News Release

U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Geological Survey

Release: October 28, 2011

Contact:
Sue Kahle
253-552-1616

John Clemens
253-552-1635

Little Spokane Basin Groundwater Study to Begin Next Week

TACOMA, Wash. — A groundwater study that will look at wells in the Little Spokane River Basin is set to begin next week, and well owners are asked to play an important part in the study.

In cooperation with Spokane County and the Washington State Department of Ecology, scientists from the USGS will measure water levels in about 250 water wells throughout the Little Spokane River Basin in order to get a clear picture of how much groundwater is there, where it is, and how it interacts with rivers in the basin.

To get an accurate, scientific assessment of the basin's ground water resources, as many well measurements as possible are needed. The USGS will be contacting many individual well owners to ask for their help in allowing their wells' levels to be measured.

"As a well owner, you play a big part in getting an accurate assessment," Kahle said. "Information from individual wells is the basis for understanding the ground-water system."

All field crew members carry official identification and will ask a well owner for permission to measure the water level in their well, Kahle said. The crews will begin measurement work the first week of November and will continue through early-December.

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