Where? How much? How good?--

Water research vital to West

The Water Resource Division of the Geological Survey’s Pacific Coast Center investigates the surface and ground water resources of the seven western states, including Hawaii and Alaska.

Its job is to inventory and appraise water supplies in these states. The division’s scientists, engineers and technicians determine the availability of water, its quality, and the existing use of surface and ground water resources.

The vital water information they gather is used by the federal, state and local governments, industries, and "anyone concerned with the development or planning of water systems," said Edward Moulder of 1016 Middle Ave., Menlo Park, ground water chief for the Pacific Coast Area.

To obtain water information, the Water Resources Division keeps basic records of the quantities of water in given areas and conducts aerial and interpretive studies of ground and surface water.

Its scientists and engineers, who include some of the world’s top hydrologists, are also busy carrying out basic water research.

Among their many projects that specifically concern people living on the Midpeninsula is one entitled, "Hydrological effects of Urbanization."

SUBSIDENCE

From information gained during this study, the Menlo Park Water Resources Division engineers determined that in some heavily pumped water withdrawal areas in the Santa Clara Valley near San Jose, the land has sunk five feet during the 15-year period from 1948 to 1963 as the water table was drawn down.

In areas where the population growth has been concentrated over a longer period of time, the sinking rate is much different, however.

Menlo Park, for example, has sunk only .5 feet since since 1934. Palo Alto has sunk about one foot, Mountain View three to four feet, Los Altos three feet, and Sunnyvale four feet.

Moulder said a study of the water runoff of the urbanized San Francisquito Creek drainage basin demonstrated a "rather small change" from its natural conditions.

Other urbanized water sheds indicate higher runoffs, however, he said. The water runoff yield and the floor hazard of urbanized water sheds are apparently governed by the individual characteristics of the water shed, he added.

OPTIMISTIC

Moulder is personally "optimistic" the nation can solve its water problem in the future.

"Our greatest hope is to develop better technique for conserving and reusing water supplies," he said.

In the event saline water resources become a useful supplement to existing water supplies, the Geological Survey’s Water Resources Division will be ready, he indicated. They are now preparing a nationwide map of saline underground water resources.

One of the Water Resources Division’s conservation-oriented research projects includes a major study of phreatophytes, or deep-rooted "water loving" plants, Moulder said.

Plants are not benefiting man when they consume too much water, he indicated.

To aid division scientists and engineers in their work, the Water Resources Division has a well equipped laboratory.

Here, the physics, chemistry and biology of the water system can be simulated.

Palo Alto Times
February 19, 1964

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