Module assignment Groundwater sustainability in CaliforniaAssignment objective Students will discover access and explore publicly available 5114

Physical Geology (GEOL 1)

Question.5114 - Module 9 assignment: Groundwater sustainability in CaliforniaAssignment objective:Students will discover, access, and explore publicly available data and information about decisions being made on your behalf regarding ground water management and sustainability across the state of CaliforniaStudents will begin to think through the idea of groundwater sustainability, where California is currently at on this issue, and what needs to be done to get to a sustainable futureConnection to module objectives:Understand groundwaterâwhere it comes from, where itâs stored, how it moves, and how itâs usedEvaluate and assess groundwater management in terms of sustainabilityDescription:This is a discussion assignment with two parts. Complete each part as a post on this discussion board, then provide a thoughtful, constructive reply to one of your classmate's posts.In part one, I want you to follow the instructions below to discover, access, and explore publicly available data and information about groundwater in California, including data in your own backyard (or pretty close by, at least). Follow the prompts below and answer the questions. You will include your answers in a post on this discussion board.In part two, I want you to reflect on groundwater sustainability, where our state is at with regards to this issue, and what might need to change to get there. You will also post your reflections on this discussion board. And finally, I think it's important to listen to what your peers are thinking and feeling on this topic as well, so I want you to post a thoughtful, constructive reply to someone else's post.Steps:Part 1Navigate to Californiaâs Groundwater Live tool. Here you can access current groundwater levels across the state; groundwater conditions (% of normal); seasonal changes; and 20-year trends. For this part, click on "20-year groundwater level trends." You might still have to click on "20-year groundwater level trends" on the top menu bar.What do the dots on the map represent? What do the colors represent?Where are groundwater levels trending downward?Based on where groundwater levels are trending downward, what do you think might be contributing to these trends?Now navigate to the "Current groundwater levels" tab on this pageWhat do the colors of the dots on this map represent?As groundwater is pumped out of the ground, the depth to the water table increases. Do you notice any patterns in the depth to the water table? Where is it deepest?Navigate back to the "20-year groundwater level trends" map and zoom in to where you live. Find three wells nearest to your city or neighborhoodClick on each of the three wells. A box should appear. What is the estimated annual change in water level for this well? (It's under "Estimated slope of trend"). Report this estimated annual change for each well, as well as the well station ID and the city or area it's located in.Find a well that is orange or red. Find this well on both the "Current groundwater levels" and the "20-year groundwater level trends" maps. It's current water table height is found by clicking on the well and looking under "last measured depth to water". Note this well's location (what town/city is it near?) and well ID numberUsing this well's current groundwater level and its estimated annual change, what will be the depth to the water table at this well in 20 years? In 70 years?Part 2Answer the following open-ended reflection questions:In your own words, what do you think groundwater sustainability means?Describe the importance/significance of groundwater sustainability to you.Based on what you learned in Part 1, do you think California has achieved groundwater sustainability? If not, what do you think needs to be done to achieve groundwater sustainability?How this assignment will be graded:This assignment is worth 80 pts, awarded as follows:Part 1: 10 pts for each of #1-4 aboveIn Part 1 I will be looking for completeness and evidence that you understand groundwater as a conceptPart2: 10 pts for each of #1-3 aboveIn Part 2 I will be looking for thoughtful responses that show comprehension of groundwater sustainability as a concept, analysis of the current situation in California, and critical thinking about this topic's relevance to you and what we need to do as a state to achieve our goals.Replying constructively to a classmate's postâ10 ptsReply

Answer Below:

Part xxxxxxxxxxx Data xxxxxxxxxxx -Year xxxxxxxxxxx Level xxxxxx What xx the xxxx on xxx map xxxxxxxxx What xx the xxxxxx represent xxx dots xx the xxx represent xxxxxxxxxx groundwater xxxxx that xxxx been xxxxxxxxx over x -year xxxxxx The xxxxxx indicate xxx trend xx groundwater xxxxxx at xxxx well xxxxx Water xxxxxx are xxxxxxxxxxxx Water xxxxxx are xxxxxxxxxxxx Red xxxxx levels xxx declining xxxxx are xxxxxxxxxxx levels xxxxxxxx downward xxxxxxxxxxx levels xxx trending xxxxxxxx primarily xx the xxxxxxx Valley xxxxxxxxxx in xxxxx like xxxxxx Tulare xxx Bakersfield xxxxx are xxxx downward xxxxxx in xxxxx of xxxxxxxx California xxxxxxxxx the xxxxxx Empire xxxx might xx contributing xx these xxxxxx The xxxxxxxxx trends xxx likely xxx to xxxxxxxxx groundwater xxxxxxx primarily xxx agricultural xxxxxxxxxx especially xx the xxxxxxx Valley xxxxxxx conditions xxxxx development xxx limited xxxxxxx water xxxxxxxxxxxx also xxxxxxxxxx to xxxxxxxxx reliance xx groundwater xxxxxxx Groundwater xxxxxx What xx the xxxxxx of xxx dots xx this xxx represent xxx colors xxxxxxxx the xxxxx to xxxxxxxxxxx water xxxxx Blue xxxxxxx groundwaterGreen xxxxxx Moderate xxxxxxxxxxx Red xxxx groundwater xx you xxxxxx any xxxxxxxx in xxx depth xx the xxxxx table xxxxx is xx deepest xxx the xxxxx table xxxxx to xx deepest xx the xxxxxxx Valley xxx Southern xxxxxxxxxx particularly xx highly xxxxxxxxxxxx or xxxxxxxxx areas xxxx Fresno xxxxxxxxxxx and xxxxx of xxx Angeles xxxxxx Nearby xxxxx Zoom xxxx your xxxx Choose xxxxx nearby xxxxx Example xxxxxx below xxxxxxx with xxxxxx data xxxx Location xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ID x W xxxxxxxxx Annual xxxxxx - xx year xxxx Location xxx GroveStation xx N x Estimated xxxxxx Change x ft xxxx Well xxxxxxxx Rancho xxxxxxxxxxxxxx ID x W xxxxxxxxx Annual xxxxxx - xx year xxxx Declining xxxx Red xxxxxx Well xxxxxxxx and xxxx ID xxxxxxxx Near xxxxxxxxxxx CAWell xx N x Current xxxxx to xxxxx table xxxxxxxxxxxxx annual xxxxxx - xxxx year xx years xx ft xxxx years xxxxxx years xx ft xxxx years xxxx Part xxxxxxxxxx on xxxxxxxxxxx Sustainability xxxx do xxx think xxxxxxxxxxx sustainability xxxxx Groundwater xxxxxxxxxxxxxx means xxxxxxxx our xxxxxxxxxxx water xxxxxxxxx in x way xxxx meets xxxxxxx needs xxxxxxx depleting xxxx for xxxxxx generations xx requires x balance xxxxxxx how xxxx water xx extracted xxx how xxxx is xxxxxxxxx or xxxxxxxxxxxx replenished xxxxxxxxxx Significance xx You xxxxxxxxxxx sustainability xx critical xxxxxxx it xxxxxxxx our xxxxxxxx water xxxxxxxxxxx and xxxxxxxxxx As xxxxxxx living xx California xxxxx droughts xxx frequent xxxxxxxxxxx groundwater xxx is xxxxxxxxx to xxxxxxx our xxxxxxxxx water xxxxxxxx and xxxxxxxxxxxxx health xxx California xxxxxxxx sustainability xxxx needs xx be xxxx Based xx what x learned xxxxxxxxxx has xxx yet xxxxxxxx groundwater xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Many xxxxx are xxxxx seeing xxxxxxxxxxx declines xx water xxxxxx To xxxx toward xxxxxxxxxxxxxx we xxxx Stronger xxxxxxxxxxx of xxx Sustainable xxxxxxxxxxx Management xxx SGMA xxxx efficient xxxxx use xx agricultureInvestment xx groundwater xxxxxxxx projectsPublic xxxxxxxxx and xxxxxxxxx involvement xx local xxxxx management xxxxxxxxx OpenAI