Groundwater Management Districts Association

Table of Contents

The Groundwater Management District Association (GMDA) is composed of local groundwater management districts in several Midwestern and Southern states. At our Annual meeting we have presentations from noted experts in the fields of hydrogeology, geology, flow meters and different management strategies. This provides us with a forum to exchange ideas on the different approaches taken by other States. For example, the primary issue in Kansas, Colorado and Texas is groundwater quantity, while in Nebraska it is groundwater quality and quantity. In Mississippi and Florida, Districts are responsible for the joint management of surface and ground water and subsidence is the major issue in Louisiana and parts of Texas. Some of the Districts have developed unique projects in education and management to preserve our groundwater resources for future generations.

The GMDA Annual Conference will be held in Charleston, SC on January 6 - 8, 2010.

What's New

First Dispute over a trans-boundary aquifer to go to the US Supreme Court. This is legal issue between the State of Mississippi and Memphis, Tennessee over water use from the underlying alluvial aquifer of both states. For more information, click on the attached link.

Several presentations from the San Diego, California and the El Paso, Texas Summer Session are now available on this website. Click on the hyperlink to "Conference Notes".

Wayne Bossert has created a history of GMDA, which is listed as a separate website http://www.gmdawiki.com If you would like to submit information or pictures to GMDA, please contact Wayne by email.

Drought Conditions
Current drought conditions are available from the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska - U.S. Drought Monitor	The outlook on future drought conditions is available from the National Weather Service - Climate Prediction Center - U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook

Steel Tapes to Measure Ground Water Levels:

The Districts use steel tapes to measure groundwater levels in wells as part of our monitoring networks. Steel tapes with the raised markings are preferred due to their ridge construction, ability to retain chalk and give an accurate reading. The problem is that the manufacturer of these tapes is no longer producing this kind of tape, so an alternative needs to be found.

Steel tapes are still available, but these do not have the raised markings along its entire length, which make it easy to chalk. Some Districts are now using fiberglass tapes as an alternative. Click on the link "Measuring Groundwater Levels" for more information, which is also located on the "Association Update" page.

Web page maintained at Lower Platte North NRD / PO Box 126 / Wahoo, Nebraska 68066