On a recent Saturday in late April an interested and concerned group of well users gathered to help with the water level measurement of one neighbor’s well and learn more about the state of the Petaluma Valley groundwater basin.
Sebastian Bertsch, Petaluma Valley GSA Advisory Committee member and Level Up! program volunteer facilitator for the day, explained the entire process of using the sonic measurement tool, how to sign up to borrow it for a free one-day check out, and he explained the benefits of creating a neighborhood group to work together and take our own measurements all on one day.” Amy, who attended the gathering to learn more about the process said, “The well measurement came first. It was easy and quick.” The water level was about 12 feet higher after the rainy season as compared with the last time they measured in October, an expected result revealing that the year’s precipitation helped recharge the aquifer.
Those who attended represented six different wells, asked lots of questions and learned a bit about the history and geology of the basin. Participants were curious about ways to protect groundwater supply, too. Amy noted, “We talked about what we can do as property owners and well users to help with groundwater recharge, like building berms and swales to slow water runoff during the rainy season and capture rainwater in various ponds and basins.”
The group plans to work together in October and participate in Level Up! as a group to check out the measurement tool and measure the water in their wells on the same day – and then keep doing this on a voluntary basis in the future.
If you would like to gather neighbors in one of our GSA groundwater basins to learn more about organizing a group LEVEL UP! day, please reach out to us at the GSA to set something up!
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