Penn State Extension is now accepting registrations for the 11th Annual Pennsylvania Groundwater Symposium to be held May 23 in Harrisburg.

The Symposium will be preceded by an optional day-long field trip highlighting springs, caves and other groundwater resources in the Cumberland Valley on May 22.

Groundwater professionals, natural resource managers, educators, and anyone interested in the management and protection of water resources are invited to attend.

Symposium Agenda

This year’s agenda will begin with a look at the history and future of the oil and gas industry on groundwater management in Pennsylvania by David Yoxtheimer, Research Professor and Extension Associate from Penn State’s College of Earth and Mineral Sciences.

The Department of Environmental Protection will provide an update on the status of orphaned and abandoned well plugging initiatives by Bill Walsh, Environmental Group Manager, Subsurface Activities and Well Plugging Division.

Following lunch, Attorney and Penn State faculty Lara Fowler will discuss existing groundwater law in the Keystone State and options for updating these policies to deal with future challenges including climate change.

Soil Scientist Joseph Valentine from VW Consultants, will round out the plenary speakers with a spotlight on the movement of septic system water through soil.

A variety of other speakers representing academia, public agencies, and local government will address a broad mix of groundwater topics during morning and afternoon concurrent tracts.

Subjects include aquifer recharge, water withdrawal forecasting, environmental impacts of natural burial cemeteries, GIS tools, Pennsylvania groundwater quality monitoring network, oxidation protocols for VOC removal in groundwater, Penn State’s private well water outreach program, use of Ca/Mg ratios to investigate stream-groundwater interaction in karst watersheds, efforts to map stormwater basins and improve infiltration, interaction between the Delaware River and local drinking water wells, occurrence and risks from emerging contaminants on private wells, and efforts by USGS to consistently monitor soil moisture levels.

An expert panel discussion on issues surrounding PFAS in Pennsylvania is also scheduled. 

The Symposium is sponsored by Penn State Extension, the Department of Environmental Protection, the Pennsylvania Water Resources Research Center, and the Penn State College of Agriculture Sciences. 

Major partners include the US Geological Survey, PA-DCNR, the Pennsylvania Groundwater Association, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, and the Penn State Extension Master Well Owner Network (MWON).

Click Here to register and for more information.

Visit the Penn State Extension website to learn about a wide variety of educational opportunities.

(Reprinted from Penn State Extension Watershed Winds newsletter.  Click Here to sign up for your own copy (bottom of page).)

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[Posted: April 18, 2024]

4/22/2024