The Guam Hydrologic Survey Program (GHS) was mandated by the 24th Guam Legislature in October, 1997. Under the program, WERI has been charged with the responsibility to consolidate, inventory, and evaluate all of the current and historical hydrologic data pertaining to Guam. WERI is also responsible for establishing and maintaining a permanent data library for instant data access and retrieval.

Between October and the end of December, 1997, WERI identified research assistants to support the program, set up laboratory space, and procured equipment. From January through May, 1998, GHS research assistants visited each of the island’s federal and local agencies, along with private sector organizations, that collect current data or possess archives of historical data. Each of the data collection stations for hydrological data were identified and mapped. During this same time frame, the GHS began preparing the GHS Water Resource Data Library. The library includes electronically-stored data on CD-ROM and PCs located at WERI, along with links to web sites and remote archives. It also includes paper copies of historical reports and maps, drilling logs, aerial photos, 35 mm slides, and engineering plans.

The GHS is currently preparing a report on the outcome of the FY98 data search. The report will be published by the end of the summer, on this web site and as a printed WERI technical report. The report describes each of the data collection activities on the island, including collection stations and points of contact for meteorological, surface water, groundwater, tidal, geological, and engineering data. Also in preparation is a user’s manual for the GHS Water Resource Data Library, which will also be published on the web site and printed as a WERI technical report by the end of the summer.

The GHS mission also includes a mandate to conduct research into Guam’s water resources problems, and publish regular, concise reports to provide Guam’s policy-makers, regulators, water resource managers, educators, and citizens with the information needed for sound legislation, effective management, sustainable development, and responsible use of Guam’s fresh water resources. Projects underway include an evaluation of chloride contamination in water production wells, identification of geological and infrastructural constraints on groundwater development, an inventory of the karst geology of the aquifer, a groundwater model of the Yigo-Tumon/Finegayen sub-basins of the Northern Guam Lens Aquifer, and an engineering evaluation of selected portions of the water distribution system.