By Denise M. Roberts
The National Ground Water Association (NGWA) hosted a large number of scientists, technical experts and water specialists at the 2009 Ground Water Summit and 2009 Ground Water Protection Council Spring Meeting, held in Tucson, AZ in April. With a full slate of panel discussions, workshops and conference sessions in full spring, it was a hectic agenda. The concurrent sessions covered every possible subject, from sustainability to climate change, water modeling to hydrogeology, catchment, recharge and much more.
The El Conquistador Hotel, balanced on the foothills of the Catalina Mountains in the northern range of the Sonora Desert, provided a backdrop in reality water scarcity. The already arid region has suffered through drought conditions for some time and water management continues to be a growing concern among water project managers, builders and government officials.
Summit attendees enjoyed an awards luncheon that was held to recognize individuals who have made a deep impact on water research, with Robert P. Schreiber of CDM, Inc. acting as the Master of Ceremonies. He presented Christian Langevin, Ph.D., a research hydrologist for the US Geological Survey and Weixing Guo, Ph.D., a senior hydrogeologist with Schlumberger Water Services, with the annual John Hem Excellence in Science and Engineering Award. The researchers were recognized for their unique governmental/private industry collaboration in developing the open source, public domain simulation SEAWAT computer program, which provides simulation of three-dimensional, variable-density ground water flow.
NGWA’s Vicki Kretsinger Grabert was presented the NGWA’s Keith E. Anderson Award in recognition of her many years of service to the association. Grabert is also the founding President of the Groundwater Resources Association of California, member of the University of California Center for Water Resources Center Advisory Council and a member of the International Association of Hydrogeologists.
