarir Branch, General Water Authority

Quick Contact: +218 212 3600391, +218 91 218 9909; lutfi@gwalibya.org

Short Job Description

Integrated ground water management, Evolution and studied in ground water field. Management and follow up of water projects.

General Water Authority is the institution taking care of all the water studies and Evaluation. It is the consultant firm to the Libyan authorities for the water projects in all over the country. I am one of the GWA Expertise who is running the south eastern part of the country named Kufra & Sarir branch.

Summary of Relevant Expertise

My background is Geology. I worked in the field of drilling as geologist for more than 3 years. I have MSC from Ohio U. in the hydrogeology since 1981. I have experience in the groundwater Evaluation and modeling and managements.

Learning Objectives

I would expect to learn more about the integrated water uses. I would like gain more knowledge about the subjects related to the environment specially the one has direct or in direct effect on ground water pollution or salinity. I expecting to share ideas and experience in the other countries in the field of Hydrogeology and new technology in the field of the Ground water evaluation and integrated managements. I hope to get learn more to help in the capacity building of the GWA in Libya and to seek help in that field in form of training programs or short missions of international experts…etc.

Mr. Al Mahdi Megrbi

Sudan Participants

IAEA Water Resources Programme

Pradeep Aggarwal

Andy Garner, Water Resource Management Specialist, International Atomic Energy Agency

Quick Contact: Phone: +43.1.2600.21739, A.Garner@iaea.org

Short Job Description

Mr Garner is a Water Resource Management Specialist with the IAEA’s Water Resources Programme. The IAEA, through its Water Resources Programme, is one of the UN agencies responding to its Member States by providing science-based information and technical skills to improve understanding and management of their water resources.

Summary of Relevant Expertise

Mr. Garner is responsible for various programme activities supported by the IAEA involving the management of transboundary waters including the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System (NSAS) in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Environmental Facility (GEF.) He is also involved in the development of similar initiatives e.g. Nile Groundwater etc. He has over 15 years of relevant work experience and has been with the United Nations and involved with International Water activities for the last nine years, including five years as Environmental Specialist in UNDP/GEF project support for the management of the Danube River Basin. Mr. Garner holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Management from the University of Michigan (School of Natural Resources and Environment) as well as a Master’s degree in International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Learning Objectives

I hope to be exposed to “best practices” of various aspects of groundwater management. I further desire to discuss, assess and determine their relevance and applicability in the frame of managing shared aquifers in different situations (geographical, natural conditions, political, institutional and environmental challenges etc.) Finally, I look forward to comparing the experiences of the various people involved in light of best practices that we are exposed to. I expect this to be directly relevant to the projects in which I am currently involved as well as projects that I am in the process of developing.

USGS Headquarters

Ingrid Verstraeten, Senior Phyiscal Scientist, USGS, International Water Resources Branch

Quick Contact: +1.703.648.5689, imverstr@usgs.gov

Short Job Description

Dr. Ingrid M. Verstraeten works on issues pertaining to the UN and UNESCO, providing technical assistance to Department of State on policy regarding water resources, serving as advisor and liaison with the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and managing projects in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia funded by USG or the World Bank. Verstraeten was the Section Chief of the Contaminant Hydrology Section of the USGS MD-DE-DC District. She is a licensed Professional Geologist and Professional Soil Scientist. She is an active member of scientific organizations, participated on scientific panels, convened special sessions at international meetings, workshops.

Summary of Relevant Expertise

Dr. Verstraeten has done research on sources, fate, and transport of organic and inorganic compounds and isotopes in the environment. Verstraeten has developed, conducted, and participated in integrated multi-disciplinary studies and developed monitoring programs in the US as well as overseas. Studies by Verstraeten have focused on water-resources availability; surface-water/ground-water interactions; transport and fate of herbicides, potential or known endocrine-disrupting compounds, and other emerging contaminants including pharmaceuticals; source-water protection; sensor technology; natural bank-filtration; and issues pertaining to chemical and physical drinking-water treatment.

Learning Objectives

I am very interested to learn about transboundary water resources issues in Africa and South America and associated sustainable water resources development and management.

Other Comments

I have a multi-cultural background. I was born in Belgium, lived for several years in Burundi where both my children were born, and finally settled in the US. I enjoy learning about different cultures.

Dr. Robert (Bob) Hirsch, Associate Director for Water, USGS, Water Resources

Quick Contact: +1.703.648.5215, rhirsch@usgs.gov

Short Job Description

Dr. Robert M. Hirsch is the Associate Director for Water, US Geological Survey. In this capacity he is responsible for the USGS water science programs nationwide. These include the collection and management of basic hydrologic data, studies of hydrologic systems, and basic research on hydrologic processes. Dr. Hirsch was born in Highland Park, Illinois. He received his BA in Geology from Earlham College, an MS in Geology from the University of Washington, and Ph. D. in Geography and Environmental Engineering from Johns Hopkins University. Hirsch began his career with the USGS in 1976 as a hydrologist. He conducted and directed research leading to methods for analysis of: the risk of water-supply shortages, water-quality trends, transport of pollutants in rivers, and flood frequency. He has published numerous journal articles, USGS reports, book chapters and a text book. He also was instrumental in the design and initiation of USGS programs including the National Water-Quality Assessment Program, Global Change Hydrology Program, and Watershed Modeling Systems Program. In addition to his role as Associate Director of the USGS he also serves as co-chairman of the Subcommittee on Water Availability and Quality, of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources of the National Science and Technology Council. He is a recipient of the Department of the Interior’s Distinguished Service Award, has twice been conferred the rank of Meritorious Executive by the President of the United States, the 2006 recipient of the William C. Ackermann Medal for Excellence in Water Management and was elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Niel Plummer, Research Hydrologist, US Geological Survey

Quick Contact: +1.703.648.5841, nplummer@usgs.gov

Short Job Description

Niel Plummer is a Research Hydrologist with the National Research Program of the Water Resources Discipline, U.S. Geological Survey, located in Reston, VA. He holds B.A. (1967) and M.S. (1969) degrees in Geology from the University of Kentucky, and Ph.D. in Geology/Geochemistry from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois in 1972. His research over the past 30+ years has been in the areas of kinetics and thermodynamics of carbonate mineral systems, modeling of chemical and isotopic evolution of ground-water, hydrochemical studies of ground water systems, and ground water dating on radiocarbon and anthropogenic timescales.

Summary of Relevant Expertise

Extensive studies of groundwater age/residence time using environmental tracers (CFCs, SF6, 3H/3He, 85Kr, stable isotopes in shallow groundwater systems (Panola, Georgia; Delmarva Peninsula of Delaware, Maryland and Virginia; Blue Ridge of Shenandoah National Park, Virginia; karst systems in Virginia and Georgia). Hydrochemical, isotopic, and radiocarbon dating studies of regional groundwater systems (Floridan aquifer of Georgia and Florida; Middle Rio Grande Basin, New Mexico; Eastern Snake River Plain aquifer of Idaho). Development of geochemical modeling software (NETPATH, PHREEQE) and modeling philosophy

Learning Objectives

I will present a lecture on the USGS hydrochemical study of the Middle Rio Grande Basin, New Mexico.

Allen M. Shapiro, Senior Research Hydrologist, USGS, National Research Program

Quick Contact: +1-703-648-5884, ashapiro@usgs.gov

Short Job Description

Dr. Shapiro is a Senior Research Hydrologist with the U.S. Geological Survey. Dr. Shapiro is the Project Chief of the research project “Transport Phenomena in Fractured Rock,” which focuses on the development of field techniques and interpretive methods of characterizing ground-water flow and chemical transport in fractured-rock aquifers over physical dimensions of meters to kilometers. Dr. Shapiro’s research entails the integration of geologic, geophysical, hydraulic, geochemical, and microbiological information in the development of defensible hypotheses of ground-water flow and chemical transport.

Summary of Relevant Expertise

Dr. Shapiro’s research has focused on a wide range of geologic environments, including crystalline rock, sedimentary formations, and carbonate aquifers that have undergone karstification. His research has been applied in issues of water supply, geotechnical engineering, waste isolation, and ground-water contamination and restoration. Dr. Shapiro served as the coordinator of USGS activities in fractured rock research in the Mirror Lake watershed in central New Hampshire, and he is currently developing a research program for characterizing the fate of Dense Non-Aqueous Phase Liquids (DNAPLs) in bedrock environments at the former Naval Air Warfare Center in West Trenton, NJ. Dr. Shapiro has patented equipment for conducting hydraulic tests and collecting water samples for geochemical analyses in fractured rock aquifers, and he has published numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Shapiro has served as an Associate Editor of Journal of Hydrology, and he is currently an Associate Editor of the journal Ground Water. In 2004, the National Ground Water Association selected Dr. Shapiro as the 2004 Distinguished Darcy Lecturer, for which he lectured on his research, both nationally and internationally, at over 50 universities and research institutes.

Learning Objectives

Dr. Shapiro’s research interests focus on the identification of geologic controls on ground-water flow and chemical transport in fractured-rock aquifers over physical dimensions from meters to tens of kilometers. This research includes both field investigations and the development of theoretical advances in the integration and interpretation of hydraulic and chemical data and modeling of ground-water flow and chemical transport over increasingly larger physical dimensions.

George Coakley, International Program Office Coordinator, Europe and Central Eurasia, USGS, International Program

Quick Contact: +1.703.648.6042, gcoakley@usgs.gov

Short Job Description

Mr. George J. Coakley, a geologist and mineral economist with the U. S. Geological (USGS), has over 35 years international and domestic, government and private sector experience in assessment of the technical, economic and geopolitical aspects of the global mining industry, particularly in Africa, including extensive experience in contributing this knowledge to mineral commodity, trade and defense materials related policy making for the U.S. Government. He currently works as a coordinator of cooperative research and technical assistance programs in Europe and Central Eurasia in the USGS International Programs Office.

In his 21-year career as a mineral economist with the U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM), he progressed from commodity specialist for copper and copper byproducts to Chief of the International Division and manager of a multi-million dollar international minerals information and trade policy analysis program. Prior to joining the USBM, Mr. Coakley worked as a U.S. Peace Corp Volunteer Geologist with the Ghana Geological Survey and as an exploration geologist for Inco Limited in Indonesia, Australia and Papua New Guinea.

Summary of Relevant Expertise

No specific ground water management expertise. Program coordination.

Toni Johnson, Chief, Water Information Coordination Program, U.S. Geological Survey, Office of Water Information

Quick Contact: +1.703.648.6810, tjohnson@usgs.gov

Short Job Description

I manage an Advisory Committee to the Federal Government on Water Information, with 30 members including Federal water agencies, State water associations, water utilities, education, and businesses. We work through subcommittees, including a National Water Quality Monitoring Council, which has created a design for a National Water Quality Monitoring Network for U.S. Coastal Waters and their Tributaries, including a ground water component; as well as a new Subcommittee on Ground Water.

Summary of Relevant Expertise

Masters in Business Administration, training in water quality issues and technical communications. I strive to coordinate and reach consensus with many US water organizations, to improve access to Federal and other water data and information, and to enhance communications between U.S. Federal and state governments with businesses and the public. We do outreach through exhibits and presentations at regional meetings and conferences.

Learning Objectives

We have just formed a new Subcommittee on Ground Water which will focus on a strategy for ground water monitoring. We also sponsor a biennial National Monitoring Conference with increasing International participation, from which we learn about how other countries are monitoring their waters, and hold workshops on methods and techniques being used in the United States. I will discuss our approach and also learn from your activities as well.

Kevin Dennehy, Program Coordinator USGS Ground Water Resources Program, USGS, Office of Ground Water

Quick Contact: +1.703.648.5018, kdennehy@usgs.gov

Short Job Description

Kevin is the Program Coordinator for the US Geological Survey's Ground-Water Resources Program in Reston, Virginia. The Ground-Water Resources Program focuses on national and regional interests in ground water by conducting multidisciplinary studies of ground-water availability, by developing new techniques to monitor and analyze ground-water systems, enhance the national ground-water monitoring network, and make new ground-water data more easily accessible. For the last 28 years Kevin has been employed by US Geological Survey and worked in New Mexico, South Carolina, Massachusetts, and most recently, Colorado. Prior to his present assignment at Headquarters, he was Project Manager of the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program's High Plains Regional Ground-Water-Quality Study. Kevin received undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of New Hampshire and the University of South Carolina, respectively. He is the author and co-author of more than 50 publications in a variety of water resources topics.

Susan Trapanese, Chief of the National Water Information System (NWIS) Program, USGS, Water Resources Discipline, Office of Water Information

Quick Contact: +1.703.648.5632, smtrapan@usgs.gov, http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis

Short Job Description

As NWIS Chief, Susan uses her background and experience in hydrology and information systems management to lead the activities of multi-discipline teams of hydrologists and information technology specialists in the on-going operations and enhancement of the NWIS. The NWIS is the USGS mission-critical information system for the acquisition, processing, review, storage, and dissemination of water data. Data quickly and easily available from NWIS are essential to the implementation and successful completion of a broad range of interpretive studies addressing ground-water, surface-water, water-quality, and water-use issues that are critical to USGS partners in local, State, tribal, and Federal government.

Wayne Lapham, Ground-Water Status & Trends Coordinator, National Water-Quality Assessment Program (NAWQA), U.S. Geological Survey

Quick Contact: +1.703.648.5805, wlapham@usgs.gov

Short Job Description

Plans and manages the component of the NAWQA Program that describes the quality of ground water in principal aquifers of the United States, including occurrences of a broad suite of natural and anthropogenic compounds and trends in those compounds, and explanation of the occurrence and non-occurrence of these compounds.

Summary of Relevant Expertise

Expertise in design of water-quality monitoring programs. Expertise in the concepts of modeling ground-water flow. Early career experience in assessing yields of aquifers with respect to maintenance of low flow conditions in rivers and streams.

Learning Objectives

During the April 16-17, 2007 part of the meeting, I’m interested in learning about trans-boundary issues and policies faced by countries outside of the U.S.

Ward Sanford, Research Hydrologist, USGS, National Research Program

Quick Contact: +1.703.648.5882, wsanford@usgs.gov

Short Job Description

I have been a research scientist for 20 years with the National Research Program (NRP) of the Water Resources Discipline of the U. S. Geological Survey. My main focus has been on integrated studies using water quality and regional ground-water flow modeling. For the last six years I was also the research advisor within NRP for our ground-water hydrology discipline.

Summary of Relevant Expertise

I work on developing techniques for combining ground-water age information with the calibration of regional ground-water models. I am also currently working on deep ground-water quality issues associated with the Chesapeake Bay Impact Crater, the ground-water transport of nitrates to the Chesapeake Bay, and using solute balance in streams in Virginia to estimate regional values of ground-water recharge. I have also worked in the past on regional ground-water studies in Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, Hungary, and the Middle Rio Grande Basin of New Mexico, USA.

U.S. State Department

Aaron Salzberg, Water Team Leader, U.S. Department of State

Quick Contact: +1.202.647.4711, salzbergaa@state.gov

Short Job Description

Aaron Salzberg serves as the Senior Advisor on Water in the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental & Scientific Affairs in the Department of State. He is responsible for managing the development and implementation of U.S. policies on international freshwater and transboundary water issues. Aaron has been the lead water advisor for the United States at several major international events on water including the Second, Third and Fourth World Water Forums, the International Conference on Freshwater in Bonn, the World Summit on Sustainable Development, the UN Commission on Sustainable Development and the G8 Summit in Evian. He also led the development of the recent report to Congress on the Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act of 2005 which outlines a strategy for how the U.S. will work to increase access to safe drinking water and sanitation in developing countries. Aaron also serves as a strategic planner on the U.S. Government team for the UN Commission on Sustainable Development – conceptualizing, developing and implementing strategies to advance U.S. policies on sustainable development.

Aaron has a Ph.D. in Genetic Toxicology and a Master’s degree in Technology and Policy from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He also holds a Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Maryland and has mediated more than forty civil disputes as a mediator with the Harvard Law School.

USGS El Paso

Sally Spener, Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Section, International Boundary and Water Commission, United States and Mexico

Quick Contact: +1.915.832.4175, sallyspener@ibwc.state.gov

Short Job Description

The Public Affairs Officer is in charge of media relations, publications, community outreach, and internal communication for the U.S. Section.

Summary of Relevant Expertise

As such, Ms. Spener has expertise in the history, projects, and activities of the Commission.

USGS Tuscon

Nick Melcher, Director, USGS Arizona Water Science Center

Quick Contact: +1.520.670.6671 X221, nmelcher@usgs.gov

Short Job Description

Nick Melcher is the Director of the Arizona Water Science Center. He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota and has been employed by the US Geological Survey since 1974. His technical specialty is surface water hydraulics and hydrology and prior to his present assignment he held positions in Montana, Kentucky, and Iowa. He coordinates and teaches management courses for the Western Regional office.

Summary of Relevant Expertise

My technical experience is in surface water hydraulics and hydrology. I have been managing science center programs since 1989. I presently manage one of the largest groundwater hydrology sections in the USGS.

John Hoffmann, Associate Director and Chief of Hydrologic Investigations, Organization: USGS

Quick Contact: jphoffma@usgs.gov

Short Job Description

I am the Associate Director and Chief of Hydrologic Investigations Section for the USGS Arizona Water Science Center. My responsibilities include the oversight of the Hydrologic Investigations Section at the Center. This Section works cooperatively with other Federal, State, and Local agencies on multidisciplinary studies throughout Arizona as well as on regional water-resources investigations in the western United States

Summary of Relevant Expertise

I have been with the USGS for more than 19 years and has worked in USGS offices in Hawaii, Saipan, and Arizona. My interests are in regional ground-water availability, ground-water/surface-water interaction, and the application of geophysical methods for hydrological studies.

Learning Objectives

Arizona includes water resources that are shared with the neighboring states of California, Nevada, Utah, and New Mexico. Along the southern boundary, resources are shared with Sonora, Mexico. I hope to learn about the experiences of the IAEA study tour participants in management of transboundary ground-water systems.

Kenneth Seasholes, Tucson Area Director, Arizona Department of Water Resources

Quick Contact: +1.520.770.3800, kcseasholes@azwater.gov

Short Job Description

Kenneth Seasholes is the Tucson Area Director for the Arizona Department of Water Resources. His responsibilities include administration of groundwater rights, permits and rules; policy development; and staff oversight within the Tucson Active Management Area (AMA). The Tucson AMA covers 10,000 km² and is one of five areas in Arizona where groundwater use is intensively regulated.

Summary of Relevant Expertise

Mr. Seasholes has contributed to a number of planning and policy efforts in Arizona, and has worked on agricultural conservation, water budgeting, groundwater recharge and recovery and long-range forecasting. Prior to working for the Department of Water Resources, Mr. Seasholes was a Senior Research Specialist for the Water Resources Research Center at the University of Arizona. Mr. Seasholes has a Master’s degree in Geography from the University of Arizona and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado.

Wally R. Wilson, Lead Hydrologist, Water Resources Management Group, Tucson Water Department

Quick Contact: +1.520.791.8050 ext. 1414, wally.wilson@tucsonaz.gov

Short Job Description

Tucson Water is the 14th largest water utility in the United States. The Utility is responsible for managing and delivering potable and reclaimed water supplies to over 700,000 customers. As a Lead Hydrologist, Mr. Wilson supervises the Recharge and Special Projects Unit. This group is responsible for design, permitting and operational monitoring for all recharge and recovery projects owned by Tucson Water.

Summary of Relevant Expertise

Mr. Wilson has been involved with groundwater investigations, remediation and resource management for 20 years. In the four years he has worked at Tucson Water, he has been integral in long range water resource planning (50-year plan), recharge facility feasibility, design, permitting, operations, and compliance monitoring/reporting. Mr. Wilson works closely with Operations, Maintenance, and Management groups within the Utility as well as local regulatory agencies to insure the long range goals of renewable water supplies utilization are met.

Learning Objectives

This tour is an opportunity for Tucson Water to meet with and share water resource management strategies with water managers traveling from distant countries. Learning about different resource constraints and opportunities set in various political, regulatory and demand climates will help put the Tucson regions goals into better perspective.

Other Comments

Tucson Water is honored to provide information to the Study Tour participants about water resource utilization in Southeastern Arizona, and looks forward to learning about similar activities in S. America and Africa.

Stanley Leake, Research Hydrologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Arizona Water Science Center

Quick Contact: +1.520.670.6671 ext 259, saleake@usgs.gov

Short Job Description

As a research hydrologist with the Arizona Water Science Center of the U.S. Geological Survey, I conduct studies of ground-water resources in Arizona and adjacent parts of southwestern United States. My work is published in USGS reports, books, and peer-reviewed journals

Summary of Relevant Expertise

My specialties and experience related to ground-water management include the following
- development of simulation methods in MODFLOW including land subsidence, storage changes in confining layers, reservoirs, time-varying boundary conditions, and telescopic mesh refinement.
- quantitative analyses of interaction of ground water and surface water, including capture of surface water by ground-water extraction.
- development of methods for analysis and display of ground-water conditions in aquifers in the southwestern USA.

Learning Objectives

Arizona includes water resources that are shared with the neighboring states of California, Nevada, Utah, and New Mexico. Along the southern boundary, resources are shared with Sonora, Mexico. I hope to learn about the experiences of the IAEA study tour participants in management of transboundary ground-water systems. Specific topics of interest include development of a team approach to aquifer management, sharing hydrologic data between governments, and thoughts on defining sustainability for large transboundary aquifers.

Other Comments

I am married and have three sons. When not working, I enjoy scuba diving, playing folk music, building musical instruments, and cultivating desert plants.

James Leenhouts, Hydrologist, USGS Arizona Water Science Center, Tucson, Arizona

Quick Contact: +1.520.670.6671 x 278, leenhout@usgs.gov

Short Job Description

I am a hydrologist for the USGS Arizona Water Science Center in Tucson, Arizona. In my time working for the USGS, I have worked on several issues related to water in Arizona. These issues have ranged from water supply and sustainability in the Upper San Pedro River Basin to concerns regarding acid-mine drainage near Globe, Arizona.

Summary of Relevant Expertise

A significant aspect of my work at USGS has been to help develop the scientific underpinnings needed to define a sustainable yield of ground-water withdrawals from the Sierra Vista Subwatershed of the Upper San Pedro Basin, Arizona. I serve as the USGS agency representative to the Upper San Pedro Partnership, a group whose mission is to find ways to deliver sustainable water supplies both to the riparian system along the San Pedro River and to area residents. A key role that I play in the Partnership is to aid the water managers and decision makers in understanding the relevance of scientific information to management practices.

Learning Objectives

My interest is in learning how others have approached the issue of defining sustainable ground-water development. What metrics and indicators have been examined? How have the temporal and spatial elements of ground-water withdrawals been related to effects on the flow system? Have elements outside the flow system (e.g. riparian ecosystem metrics) played a role in the definition?

Other Comments

I have two children in the form of 5-year old twins. I generally spend my hours not devoted to work, sleep, or life maintenance playing with them.

James Callegary, Hydrologist, USGS Arizona Water Science Center

Quick Contact: +1.520.670.6671 x294, jcallega@usgs.gov

Short Job Description

I am a hydrologist at the USGS Arizona Water Sciences Center. I work on projects ranging from basin-scale ground-water resource assessment to calculation of depth to crystalline (“non-porous”) bedrock for the northern half of Arizona using gravity and magnetism. I communicate the results and interpretation of these projects to the general public and the scientific community through presentations and publications.

Summary of Relevant Expertise

My areas of expertise include applications of geophysics to hydrologic investigations, unsaturated zone hydrology, and ground-water surface-water interactions especially in ephemeral stream-channels. Within geophysics, I have worked primarily with electromagnetics both frequency and time domain. With regard to ephemeral stream-channels, I am working to develop methods for mapping recharge potential as well as evaluating changes in recharge caused by urbanization.

Learning Objectives

Much of my work is and has been in transboundary watersheds and aquifers which lie partly in the US and partly in Mexico. Thus, I am very interested to learn about the experience of the visitors in their respective watersheds. Ground-water monitoring and assessment are sometimes difficult, but the political, social and economic aspects of working in transboundary watersheds can be even more so. I will be interested to hear how the participants approach these issues. It will benefit our institution both through the knowledge gained, as well as from the relationships established through which we hope to continue to learn.

Other Comments

I enjoy spending time with friends and family as well as hiking and camping. I sing in an ensemble which performs baroque, renaissance and medieval music from Europe and the Western Hemisphere.

Sandra J. Owen-Joyce, Supervisory Hydrologist, Arizona Water Science Center, Tucson, Arizona

Quick Contact: +1.520.670.6671 x274, sjowen@usgs.gov

Short Job Description

I am a supervisory hydrologist with the Arizona Water Science Center of the U.S. Geological Survey. I manage and conduct studies of ground-water and surface-water resources in Arizona and adjacent States, particularly related to those adjoining the lower Colorado River. My work is published in USGS reports. I am the ground-water database administrator for the Science Center.
Summary of Relevant Expertise

Specialties and experience related to ground-water management includes the following
- development of management methods to account for consumptive use of ground-water and surface-water supplies.
- studies of the interaction of ground water and surface water, and water budgets.
- management of ground-water data collection, coding, and entry to a database.
- database management .

Learning Objectives

Insight on how others manage and share water resources.

Other USGS Staff and Nebraska State Officials

Ann Bleed, Director, Nebraska Department of Natural Resources

Quick Contact: +1.402.471.2366, ableed@dnr.ne.gov

Short Job Description

I am the Director of the Department that oversees the administration and regulation of surface water and works with 23 natural resources districts for the integrated management of surface water and hydrologically connected ground water. Our department also oversees dam safety and flood plain management, and maintains the state’s natural resources data base. From 1988 until 2000 I served as the State Hydrologist. From 2000-2007 I was Deputy Director of the Department of Natural Resources and I was selected by the Governor to be Director in January of 2007.

Summary of Relevant Expertise

I have a PhD from the University of Wisconsin in Ecology and a Masters Degree from the University of Nebraska in engineering. I am a registered professional engineer in civil engineering. Previous to her employment with the State, I was an assistant professor at the University of Nebraska holding split appointments in the Water Resources Center/Conservation and Survey Division and the School of Natural Resources.

Among other duties, I was a member of the negotiating teams that successfully developed settlements to the interstate lawsuits before the U. S. Supreme Court on both the North Platte River and the Republican River. I am still serving as an adjunct professor in Engineering and Natural Resources. In addition to being agency Director, I serve on the Nebraska Boundary Compact Commission and am the State Representative to the Missouri River Basin Association, State Environmental Trust Board, Blue River Compact, Republican River Compact and the Upper Niobrara River Compact, Platte River Recovery and Implementation Program Governance Committee.

Brett Bruce, Assistant Program Officer Water, USGS Central Region - Office of the Regional Hydrologist

Quick Contact: +1.303.445.4613, bbruce@usgs.gov

Short Job Description

Assists Central Regional Program Officer with the direction and monitoring of numerous USGS scientific programs implemented at the local, regional, and national levels. Distributes appropriated funding and coordinates technical review of scientific proposals for the Central Region Cooperative Water Program. Serves as regional coordinator for the USGS Water Use Program and the USGS/Department of Defense Environmental Science Program (DODESP). Develops and facilitates multidisciplinary scientific research programs implemented by distributed USGS Science Centers throughout the Central Region.

Summary of Relevant Expertise

Over 25 years experience in geology, hydrology, and geochemistry related to the source, transport, and fate of ground water and related water-quality constituents.Project manager for numerous studies of the physical, chemical, and biological indicators of surface- and ground-water quality and their relation to human and land-use effects on water quantity and quality. Recent experience in the holistic assessment of regional ground-water systems including aquifer recharge, unsaturated-zone water and chemical transport, and the effects of climate variation on ground-water quality and sustainability.

Learning Objectives

Information exchange and technology transfer is a critical underpinning of scientific advancement. We have much to learn from each other. I look forward to an energizing exchange of concerns, successes, and unanswered questions as they relate to the assessment and responsible management of our valuable ground-water resources.

USGS Sacramento

Kim Taylor, Program Officer, California Water Science Center, USGS Sacramento

Quick Contact: +1.916.278.3006, ktaylor@usgs.gov

Short Job Description

Responsible for overall scientific quality of work carried out by the CAWSC, preparation and review of proposals, USGS rep to collaborative water management forum—CALFED.

Summary of Relevant Expertise

Served as Deputy Director for the CALFED Science Program—designed system for incorporating scientists in large, conflict-ridden, multi-organizational resource management forum. Professional expertise in science communication; scientific background in trace metals in aquatic environments.

Learning Objectives

I am most interested in learning about how scientists and scientific organizations can be/ are most effective in supporting inter-jurisdictional water resource management efforts.

USGS San Diego

Peter Martin, Hydrologist/ Program Chief Scientist for Desert Studies, U.S. Geological Survey, Water Resources Discipline, California Water Science Center, San Diego Projects Office

Quick Contact: +1.619.225.6126, pmmartin@usgs.gov

Short Job Description

Program chief scientist for Desert and Eastern Sierra Nevada studies, California Water Science Center, United States Geological Survey, San Diego, California. As program chief scientist I directly or indirectly supervise 21 professionals and currently manage more than 35 projects. I am responsible for program development of projects in the Desert Program and insuring that the research is well planned and maintained in accordance with appropriate USGS guidelines and standards. I review projects and reports to insure that they meet the high standards of the USGS, and that they are completed on schedule and within budget. I provide liaisons and information transfer between the California Water Science Center and local, state, and other Federal agencies, the technical community, and the general public concerned with the hydrologic sciences in the California desert environment. As the Desert Program Chief I am an active member of the California Leadership Team, which manages the scientific direction, program development, personnel resource allocation, and budget of the California Water Science Center.

Summary of Relevant Expertise

I have 30 years of experience in collecting an analyzing geohydrologic and geochemical data in arid and semi-arid environments. A common characteristic of studies that I manage is the utilization of cross-discipline research—integrating the fields of geology, geophyscis, geochemistry, and numerical modeling to help solve complex geohydrologic problems. I have developed, assisted in the development, and directed the development of many regional ground-water flow models in California that have been used to help understand the ground-water flow systems and were ultimately used to help local and state agencies effectively manage available water resources.

Learning Objectives

I am interested in learning from other scientists on how they manage regional aquifer systems that cross international boundaries.

Other Comments

On a personal note, I enjoy travel, running, surfing, fishing, and being with my family.

John Izbicki, Research Hydrologist, USGS/WRD

Quick Contact: +1.619.225.6131, jaizbick@usgs.gov

Short Job Description

I have worked for the USGS for 26 years as a hydrologist. My work runs the entire range of study design and implementation especially in field data collection.

Summary of Relevant Expertise

I primarily apply environmental tracers to problems in physical hydrology. Much of my work has dealt with problems related to tracking the source, movement, and age of natural and artificial recharge water in arid environments. I presently have studied looking at the source, movement, and management of high-chloride water, and trace elements (such as arsenic and chromium). I also am addressing exchange of continental and marine water as part of contamination of recreational beaches with fecal bacteria.

Learning Objectives

I hope to share my expertise as part of this exchange/study tour and to learn from the participants about their problems and how they address those issues.

Other Comments

I hold several patents on the collection of depth-dependent velocity log and water-quality data from large-capacity wells. This type of work has been used extensively in my recent studies. I also have developed specialized techniques to measure the movement of recharge water through thick unsaturated zones.

Wes Danskin, Research Hydrologist, USGS, San Diego

Quick Contact: +1.858.663.6832, wdanskin@usgs.gov

Short Job Description

Wesley R. Danskin, a USGS research hydrologist, focuses on how to apply simulation and optimization techniques to real-world, water-management issues. His publications include both short journal articles on new research findings and lengthy archival-quality comprehensive hydrogeologic reports. Mr. Danskin obtained a Bachelor of Arts in geology from Carleton College and a Master of Science in applied hydrogeology from Stanford University.

Summary of Relevant Expertise

Since 1978, Mr. Danskin has applied the optimization techniques to ground-water basins in Alaska, California, Texas, and New Mexico, and most recently in the country of Jordan. Results of several studies are being implemented by water managers despite complex hydrogeology, politics, and legal issues. Mr. Danskin teaches, advises, and mentors others in the use of simulation-optimization techniques and is a strong advocate of using them as an aid in technical negotiation of water-rights issues.

IW:LEARN

Dann Sklarew, Chief Technical Adviser

Janot Mendler, Deputy Director

Mish Hamid