Participants & Projects Involved (IWL Share: approximately 44%)

• Guarani Aquifer: Luiz Amore (project), Jorge Santa Cruz, Roberto Montes (project), Juan Jose Ledesma (Uruguay), Miguel Angel Giraut (Argentina), Elena Benitez (Paraguay), Julio Thadeu Kettelhut (Brazil)
• Iullemeden Aquifer: Abdelkader Dodo (Sahara and Sahel Observatory)
• NW Sahara Aquifer: Djamel Latrech (Sahara and Sahel Observatory)
• Nubian Aquifer (in absentia, participation via the web): Lotfi A. Madi Farag (Libya), Al Mahdi Megrbi (Libya), Ahmed R Khater (Egypt), Sameh Afifi (Egypt), Ismail Musa Mohamed (Chad), Min. Abakar Ramadan Souleymane (Chad)

Host Institution

• Ingrid Verstraeten & Colleagues, US Geological Survey (USGS)

Other Funding Partners

• Pradeep Aggarwal, Andy Garner - International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

Introduction, Purpose: Why an Exchange

• The Guarani Aquifer System requested this exchange to network & benefit from experiential learning with US groundwater management staff and institutions, and with other GEF groundwater projects.
• The exchange provides opportunities for GEF IW groundwater project staff and national coordinators to network & exchange practical experience with cognate staff in the USGS – and with other GEF groundwater project participants
• IAEA will work with USGS to develop a targeted training component of the exchange to address priority learning needs identified by participating projects in depth through workshops and field visits
• Site visits to the USGS headquarters and 2 major field offices will include opportunities for hands-on interactions with state-level aquifer managers
• Guarani Aquifer System will invite USGS-IAEA and projects participating in this exchange to a Guarani regional seminar in 2007, affording an opportunity to follow up, strengthen networking among GEF groundwater projects, and evaluate impacts of the exchange.

Learning Objectives

The objectives of this exchange are to improve management of transboundary aquifers in three general areas:

• Provide overview of technical aspects of water resources in support of management decisions--tools, technology, monitoring networks, characterization, geo-databases, GIS) and aquifer development (recharge, permits, uses)
• Provide overview of managerial aspects of (ground)water in order to ensure a sustainable water supply through discussion about several aquifers in differing climatic and hydrogeological settings--groundwater management models across governing boundaries, water management indicators, institutional arrangements, legal framework, permits, water uses and tradeoffs, policy directions...
• Provide an overview of public participation options-- advocacy and citizenship building strategies, user groups and stakeholder participation in water management and aquifer development.

Outputs/Outcomes

• Summary Article
• Mission Reports: Abdelkader Dodo & Djamel Latrech, Luiz Amore, Miguel Giraut, Julio Kettelhut and Juan Jose Ledesma

Related content

IAEA/GEF IW:LEARN/USGS Learning Exchange (study tour) on Good Practices in Ground Water Resources Assessment, Management, and Public Participation

IAEA/GEF IW:LEARN/USGS Learning Exchange (study tour) on Good Practices in Ground Water Resources Assessment, Management, and Public Participation

Mission Report: Dodo, Latrech

Groundwater Learning Exchange: Participant Bio's and Learning Objectives

Groundwater Learning Background Documents

Ground Water Flow Modeling of Geologically Complex Regional Aquifers (Shapiro)

Recharge of the Guarani Aquifer System through the Serra Geral Formation: Well-head Protection Zone Definition - PHD Synthesis (Verstraeten)