Workshops

Some Workshops may become space-limited (first come, first served), and some may be cancelled if minimum pre-registration targets are not met. Registrants will be notified by e-mail of Workshop details. Fees will be refunded if cancellations occur. All workshops will be held at the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center.

1. Ecology’s EIM Database

This session will include a demonstration and Q&A session on how to get data from Ecology’s Environmental Information Management (EIM) database. EIM is Ecology’s main database for environmental monitoring data, containing over 6 million records on physical, chemical, and biological analyses and measurements. We will cover the standard Database Search as well as the newer custom search and analytical tool, MyEIM.

Time: Wednesday April 29, 10-11:30 AM.
Leader and Contact: Christine Neumiller, Washington Department of Ecology, cneu461@ecy.wa.gov, 360-407-6258.  Visit the EIM Web site.
Cost: No charge.
Maximum Size: 50 participants.

2. Nonlinear HOC Sorption

Why It's Important, Why We Usually Ignore It, and What to Do About It

Recent work has shown that condensed forms of carbonaceous matter (CM), such as char and kerogen, act as ‘super sorbents’ of hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOC). Even low concentrations of condensed CMs can have significant effects on the transport and partitioning behavior of HOCs. Standard approaches (such as Kocfoc) to contaminant study in groundwater typically do not include nonlinear adsorption that describes this behavior. When nonlinear adsorption is neglected, it can exert the following biases in contaminated site evaluation: Significant underestimation of the total soil concentration needed to be protective of groundwater quality; overestimation of equilibrium groundwater concentrations calculated from total soil analyses; underestimation of total mass in a plume from observed groundwater concentrations. Because the differences between the true values and empirically based linear estimates can differ by as much 10-100 fold in some circumstances, this can lead to significant unnecessary costs for remediation.

This workshop will provide a context and rationale for the standard values used in the empirical approach and discusses the conditions in which adsorption processes are likely to be important. Examples of the impacts of condensed CM on contaminant distribution in groundwater will be presented and multiphase partitioning calculations will be reviewed. Chlorinated solvents in low carbon content aquifers will be emphasized. Example calculations will be based on real data. Practical suggestions for real field sites will be discussed.

Time: Thursday, April 30, 1:30 to 4:30 PM.
Leader: Dr. Richelle M. Allen-King, Professor and Chair, Department of Geology, University at Buffalo (SUNY); richelle@buffalo.ed.
Contact: Christopher Gellasch, U.S. Army, christopher.gellasch@us.army.mil, (253) 966-0069.
Cost: $50.
Maximum Size: 35 participants; minimum: 18.

3. Subsurface Heterogeneity

Why It's Important, Why We Usually Ignore It, and What to Do About It

Inadequacies of transport models are most commonly attributed to insufficient representation of heterogeneity and its control of scale-dependent dispersion, early breakthrough due to preferential flow, and long-term (decades to centuries) tailing. This is often seen by the nearly ubiquitous ineffectiveness of pump-and-treat remediation. Moreover, recent studies have shown that interpretation of so-called groundwater age data can be dubious or misleading unless one has a transport model with good representation of subsurface heterogeneity. We have also seen that something as “simple” as a pumping test may be misinterpreted without a good understanding of subsurface complexities. How can we do a better job?

This workshop will show examples of how the lack of geologic characterization of heterogeneity in flow and transport models can diminish the reliability and utility of groundwater models, especially transport models. We will then ask ourselves the question: “If we know heterogeneity is so important, why do we usually ignore it?” The ensuing discussion will help lead us to insights regarding how the philosophy and science of hydrogeology might evolve so as to resolve this problem. The last portion of the workshop will be devoted to presentation of some approaches to modeling and understanding the influence of subsurface heterogeneity, including the transition probability approach and use of outcrop analogs for aquifers. These approaches allow relatively easy infusion of geologic and geophysical information into quantitative models of geologic heterogeneity.

Time: Thursday, April 30, 1:30 to 4:30 PM.
Leader: Dr. Gary Weissmann, Associate Professor - Hydrogeology, Stratigraphy, Sedimentology, Albert and Mary Jane Black Chair in Hydrogeology, University of New Mexico, weissman@unm.edu. Visit Dr. Weissmann's Web site for more information.
Contact: Christopher Gellasch, U.S. Army, christopher.gellasch@us.army.mil, (253) 966-0069.
Cost: $50.
Maximum Size: 35 participants; minimum: 18.

4. Methods for Estimating Groundwater
Recharge

Estimates of groundwater recharge are required to accurately assess water resources and evaluate aquifer vulnerability to contamination. This course will review theory, assumptions, uncertainties, advantages, and limitations of different approaches for estimating recharge rates. Methods to be discussed include water-budget methods, various modeling approaches, the water-table fluctuation method, tracer methods, and methods based on streamflow data. Examples will be presented to demonstrate application of the different methods. The course is aimed at practicing hydrologists and advanced hydrology students.

Time: Thursday April 30, 1:30 to 4:30 PM.
Leader: Richard W. Healy, U.S. Geological Survey, rwhealy@usgs.gov, (303) 236-5392.
Contact: Christopher Gellasch, U.S. Army, christopher.gellasch@us.army.mil, (253) 966-0069.
Cost: $50.
Maximum Size: 35 participants; minimum: 10.

5. Well Driller Workshop

Don’t overlook this workshop! Even though you may already have registered for the Symposium, it's not too late to add this workshop. This is a rare event and a golden opportunity.

First, we have two states - Washington and Oregon - giving lectures on drilling requirements.

Second, attendees will see three different types of drilling operations demonstrated at one location.

When is the last time this happened?  Come all day, or just a half day and have lunch on us!

Morning Lectures – You will receive 2.0 hours of continuing education units (CEUs) for Washington rules and 2.0 hours of continuing education credits (CECs) for Oregon rules.

Each of the lectures will cover state-specific laws governing the drilling of geotechnical holes, water wells, and monitoring wells, including notices and reporting requirements for drillers, geologists, and engineers. The session will also offer cover the design and installation of low-cost groundwater sparging and soil vapor extraction systems.  Lectures will be held at the Tacoma Convention Center

Lunch Break - Box lunches will be provided to all attendees at noon.  For those who plan to attend only the afternoon demonstrations, we will have box lunches at the USGS site by 12:20 pm.

Afternoon Drilling Demonstrations - We will demonstrate drilling and sampling techniques using a sonic drill rig, hollow stem auger, and push probe. If time permits, we will set one or two monitoring wells.

We will start at 1:15 pm at the US Geologic Survey facility, located at 8914 Lakeview Ave SW, Lakewood, WA 98499. You might want to drive your personal vehicle to avoid having to return to the Convention Center. The site is about 9 miles away and takes about 14 minutes. Anyone who needs a ride to or from the site should contact Bob Miller no later than Friday April 24, 2009. Continuing education units for the afternoon demonstrations are pending.

Time: Thursday April 30, Registration at 7:30 AM, Morning Session 8 AM to 12 noon, Lunch 12 noon to 1:00 PM, Afternoon Session 1:15-4:30 PM. 
Leader: Bill Lum, Washington Department of Ecology, blum461@ecy.wa.gov, (360) 407-6648; Tracy Fox, Oregon Water Resources Department, tracy.l.fox@wrd.state.or.us, (503) 986-0856
Contact: Bob Miller, robertmiller8701@comcast.net, (503) 650-7726.
Cost: $100 workshop only. $35 if registered for the Symposium. Includes lunch.
Maximum Size: 50 participants.