SEMINAR - Wesley Danskin

Real-time Ground-water Management in San Diego




Wesley R. Danskin
Research Hydrologist
U.S. Geological Survey




April 23rd, 2008

• Advances in real-time monitoring of ground-water systems have improved the ability of local water managers to make timely decisions regarding recharge and pumpage. The goal is to avoid expensive problems, improve knowledge of the local aquifer, and to provide managers with real-time ground-water levels. Data are collected from each transducer every 15 minutes, and are transmitted via the satellite to the database every four hours. This easy access to real-time data from wells located three-dimensionally throughout the aquifer help enable water managers to make informed decisions regarding how much water to import from northern California, where to discharge imported water for artificial recharge, and how much and where to pump ground water for municipal supply.

Professional Expertise:

• Optimal water management
• Ground-water simulation, constrained optimization
• Hydrogeologic analysis of regional systems
• Integrated surface-water/ground-water interpretations
• Conflict resolution, technical mediation of water issues
• USGS offices: Alaska (1978-79), Menlo Park (1979-84), San Diego (1985-present).
• Project Chief: all projects, listed below, involve optimal water-management, regional systems, surface-water/ground-water interaction, and conflict resolution.
• Advising: Optimal management of regional ground-water systems: Texas, New Mexico, Nebraska, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
• Teaching: Optimal ground-water management training courses (1994, 1997, 2005-07)
  

Research Interests:

• Real-world application of constrained optimization techniques
• Real-time water management
• Conflict resolution of water issues
• Integrated management of biologic/hydrologic resources
• Land deformation caused by ground-water recharge/extraction
  

Projects:

• San Bernardino Optimal Basin Management - http://ca.water.usgs.gov/sanbern
• San Diego Hydrogeology - http://ca.water.usgs.gov/sandiego
• Owens Valley - http://ca.water.usgs.gov/owens
• Temecula - http://ca.water.usgs.gov/temecula
• Enhancing Ground-water Management in Jordan - http://international.usgs.gov/projects/jd-groundwater.htm