Case Study: Gila River Well Database for Managing Groundwater Resources

Client: Gila River Indian Community Location: Southern AZ Contact for information management projects: Gayle Thompson

Project Background & Challenges

Aspect Consulting is managing a basin-wide groundwater characterization for the GRIC. We have teamed with Keller-Bliesner Engineering of Logan, Utah, to help the tribe to optimize and effectively manage its surface and groundwater resources. Although water-resource management was the main goal of this project, other objectives included expanding irrigation. To effectively characterize water resources on tribal lands, several key elements were required — a data-management model and plan, a data-collection program, and a water-resources database.

Solution

One of the first steps in our characterization work entailed creating a user-friendly database in MS Access format. This database allows users to manually enter data, perform QA/QC verifications, and import data from downhole dataloggers. It also features tools for generating queries, reports, and hydrographs. We then compiled and reviewed a variety of historical data — information from well logs, well ownership records, and boring logs, along with fluid level measurements and information about climate and geological conditions — and used it to populate the database. Collected from a variety of tribal, private, and governmental sources, this data enabled Aspect hydrogeologists to select representative baseline wells for monitoring. We also collected field data to verify and update the historical information. The GRIC now uses the database for its ongoing monitoring program.