MISSION
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.
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