10 Reasons We're Glad You Were at the 2015 National Conference

by Jennifer Wemhoff, The Groundwater Foundation

#10: You celebrated 30 years of fulfilling our mission. We peeked back to 1985, celebrated the legacy of Nebraska well driller WayneMadsen, and looked to the future.

#9: You heard why Groundwater Guardians and Green Sites are awesome at the Celebration Luncheon, and found reasons to be inspired to protect groundwater from Catherine Chertudi, City of Boise, Idaho.

#8: You learned about the importance of water to food production, and how irrigation technology can help feed the world’s burgeoning population into the future from Mogens Bay, Chairman and CEO of Valmont.

#7: You were catapulted 30 years into the future by University of Nebraska Students Kate Boone and William Avery who shared how their interest in water wasn’t piqued until college because water wasn’t talked about in high school other than its properties and molecules. Groundwater Foundation President Jane Griffin shared tools and resources that can help fill these gaps in groundwater education.

#6: You participated in workshops, tours, and discussions that went beyond the conference sessions, and met people from across the U.S. that share your passion for protecting groundwater.

#5: You heard expert, engaging speakers from across the country share what worked, and didn’t, and how groundwater protection can move forward in the next 30 years.

#4: You shared in the challenges of communicating groundwater science to the public with Bill Alley of the National Ground Water Association, debunking popular groundwater myths.

#3: You saw how NASA is using the power of satellites to track the changes in groundwater storage and how California’s groundwater reserves are in a perilous situation from hydrologist Jay Famiglietti of NASA and UC-Irvine.

#2: You heard why sparkplugs are vital to groundwater protection and education from Susan Seacrest, Groundwater Foundation founder and President Emeritus.

#1: You became part of our groundwater family! It is because of people that groundwater must be protected, but it is only through the efforts of people that it can be accomplished. Until we meet again!

Groundwater Foundation Staff, from left: Jennifer Wemhoff, Cindy Kreifels, Doug Sams,
Lori Davison, Jane Griffin, Jessica Wheeler, and Anthony Lowndes.

Anniversary Story: "Write Your Story" by Jane Griffin

"Write Your Story"
By Jane Griffin, The Groundwater Foundation

Seven years and five months ago I started my story with The Groundwater Foundation – and it was a memorable day as my predecessor, Susan Seacrest, went through the magnitude of files filled with activities, accomplishments, and stories about her remarkable work at the Groundwater Foundation. Let’s just say I was overwhelmed and was really questioning what I had gotten myself into – how would I continue to move this organization forward as Susan had so gallantly for 23 years? 

Each day on the job brought new stories and with each story more insight to the key to success – the collective effort of everyone involved. These stories and the collective efforts of our board, staff, partners, Groundwater Guardians, Green Sites, program participants and the investment of our members, sponsors and funders are what inspire me each day. If we only looked as deep as the ink in many stories in the media we could easily be paralyzed by the doom and gloom they present. But, instead, if we dig deeper we recognize that we can rise to the challenge a growing population and escalating societal demands put on our groundwater supplies. 

 

The challenges are enormous – according to the United Nation’s World Water Development Report, 2015, Water for A Sustainable World (WWDR 2015), an estimated 20% of the world’s aquifers are currently over-exploited. This, and other practices are undermining the environment’s capacity to provide ecosystem services, including clean water.  And the situation is only going to grow more complex. As pointed out in the WWDR 2015, the world’s population is estimated to be 9 billion in just a few decades.  Consequently, 60% more food will need to be produced globally, manufacturing is expected to increase by 400%, and global demand for water is estimated to exceed supply by 40% if we continue business as usual. Impacts of climate change on our water supply will create difficulties as well.  It is imperative that we restore the balance between demand and supply. Looking at the quality side of the equation we must also be conscientious of what we put on our ground, remembering that it may end up in our drinking water. While it is true that some contamination of groundwater supplies is due to natural causes, like arsenic, the majority is caused by human action[1]. 

It may sound dire, but don’t let this information paralyze you.  Generation after generation – actually civilization after civilization – has faced the challenges of water management.  We can too:

ACT – Reduce your water footprint by 30% (look for our free 30 by 30 app in the Apple and Google Play stores).  It may seem like a small thing, but look at the numbers: in the U.S. each person uses an average of 100 gallons per day for direct water use (i.e. water we drink, use to wash, cook and water our lawns, etc.).  In Europe the average is 50 gallons/day. Here in the U.S. we can do better. If each of us reduces our water use by 30 gallons/day (30 x 365 x 320,090,857) we would save 3,504,994,884,150 gallons annually!

We can also impact our indirect water use (i.e. the water it takes to produce our clothes, our cars, our appliances, etc.). All of our decisions and choices drive the market and therefore drive the demand.  Manufacturers respond to the demand by producing what is popular.  Let’s demand the right products!

SHARE – Brag about what you are doing. Share your newly adopted habits with your friends, family and colleagues. Encourage them to do the same too. Groundwater is magical – share the magic!

INSPIRE – Water is life, water needs us to speak for it and to protect it. Inspire action on behalf of water and to ensure it is available for future generations, too.

EDUCATE – We need to foster generations of scientists, inventors, leaders who can develop the technology and improve our approaches and systems of water management and distribution. We need to be educated and our youth does too, so future generations are capable of taking these actions to another level.

INVOLVE – We need water and water needs us to be its guardian. Water management is the responsibility of many different people in public and private sector. How can this shared responsibility be used as a rallying point around which different stakeholders can work together and make informed decisions – instead of serving as a point of divergence? The Groundwater Guardian program is a proven model of being a rallying point - and it has served communities across North America as a framework to involve their local population in proactive protection and conservation efforts. Get involved with a local Groundwater Guardian team or start your own!

SUSTAIN – Over the past few decades the rising living standards have led to sharp increases in water use, and this can be unsustainable, especially where supplies are scarce and/or vulnerable. We must achieve sustainable living standards, which means altering consumption patterns. Let’s look at our individual behaviors, and make choice, perhaps reducing meat consumption, considering smaller homes, using vehicles and appliances that are energy-efficient. The fact is that there is enough water available on Earth to meet the world’s growing needs, but without properly managing and sharing the water resources there will be water shortages.  We need to each live a sustainable lifestyle (in our professional and personal roles) to ensure our children’s grandchildren can do the same.

IT’S ONLY THE BEGINNING.

A lot has been done, but the fact of the matter is that the work is never done. Threats to our water supply, whether they be quality or quantity issues, are ongoing. Together we can write the story of how individually we each did our part – and collectively we meet the challenge. 

Let’s get started.

---

[1] UNESCO, Zaporozec, A., (2002), Groundwater Contamination Inventory, IHP-VI, Series on Groundwater No. 2, page 25

____________________

1 Week Until the 2015 Groundwater Foundation National Conference and 30th Anniversary Celebration!

30th Anniversary Story Teller Sponsor
Marshfield Utilities

30th Anniversary Story Teller Supporter
National Ground Water Association

Anniversary Story: Mr. Groundwater - Wayne Madsen" by Lee Orton

“Mr. Groundwater – Wayne Madsen”

By Lee Orton, Nebraska Well Drillers Association

Wayne Madsen receives the
Kremer award in 2000.

Wayne Madsen was a career water well pump installation professional, having assumed the ownership of a business established by his father in Trenton, Nebraska. Madsen’s Well Service was known throughout his service region as an operation which would get the work done professionally and promptly.

Madsen was elected to the Board of Directors of the Nebraska Well Drillers Association in the early 1980s, rising to become its President in 1990. In that role, Madsen championed the adoption of the laws providing for the licensing of the professional water well industry, the development of formal state water well construction standards, and the advancement of the professions by requiring continuing professional education to retain professional licensing.

Following his President’s tenure, Madsen became the Chairperson of the Well Drillers Association Public Education and Public Affairs Committees. In that capacity he, along with his wife, Jean, participated in dozens of public and community education events, from The Groundwater Foundation’s Children’s Festivals, to adult education forums sponsored by his Association Committees and by the Cooperative Extension at the University of Nebraska.

He contributed to the creation of “Wally Water” and “Wanda Water” and frequently donned those costumes with Jean, marching in parades and appearing at fairs or home shows to attract not only the children’s, but the parents’ attention to learning about groundwater.

Madsen chaired the Groundwater Day at the Capitol in Nebraska, which saw dozens of groundwater professionals working with the Legislators to increase understanding of groundwater for decision makers.

Madsen worked tirelessly on Groundwater Foundation events developed to educate others about groundwater. He served for a number of years on planning and advisory committees for the Foundation and provided significant volunteer time in the implementation of those programs.

Monty, Jean, and Wayne Madsen

Wayne Madsen was without doubt “Mr. Groundwater” in Nebraska.  Everyone who knew him respected his integrity and his tenacity in the delivery of his education efforts for the cause of groundwater management and wise use.  He was recognized by The Groundwater Foundation with its prestigious Kremer Award in 2000 and by his fellow groundwater professionals in 2001 with the first Wayne Madsen Award for Community Service.  The Madsen Award continues to be awarded to recognize other Nebraskans who have delivered community services for groundwater.

In 2014, following the death of both Wayne and his wife Jean, Wayne’s son,  Monty, and his wife, Earleen, contributed  $50,000.00 to establish a Groundwater Foundation Endowment Fund in memory of Wayne and all he stood for in groundwater conservation, management and education. A fitting Tribute to his legacy!

____________________

2 Weeks Until the 2015 Groundwater Foundation National Conference and 30th Anniversary Celebration!

30th Anniversary Story Teller Sponsor
Marshfield Utilities

30th Anniversary Story Teller Supporter
National Ground Water Association