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Creating a well database and web mapping application: using geographic information systems to manage and monitor groundwater resources in Sonoma County, California

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Creating a well database and web mapping application: using geographic information systems to manage and monitor groundwater resources in Sonoma County, California

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Content i

Creating a Well Database and Web Mapping Application: Using Geographic
Information Systems to Manage and Monitor Groundwater Resources in Sonoma
County, California

by

Heather Kelley

A Thesis Prospectus Presented to the
Faculty of the USC Graduate School
University of Southern California
In Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree
Master of Science
(Geographic Information Science and Technology)

December 2016

Copyright ® 2016 by Heather Kelley
i

Dedication
I dedicate this work to my friend Megan Gosch, I truly could not have done this without
your friendship and support for the last 20 years. And to my amazing and patient husband David,
you never lost faith in me, even when I did. Thank you for your unwavering friendship and
support.

ii
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank my family and many friends for their continued support throughout
my graduate coursework and thesis writing. You all put up with me through every exhausted
weekend and every foul mood. I thank you. John and Wanda, you both supported me through
many anxious weekends when I thought I was failing, you assured me that I was not.
Thank you to all my teachers at USC, but especially Dr. Elisabeth (Lisa) Sedano my
thesis chair, and my committee members Dr. Jennifer Swift and Dr. Yao-Yi Chiang. You made
this process much easier with your continued support and guidance. To my Supervisor at the
Water Agency who has provided me with constant support, Courtney Ellerbush. To James (Jay)
Jasperse and the entire Water Resource Planning team who have provided me with information,
data and guidance as I learned about the often confusing and difficult groundwater legislative
process.
To my editors and helpers, Tara Sandau and Sherry Barbic, you have read and re-read
this thesis looking for passive language and errors. Thank you both! To Tim McGee who
provided technical assistance with the CMV and hydrograph development, your help is much
appreciated.
And to Ed Nelson and Kathy Pons, and to all volunteers everywhere who selflessly spend
their own personal time away from their families to educate themselves, collect data, monitor
natural processes and resources, and share their information with scientists and graduate
students. Your efforts are constantly improving the world. Thank you!

iii
Table of Contents
Dedication ........................................................................................................................................ i
Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................... ii
List of Figures ................................................................................................................................ vi
List of Tables ............................................................................................................................... viii
List of Abbreviations ..................................................................................................................... ix
Abstract .......................................................................................................................................... xi
Chapter 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 12
1.1 Formation and Mission of the Water Agency ....................................................................14
1.2 Groundwater Legislation in California ..............................................................................14
1.2.1. Assembly Bill 3030 (AB 3030) and Senate Bill 1938 (SB 1938) ...........................16
1.2.2. California Statewide Groundwater Elevation Monitoring .......................................19
1.2.3. Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) .............................................20
1.3 Groundwater Programs in Sonoma County .......................................................................21
1.3.1. United States Geologic Survey Groundwater Studies in Sonoma ...........................23
1.3.2. CASGEM in Sonoma County ..................................................................................24
1.3.3. SGMA in Sonoma County .......................................................................................26
1.4 Research Objective ............................................................................................................29
1.4.1. How this project meets the requirements of SGMA ................................................32
1.4.2. Motivation ................................................................................................................34
1.5 Organization .......................................................................................................................35
Chapter 2 Background .................................................................................................................. 36
2.1 Volunteered Geographic Information ................................................................................36
2.1.1. The Value of VGI ....................................................................................................37
2.1.2. The Use of VGI for Government Supported Studies ...............................................38
2.1.3. Citizen Science VGI ................................................................................................39
2.2 Spatial Data Quality ...........................................................................................................41
2.2.1. Spatial Data Quality in VGI .....................................................................................41
2.2.2. Methods to Determine the Validity of VGI .............................................................42
iv
2.3 Web Mapping Applications ...............................................................................................44
2.3.1. State Water Resources Control Board Web Mapping Applications ........................45
2.3.2. DWR Groundwater Web Mapping Applications .....................................................47
2.3.3. Other Government Groundwater Mapping Applications ........................................50
2.3.4. Professional Groundwater Applications ..................................................................52
Chapter 3 Methodology ................................................................................................................ 54
3.1 Project Design ....................................................................................................................55
3.1.1. User-group 1- View-only Web Mapping Applications ...........................................56
3.1.2. The Groundwater Well Data ....................................................................................59
3.1.3. User-group 2- Editable Web Mapping Applications (Volunteers) ..........................63
3.1.4. Volunteer Data .........................................................................................................64
3.2 User Requirements .............................................................................................................65
3.2.1. Improve Data-Input Efficiency for the Well Volunteers .........................................66
3.2.2. Improve Communication Between the Well Volunteers in Sonoma Valley and
WRP staff ...................................................................................................................66
3.2.3. Improve Efficiency for WRP by Creating Hydrographs Dynamically in Web
Applications ................................................................................................................67
3.2.4. Improve Efficiency for WRP Working with the Submersible Pressure Transducer
Data ............................................................................................................................68
3.2.5. Present WRP with New Options for Utilizing GIS .................................................69
3.3 Software Used for this Thesis Project ................................................................................70
3.3.1. Database Software ...................................................................................................71
3.3.2. GIS Software ............................................................................................................71
3.4 Database Creation ..............................................................................................................72
3.4.1. Groundwater Data ....................................................................................................72
3.4.2. SSMS Databases ......................................................................................................73
3.4.3. Significant Attributes of the Data ............................................................................76
3.5 Map and Feature Service Creation .....................................................................................83
3.5.1. Mapping Services – View-only Web Applications .................................................83
3.5.2. Feature Services -Editable Web Applications .........................................................84
3.6 Web Mapping Application Creation ..................................................................................85
3.6.1. Web Application API ...............................................................................................85

v
Chapter 4 Results .......................................................................................................................... 88
4.1 Web Mapping Applications ...............................................................................................88
4.1.1. Non-Editable Web Mapping Applications...............................................................89
4.1.2. Editable Web Applications ......................................................................................92
4.1.4. Spatial Accuracy of Well Data ................................................................................97
4.1.5. Accuracy of Volunteered Water Level Data ..........................................................100
Chapter 5 Future Work ............................................................................................................... 103
5.1 Volunteer Suggested Changes .........................................................................................103
5.2 Changes to Prepare for SGMA Implementation ..............................................................105
5.2.1. Ongoing Management of the System .....................................................................106
5.3 Future Development in Sonoma County and Beyond .....................................................107
APPENDIX A: DETAILED DATABASE DIAGRAMS .......................................................... 114
APPENDIX B: INTERVIEW QUESTIONNAIRE AND RESPONSES ................................... 116

vi
List of Figures
Figure 1 Bulletin 118 Groundwater Basins in Sonoma County. Source: Heather Kelley 2016 ... 22
Figure 2 Groundwater Monitoring Entities for CASGEM in Sonoma County. Source: Heather
Kelley 2016 ................................................................................................................................... 25
Figure 3 CASGEM Prioritization of Groundwater Basins in Sonoma County. Source: Heather
Kelley 2016 ................................................................................................................................... 26
Figure 4 GAMA Homepage. Source: State of California 2016a .................................................. 45
Figure 5 GAMA Web Mapping Application with Wells and Other Data. Source: State of
California 2016b. .......................................................................................................................... 46
Figure 6 DWR Water Management Planning Tool Web mapping application. Source: State of
California 2016c............................................................................................................................ 48
Figure 7 GICMA Web Mapping Application. Source: State of California 2016d. ...................... 49
Figure 8 USGS Home Page for Groundwater. Source: US Department of the Interior. 2016. .... 51
Figure 9 Project Design Process. Source: Heather Kelley 2016 ................................................... 55
Figure 10 Santa Rosa Plain Well Data by Source. Source: Heather Kelley 2016 ........................ 60
Figure 11 Sonoma Valley Well Data by Source. Source: Heather Kelley 2016 .......................... 61
Figure 12 Santa Rosa Plain Initial Database Design. Source: Heather Kelley 2016 .................... 74
Figure 13 Sonoma Valley Initial Database Design. Source: Heather Kelley 2016 ...................... 75
Figure 14 Groundwater Well Data, Groundwater Management Plans and Basins. Source: Heather
Kelley 2016 ................................................................................................................................... 79
Figure 15 Query Layer as Depicted in ArcCatalog. Source: Heather Kelley 2016 ...................... 80
Figure 16 Standard Groundwater Web Application Santa Rosa Plain. Source: Heather Kelley
2016............................................................................................................................................... 89
vii
Figure 17 Standard Groundwater Web Application Sonoma Valley. Source: Heather Kelley
2016............................................................................................................................................... 90
Figure 18 Pons Web Mapping Application Interface. Source: Heather Kelley 2016. .................. 93
Figure 19 Nelson’s Web Mapping Application Interface. Source: Heather Kelley 2016. ........... 94
Figure 20 Santa Rosa Plain Well Accuracy. Source: Heather Kelley 2016. ................................ 98
Figure 21 Sonoma Valley Well Accuracy. Source: Heather Kelley 2016. ................................... 99
Figure 22 Hydrograph Display. Source: Heather Kelley 2016. .................................................. 104

viii
List of Tables
Table 1 GSA Agencies in Sonoma County................................................................................... 28
Table 2 Sonoma Valley Sources of Water Level Data ................................................................. 62
Table 3 Sample of Fields and Data from the Well Attribute Table .............................................. 78

ix
List of Abbreviations
AGOL ArcGIS Online
API Application Program Interface
CASGEM California Statewide Groundwater Elevation Monitoring
CMV Configurable Map Viewer
CSV Comma Separated Values
COS City of Sonoma
DMS Data Management System
DWR Department of Water Resources
GIC Groundwater Information Center
GICMA Groundwater Information Center Interactive Map Application
GIS Geographic Information System
GPS Global Positioning System
GMP Groundwater Management Plan
GSA Groundwater Sustainability Agency
GSP Groundwater Sustainability Plan
MXD ArcMap document file
NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration
NGWA National Ground Water Association
OSM Open Street Map
REST Representational State Transfer
SGMA Sustainable Groundwater Management Act
SGM Sustainable Groundwater Management Program
x
SQL Structured Query Language
SSMS SQL Server Management Studio
SWRCB State Water Resources Control Board
URL Uniform Resource Locators
USC University of Southern California
USGS United States Geologic Survey
VGI Volunteered Geographic Information
VOMWD Valley of the Moon Water District
WRP Water Resource Planning Section

xi
Abstract
Citizen scientists and governments are managing resources and collaborating at a level
unimaginable before the era of Web 2.0. The opportunities that currently exist for these
collaborations are as exciting as they are manifold. These opportunities are only out-paced by the
numerous challenges that scientists and citizens face. This thesis presents web mapping
applications and associated databases developed for collecting, storing and depicting
groundwater well data. These Geographic Information Systems (GIS) tools were developed to
support the collaboration between citizen scientists and a local water agency, monitoring
groundwater resources in two basins in Sonoma County, California: Santa Rosa Plain and the
Sonoma Valley Groundwater Basin. The government-supplied data provided by the Sonoma
County Water Agency and volunteer gathered data provided by volunteers from Sonoma Valley
ensured the continued success of groundwater resource monitoring. While these volunteers were
not trained professionals, the data and information that they provide is unique and invaluable.
Their efforts, coupled with the local government agency have made resource management plans
for groundwater successful. This thesis was successful in improving the previous methods of
data management, communication and data-sharing while also providing opportunities for future
improvement.
12

Chapter 1 Introduction
The democratization of spatial data and analysis is changing the world (Goodchild, 2007).
Geographic Information System (GIS) technology is continually evolving with tools allowing
professional users to create, analyze, and manipulate spatial data and output for further use and
examination. GIS transformed to accommodate the professional and nonprofessional user,
allowing both to work with and share spatial data. Novices use GIS and tools such as recreation
grade Global Positioning System (GPS) units to create and share spatial data. The evolution in
spatial data-sharing creates opportunities for people who are not professional geographers but
have knowledge of important spatial phenomena to catalog and share their knowledge. However,
without having professional standards and methods to guide them, various issues such as data
inaccuracy may arise.
Professional geographers understand that it is important to follow standards when
creating spatial data, so that other users understand how the data was created, the accuracy that
the data was captured or created at, the intended use of the data, and if the data is confidential or
can be shared with other people. Nonprofessional GIS users may not be aware that data standards
exist and as a result, the data may be shared or used inappropriately.
This thesis project used GIS tools, specifically geodatabases and web mapping
applications, to collect and depict well-water data in two groundwater basins in Sonoma County,
California: Santa Rosa Plain and the Sonoma Valley. The well-water data is a combination of
volunteered public data and data managed by a local water agency, the Sonoma County Water
Agency (Water Agency). This project used GIS and volunteered geographic information (VGI)
13

to facilitate an existing partnership between the volunteers in the Sonoma Valley groundwater
basin and the Water Agency in Sonoma County, California.
Developing an enterprise geodatabase and two accompanying web mapping applications
to store, analyze and report on groundwater well data was the primary product of this thesis. An
additional goal was to help the collaborating partners in Sonoma County, including the Water
Agency and the well-monitoring-volunteers, share groundwater well data easily and efficiently.
The well volunteers use the web mapping application to enter water level data into the enterprise
database; increasing efficiency in the project by reducing one step in the data-entering process.
The web applications also provides the well volunteers immediate feedback on the water levels
for the wells they monitor.
The Water Agency along with other local entities is working with the state Department of
Water Resources (DWR) to manage local groundwater resources. In 2014, California passed the
Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), a law that mandates the coordinated
management of groundwater resources between the state and local governments. To provide
context for this project and the basis for the Water Agency’s role in monitoring groundwater in
Sonoma County, it is necessary to review the legal framework of groundwater law in California.
This chapter discusses the creation of and functions of the Water Agency as it pertains to
the management of water resources, including groundwater in Sonoma County. This chapter also
examines the development of groundwater legislation in California that led to SGMA, how
SGMA is applied in Sonoma County, and how SGMA created the opportunity for this thesis
project.

14

1.1 Formation and Mission of the Water Agency
The Water Agency, founded in 1949, originally was known as the Sonoma County Flood Control
and Water Conservation District. The Water Agency is a special district created by the State
Legislature. The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors acts as the Water Agency’s Board of
Directors. This legal authority grants the Water Agency power to produce and supply surface
water for beneficial use, to control and manage flood waters, to generate electricity, and to
provide recreational amenities in connection with the Water Agency’s facilities (Sonoma County
Water Agency, 2007).
The primary role of the Water Agency is a wholesale distributor of potable water. The
surface water that is used by the citizens of Sonoma and Marin County originates in Mendocino
County. The Water Agency is organized into several divisions to manage the various projects
and programs it maintains. Groundwater projects are managed by the Water Agency Water
Resource Planning Division (WRP) in the Engineering and Resources Planning Division
(Sonoma County Water Agency, 2007). The Water Agency is the lead local government agency
responsible for managing groundwater resources in Sonoma County.
1.2 Groundwater Legislation in California
Groundwater is a property right in California. California follows the Correlative Right Doctrine,
which defines water rights as correlative between all land owners owning property over a
groundwater source, with the share of water based on the amount of land acreage that is over the
groundwater (Joshi 2005). In the case of an overdraft, the correlative rights rule sets limits on the
amount of water that can be pumped so no groundwater owner is harmed by another (Joshi
2005). Correlative right creates the opportunity to set limits on water-use and manage
groundwater resources to prevent damage to property owners.
15

California was the last western state to establish a regulatory system for groundwater
management (Governing 2014). The state requires monitoring for groundwater pollution and
contamination, and water quality monitoring of public supply wells, but has not officially
required the monitoring of groundwater use through any statewide legislative process until 2014.
California has not historically monitored groundwater use through the legislature due to the way
groundwater is regarded (as private property) in the state.
DWR is a state agency, part of the California Natural Resources Agency and is
responsible for the State’s management and regulation of surface water use. While not
historically required to monitor groundwater use in California, DWR is the state agency
responsible for managing surface water use and groundwater resources.
DWR, in conjunction with the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB),
determines the quality of all available water resources in the state and reports to the state
legislature and the SWRCB any sources of pollution and steps that need to be taken to improve
polluted water resources (California Department of Water Resources 2003). The SWRCB
regulates the quantity, location of diversion, time of diversion, place of use, and purpose of use
for surface water diverters. This includes groundwater quality reporting.
DWR provides information to other state government agencies, local government
agencies, and the public through various methods including technical bulletins. The Technical
Bulletin 118 (Bulletin 118) series provides information about the groundwater resources of the
state. Prior to the Bulletin 118 series, the first statewide groundwater report published in 1952 by
the predecessor of DWR was “Water Quality Investigations Report No. 3, Ground Water Basins
in California (Report No. 3)” (California Department of Water Resources 2003).
16

Report No. 3 is important because it refers to the mandate in Section 229 of the state
California Water Code requiring the predecessor of DWR to investigate and report on water
quality in all state waters. In order to monitor groundwater quality, it is essential to know the
location of all groundwater basins providing water supply in the state. Report No. 3 identified
and mapped all “important” groundwater basins at the time. In 1952, 223 groundwater basins
were identified and mapped.
Bulletin 118-75, published in 1975, was a significant update in the Bulletin 118 series
regarding the mapping of groundwater basins and avoiding groundwater overdraft where
possible. Bulletin 118-75 stated that the identification of groundwater basins should be based on
geologic and hydrologic conditions while considering political boundaries. Another
consideration of the Bulletin 118-75 update was that DWR should identify basins that are subject
to overdraft. These groundwater basins are those that DWR recognizes as important for
management. In 2003, 515 groundwater basins had been identified and mapped as depicted in
Bulletin 118-2003, and all of these basins would benefit from monitoring.
Given that legally California views groundwater as a property right, and that water use
has not been monitored by any state agency, in order to mandate groundwater use monitoring,
the state had to pass legislation. There have been several laws passed by the state providing the
legal infrastructure to monitor groundwater use. All of these laws have set the stage for the
current laws which seek to monitor groundwater use in California and in Sonoma County.
1.2.1. Assembly Bill 3030 (AB 3030) and Senate Bill 1938 (SB 1938)
The Groundwater Management Planning Act (AB 3030) was passed in 1992. AB 3030 revised
sections 10750-10756 of the California Water Code to provide a “systematic procedure for an
existing local agency to develop a groundwater management plan (GMP)” (California
17

Department of Water Resources 1992, California Legislative Information 1992). This section of
code allows a local agency with “the powers of a water replenishment district to raise revenue to
pay for facilities to manage the basin (extraction, recharge, conveyance, quality)” (California
Department of Water Resources 1992). These GMPs can be developed for groundwater basins
identified in the Bulletin 118 series.
AB 3030 does not require local agencies to establish GMPs, and no new government
agency will be formed to oversee the GMPs. However, if a local agency decides to establish a
GMP, public hearings and the adoption of a resolution by public agencies to develop the GMP is
required. Also, no GMP can be adopted for an adjudicated groundwater basin or in a basin that is
managed under other sections of the California Water Code.
Under AB 3030, there are twelve technical components that may be included in a GMP.
The inclusion of these technical components are highly encouraged and the requirements include
factors such as the control of saline water intrusion, regulating contaminated groundwater and
monitoring groundwater levels and mitigating “conditions of overdraft” (California Department
of Water Resources 1992). While AB 3030 does not require the creation of the GMPs, it was an
initial step towards developing formal plans to manage groundwater use and to inform the public
of the development of these plans. This is a comprehensive initial step in the formal monitoring
of groundwater levels in California.
In 2002, Senate Bill 1938 (SB 1938) enhanced AB 3030. SB 1938 requires local agencies
to make available to the public a written statement regarding the opportunities for public
involvement in GMPs, include certain objectives in GMPs, adopt monitoring protocols and use
scientific practices to manage groundwater in areas where there is no identified Bulletin 118
18

basin (California Department of Water Resources 2002, California Legislative Information
2002).
Additional important elements for SB 1938 require the agencies creating the GMP to
submit a digital copy of the GMP to DWR and DWR will make the GMPs available to the
public. Funds are made available to local agencies to be used for the development of GMPs.
Also, there are required components of a GMP, introduced in SB 1938 and defined in the
California Water Code 10753.7 as:
1. Basin Management Objectives: these objectives relate to monitoring and
management of groundwater levels
2. Agency cooperation: the local lead agency shall cooperate with other local
agencies to work cooperatively and collaboratively
3. Mapping:, the local agency must prepare a map that details the area of the
groundwater basins as defined in Bulletin 118
4. Monitoring Protocols: the local agency must adopt monitoring protocols to detect
changes in groundwater levels, quality, “inelastic surface subsidence,” flow and
quality of surface water that directly affect the groundwater levels or quality
created by groundwater pumping
5. Any area that is located outside of a Bulletin 118 groundwater basin must have
scientific “geologic and hydrologic” principles applied to those areas (California
Department of Water Resources 2002)
SB 1938 is a comprehensive bill created to provide a legal method for monitoring
groundwater, informing the public of monitoring plans, and preserving groundwater levels while
not officially mandating groundwater monitoring. AB 3030 and SB 1938 set the stage for more
19

comprehensive laws state laws by creating the legal framework to manage groundwater use in
California.
1.2.2. California Statewide Groundwater Elevation Monitoring
The California Statewide Groundwater Elevation Monitoring (CASGEM) program was
authorized by Senate Bill X7 6 (SB X7 6) and enacted in November 2009 (California
Department of Water Resources 2016a). This Senate bill “mandates a statewide groundwater
elevation monitoring program to track seasonal and long-term trends in groundwater elevations
in California's groundwater basins” (California Department of Water Resources 2016a).
CASGEM is significant because it acknowledges the need to monitor groundwater elevation. To
achieve that goal, the amendment requires collaboration between local monitoring entities and
DWR to collect groundwater elevation data (California Department of Water Resources 2016a).
DWR developed the CASGEM Program to identify and protect groundwater basins from
significant subsidence. The CASGEM Program established a permanent, locally-managed
program of regular and systematic monitoring in all of California's alluvial groundwater basins
(California Department of Water Resources 2016a). DWR coordinates the CASGEM Program
and is required to report to the Governor and the Legislature every five years regarding program
findings (California Department of Water Resources 2012).
The CASGEM Program does not track groundwater use, it monitors subsidence and
groundwater elevation. One component of the CASGEM program prioritized all Bulletin 118
basins as high, medium or low priority for subsidence.
It took over 20 years for the state government of California to react to the pressures of
climate change, population growth, historic groundwater declines, and the current drought to
20

develop SGMA. However, given the current state of groundwater in California, these are not
surprising developments.

1.2.3. Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA)
In 2014, California passed the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. SGMA is comprised
of Assembly Bill 1739 (AB 1739), (Dickinson), Senate Bill 1168 (SB 1168) (Pavley), and Senate
Bill 1319 (SB 1319) (Pavley) (California Legislative Information 2013-2014a, 2013-2014b,
2013-2014c). For the first time, SGMA requires local agencies to manage and monitor
groundwater resources. With this law, California has mandated that local water agencies and
public entities form Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs). Local entities must form
GSAs by June 30, 2017. Once formed, a GSA to is required to adopt and implement a
Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP). The deadline for GSP adoption is 2022 (California
Department of Water Resources March 2016d).
These GSPs are far more comprehensive and detailed than the GMPs described by AB
3030/SB 1938, and these are mandated, whereas the GMPs were not. SGMA only applies to
Bulletin 118 basins prioritized as medium or high priority by CASGEM (California Department
of Water Resources 2016c). The purpose of the GSPs is to provide the current status for
groundwater basins around the state and provide management strategies to improve groundwater
quality and water levels. The GSPs will be comprehensive with the best available information.
The GSPs will be available to the public to provide transparent management for the basins.
SGMA provides for groundwater management by local agencies that have responsibility
for water supply, water management, or land use. DWR’s role in SGMA is to develop
regulations, best management practices and provide technical support. The SWRCB provides
21

regulatory oversight and enforcement of all laws regarding water quality violations. Surface
water is regulated by the SWRCB through a legal system established by the California Water
Code. Local GSAs will be the planning and implementation entities (California Department of
Water Resources 2016c). DWR and SWRCB will work with local GSAs to make sure that
SGMA is successfully managing groundwater in the state, or more drastic measures will be
taken. If local agencies are not able to work together and form GSAs and comply with other
requirements of SGMA, the SWRCB may assume management responsibilities for the
groundwater basin (California Department of Water Resources 2016b).
The GSPs provide new tools, such as local regulations and mandated monitoring of
groundwater levels that water agencies will use to manage groundwater resources locally. These
plans allow water agencies to actively monitor and manage groundwater resources but require
transparency with the public and DWR. Local entities must provide feedback to the state and the
public about the ongoing status of local groundwater basin supplies and quality. Additionally, the
GSPs will allow the local water agencies to develop GSAs to require monitoring of groundwater
if the current efforts to improve groundwater quality and amounts do not succeed.
1.3 Groundwater Programs in Sonoma County
There are 14 groundwater basins located in Sonoma County. Four of these groundwater basins
have been the subject of studies conducted by the United States Geologic Survey (USGS): the
Alexander Valley, the Petaluma Valley, the Santa Rosa Plain, and Sonoma Valley. Figure 1 on
the following page locates these groundwater basins. These studies supported the creation of the
existing GMPs and showed the current status of the groundwater resources of these basins.
The scientific data that the USGS has collected and presented in these reports will also
provide information for the GSPs. In addition to these reports, local entities monitor groundwater
22

elevation for these basins under the CASGEM Program, and SGMA implementation is
underway.

Figure 1 Bulletin 118 Groundwater Basins in Sonoma County. Source: Heather Kelley 2016

23

1.3.1. United States Geologic Survey Groundwater Studies in Sonoma
In 2000 the Water Agency Board of Directors directed the Water Agency to develop and
implement a county-wide groundwater program to “enhance knowledge and local management”
of the four larger and most developed groundwater basins in Sonoma County (Brown and
Caldwell 2015). To meet the requirements of this program, scientific basin-wide studies of the
Alexander Valley, Petaluma Valley, Santa Rosa Plain and Sonoma Valley groundwater basins
were conducted with the USGS. These studies form the basis for the development of the GMPs
for the basins.
The Water Agency was the lead in the development of the two existing GMPs in Sonoma
County: Sonoma Valley and Santa Rosa Plain (Brown and Caldwell 2015). These GMPs provide
foundational information on groundwater conditions, existing and proposed monitoring programs
and recommend strategies for improving groundwater quality and levels. Along with the USGS
and the Water Agency, these studies were conducted with input from other public and private
stakeholders.
All parties attended meetings to determine the existing conditions of the groundwater
basins, potential threats, current usage and best management practices for the groundwater
resources of Sonoma Country. Much of the information in the USGS studies will support the
GSAs in the future. The USGS studies were important to understand the basic operation and
current conditions of the groundwater basins in Sonoma County.
The first of these studies for Sonoma Valley was completed in 2006, and the GMP has
existed since 2007. The Alexander Valley study was completed in 2006, but no GMP currently
exists for this basin, as it is not a medium priority basin in the CASGEM program. The status of
Alexander Valley may change in the future as new criteria are developed based on environmental
resources. The Santa Rosa Plain study was completed in 2014, and there has been a plan in place
24

since that time. The Petaluma Valley study was initiated in 2014, and the plan is scheduled for
completion in 2017 (Brown and Caldwell 2015).
1.3.2. CASGEM in Sonoma County
The CASGEM program is implemented in Sonoma County with the Water Agency, the County
of Sonoma and the City of Petaluma designated as Monitoring Entities by DWR for the
groundwater basins and sub-basins in Sonoma County. Figure 2 on the following page shows the
entities and their assigned basins for monitoring under CASGEM. The City of Petaluma is
designated as the Monitoring Entity for the Petaluma Valley Groundwater Basin.
The Water Agency is designated as the lead Monitoring Entity for the Kenwood Valley
Groundwater Basin and the Sonoma Valley Groundwater Sub-basin; the Water Agency serves as
the lead agency for the Sonoma Valley Groundwater Management Program which encompasses
these two basins (Brown and Caldwell 2015). The County is responsible for the remaining basins
in the County. As Santa Rosa Plain and Sonoma Valley are designated as a medium priority
under CASGEM, and they are subject to SGMA.

25

Figure 2 Groundwater Monitoring Entities for CASGEM in Sonoma County. Source: Heather
Kelley 2016

Of the 14 basins in Sonoma County identified by Bulletin 118 two are subject to SGMA
based on their CASGEM prioritization, as shown in Figure 3.

26

Figure 3 CASGEM Prioritization of Groundwater Basins in Sonoma County. Source: Heather
Kelley 2016

1.3.3. SGMA in Sonoma County
The implementation of SGMA is underway in Sonoma County. In April of 2015, Sonoma
County and the Water Agency hired the Consensus Building Institute to hold stakeholder
27

meetings to assess GSA formation for all three of the medium-priority basins in Sonoma County.
The purpose of these meetings was to determine the structure of the GSAs for the basins and
how to manage SGMA in the county. A final report was released to the public in September
2015.
One result of these meetings determined that each basin will have a separate GSA for that
basin, with each basin coordinating activities and sharing information. Subarticle 4 of the revised
California Water Code, for the proposed GSP regulations, discusses the creation of Monitoring
Networks. The Monitoring Networks will be a tool to collect and analyze groundwater data in
the basins. The Monitoring Network can be one network shared between the basins, and is an
example of the three GSAs sharing resources and information and working together.
SGMA mandates local water agencies and public entities form Groundwater
Sustainability Agencies (GSAs). The Water Agency is one of 12 local entities working together
to form GSAs for the three medium priority CASGEM groundwater basins in Sonoma County:
Petaluma Valley, Sonoma Valley, and Santa Rosa Plain. These local entities are shown in Table
1. Local entities must form GSAs by June 30, 2017. The GSA is required to prepare a GSP by
2022 (California Department of Water Resources March 2016d).

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Table 1 GSA Agencies in Sonoma County
Santa Rosa Plain Basin Petaluma Valley Basin Sonoma Valley Basin
City of Cotati City of Petaluma City of Sonoma
City of Rohnert Park North Bay Water District North Bay Water District
City of Santa Rosa Sonoma County Valley of the Moon Water District
City of Sebastopol
Sonoma County Water
Agency
Sonoma County
Town of Windsor
Sonoma Resource
Conservation District
Sonoma County Water
Agency
Sonoma County
Sonoma Resource
Conservation District
Sonoma County Water
Agency

Sonoma Resource
Conservation District

Staff from the GSA-eligible entities are working together to determine how to implement
SGMA and what the requirements of SGMA will mean for groundwater-users in Sonoma
County. This is a critical time in Sonoma County as public-outreach continues, and the Basin
Advisory Panels (created by the GMPs for Santa Rosa Plain and Sonoma Valley) work together
to determine best implementation strategies for SGMA. The formation of the GSAs and
development of the official GSPs for each basin is forthcoming, and must be completed by June
of 2017. In the summer of 2016 public meetings were ongoing, sharing results of the stakeholder
meetings conducted in 2015, and requirements regarding the formation of the GSAs.
SGMA draft regulations require the development and implementation of a coordinated
Data Management System (DMS) to store and coordinate data between the GSA entities. As the
Water Agency is the lead agency in the implementation of SGMA in Sonoma County, the Water
Agency has begun the process of establishing a DMS. An enterprise database and web
applications are a good first step towards the development of establishing a DMS. A component
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of the DMS is monitoring groundwater levels with existing data and other groundwater data as it
becomes available.
This thesis project used existing well data from volunteers, the Water Agency and other
monitoring entities to depict well location and water level information in Santa Rosa Plain and
Sonoma Valley. In order for the Water Agency along with other local partners to become a GSA
for these two basins, it is necessary to develop a DMS to help monitor and share the groundwater
data in this local area. This thesis project helped WRP organize the groundwater data for these
two groundwater basins in an enterprise database and prepare for the development and
implementation of a coordinated DMS.
In addition to the GSPs for the Santa Rosa Plain and Sonoma Valley groundwater basins,
ample data exists for the management and monitoring of the wells: well location, water level data
for each well, and spatial data depicting the location and extent of these two groundwater basins.
These existing data created an opportunity to manage these basins with GIS. The volunteer
program has been in existence since the 1950’s. In addition, the Water Agency has collected
water level data via submersible pressure transducers on certain wells since 2004. Adding well
data to the findings of the GSPs provides detailed information regarding the current water level
conditions in the basins.
1.4 Research Objective
There were several objectives for this thesis project: to prepare the spatial and nonspatial data
WRP manages for inclusion into the DMS; to improve communication between the well
monitors in Sonoma Valley and WRP staff; to improve efficiency for WRP by creating
hydrographs dynamically in web applications; and to present WRP with options utilizing GIS in
new ways .
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The products of this thesis were two enterprise databases and four web mapping
applications: three web applications for Sonoma Valley and one for Santa Rosa Plain
groundwater basin. The project developed a view-only web application for Santa Rosa Plain and
Sonoma Valley as well as two editable web applications for Sonoma Valley.
The editable web applications allow the members of the public currently volunteering
water level data to the Water Agency to update this data online via the web application. WRP
uses the view-only web applications to view more layers than appear in the editable web
applications. WRP updates water level data received from other Monitoring Entities in the
county for these basins and the submersible pressure transducers via the enterprise databases.
To support the editable web applications, an enterprise database was created. The use of
an enterprise database system, such as SQL (Structured Query Language) Server Management
Studio (SSMS), allows the display of data in web mapping applications and online editing (Esri
2016a). The addition of new water level data by the volunteers via the web mapping applications
are the online edits performed in this project. The enterprise database helps support groundwater
monitoring and modeling internally by WRP. WRP actively works and models the Sonoma
Valley and Santa Rosa Plain basins. The volume of data generated by the submersible pressure
transducers is extensive. Currently, WRP uses Microsoft Access (Access) as their primary
database software. The volume of data managed by WRP from the submersible pressure
transducers is challenging for WRP staff to maintain using Access. Another goal of this thesis
was to improve WRP’s ability to work with and analyze well water data and increase their
efficiency and data management capability.
It is important to support the implementation of SGMA for the well volunteers through an
editable web application. This thesis assumed that the private citizens who already willingly
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provide their water level data via email would prefer to add their information directly to the web
mapping application. Additionally, these volunteers benefit by viewing their data in tables and
hydrographs displayed on the web mapping applications. The presentation of well information to
the volunteers via web applications may also be an attractive feature to other members of the
public who are interested in volunteering their water level data but have so far have not been
inclined to do so.
One intention of the web applications was to generate enthusiasm for existing volunteers
and for the volunteers to share this enthusiasm with their neighbors who are not volunteering
data. In the world of Web 2.0 and VGI, increasing the number of volunteers without mandating
monitoring is preferred, and this would be easily accomplished via the web applications. If water
levels and water quality in the basins improve or remains stable, there will be less likelihood that
the GSAs would consider imposing limitations or restrictions on well users. This in turn can
enhance the relationship between the volunteers providing well data and the GSA when formed.
The GIS for this project supports the existing monitoring currently conducted by the
Water Agency for these two groundwater basins. Creating the enterprise geodatabase and the
accompanying web mapping application made the current effort more efficient by directly
enabling volunteers to report their well data and providing instant feedback on water levels in
their wells. In addition, an enterprise geodatabase enabled Water Agency staff to quickly process
and analyze well water data. Furthermore, an enterprise geodatabase and accompanying web
mapping application supported the continued collaboration of volunteers and the Water Agency.
If the web applications created by this thesis project maintain their effectiveness in their
deployment, this project will normalize the method of receiving well data from volunteers.
Currently, volunteers e-mail their water level data to WRP in various file formats. Allowing the
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volunteers to add their monthly water level reading directly into the enterprise database via the
web mapping application is more efficient.
1.4.1. How this project meets the requirements of SGMA
In addition to providing efficiency for data management between the volunteers and WRP staff,
and improving the management of the submersible pressure transducers data, this thesis project
helps with SGMA implementation. SGMA draft regulations require the GSAs to develop and
implement a coordinated DMS to store, maintain and share groundwater data for the GSP with
other GSA entities and the public. This thesis project is an important first step in the creation of
the DMS by assessing all of well data that WRP currently manages and maintains.
More data than the groundwater well data WRP currently maintains must be collected
and added to the DMS to meet SGMA criteria. These new data types include groundwater
quality, groundwater pumping and well test data, streamflow data and well construction data. An
enterprise database is a good foundation for the collection and storage of these data. This thesis
project created two enterprise databases and loaded the existing well data for Santa Rosa Plain
and the Sonoma Valley basins for WRP’s use. This exercise was good preparation for WRP to
manage the DMS in an enterprise system.
The DMS must be designed to allow GSA partners to share information amongst
themselves and with the public. The creation of the web applications allowed WRP to start
sharing data and information with the well volunteers dynamically. These web applications
initiated the new protocol for sharing spatial and nonspatial data between WRP and other
entities. For this thesis project, nonspatial data means tabular data that can be mapped if a spatial
attribute exists in the table, or it can simply be used a table in the database with no spatial
attributes present.
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Development of a public portal is another important and innovative element to the DMS.
As this is a new data management technique for WRP, this thesis project allowed WRP staff an
opportunity to test some new techniques and prepare for development of the DMS. Some of the
features that are necessary for the DMS were not developed in this thesis, but initial steps were
taken to organize data and introduce new techniques to WRP staff.
No User Requirement Document was created in preparation for this thesis project. After
informal discussions and an initial meeting with WRP, some basic user requirements were
identified. The following list describes the initial user-requirements identified. These
requirements were:
1. To improve efficiency for the well volunteers entering data
2. To improve communication between the well monitors in Sonoma Valley and
WRP staff
3. To improve efficiency for WRP by creating hydrographs dynamically in web
applications
4. To improve efficiency for WRP working with the submersible pressure transducer
data
5. To present WRP with options utilizing GIS in new ways
In order to improve communication between the well monitors and WRP, the editable
web applications were developed. To improve the efficient creation of hydrographs, a dynamic
hydrograph tool was developed in the view-only web applications. In order to improve overall
data-management efficiency, the well data was added to relational databases in SSMS. All of
these tools presented WRP with new methods of utilizing GIS and databases. Some of the
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requirements of the DMS were not resolved with this thesis, but these unfulfilled requirements
present opportunities for future development by the author and WRP staff.
1.4.2. Motivation
California is experiencing the fourth year of a historic drought. The groundwater resources of
California have been particularly hard-hit by this drought (California Department of Water
Resources 2015). Using GIS to help residents and public agencies manage groundwater
resources in a transparent and efficient way is a great opportunity.
The State of California has never required any kind of statewide monitoring for
groundwater use or for the registering of wells on the scale required under SGMA. While the
exact method for monitoring private and public wells is not known at this time, preparing local
resource agencies and the public to work together will benefit the Water Agency in the long run.
The specific requirements for creating the groundwater well database and monitoring of private
wells is a process still being worked out by the State (Jasperse 2016). However, what is known is
that local water agencies and water systems will collaborate to facilitate this effort (Brown
2014).
GIS is a tool to monitor and manage the groundwater resources of our state and presents
an opportunity to implement GIS for the management of locally important water resources for
this project. The recognition that groundwater must be monitored to effectively manage the
resource is important and necessary, and GIS can assist this effort. The various pressures, from
climate change to population growth, have been affecting groundwater levels in the state, and
this is a great opportunity to act.
Managing groundwater use in the Bulletin 118 groundwater basins through mandated
monitoring in California is needed as climate change and population growth continue to place
35

increasing demands on this important resource. In order to sustainably use groundwater, it is
necessary to monitor and manage its use. The general public is coincidentally coming to this
realization, as state and local governments work to develop cooperative partnerships to manage
groundwater.
1.5 Organization
The remainder of the thesis contains four chapters. Chapter Two comprises an examination of
VGI, the literature that focuses on spatial data quality and examines other web mapping
applications that are similar to the ones developed for this project. Chapter Three discusses the
data used in this thesis; well data, water level data, spatial groundwater data, and the methods
used for this groundwater monitoring and management study. Chapter Four presents and
discusses the results of this groundwater study, including depictions of the web mapping
application and the ability of WRP staff and volunteers to add data to the database and the ability
for WRP to conduct basic analysis from the hydrographs created from water level data. Chapter
Five presents the potential for future analysis from this data and improvements to the databases
and web mapping applications.

36

Chapter 2 Background
This thesis project is a product of VGI, provided by volunteers, members of the public and
government supplied data provided by the Water Agency. These data sets complement each
other and are necessary to provide a complete picture of historic and current groundwater supply
in these two basins. When using volunteered information, supplied by a willing if untrained
public, it is important to frame the data in the correct context and use it with the correct
expectations.
Chapter 2 examines the use of the VGI for this project in the literature as 1) a valuable
and important source of data, 2) as “e-data” or electronic data used in government projects, 3) as
citizen science connecting the public with professionals via scientific spatial data, 4) spatial data
quality of VGI and 5) the specific challenges associated with utilizing VGI. This chapter
concludes by examining other web mapping applications that are similar to the one developed for
this project.
2.1 Volunteered Geographic Information
With the proliferation of affordable spatial technologies and improvements in programming and
computing power, the expansion of VGI is great. Untrained citizens provide large amounts of
data at a low cost. Much of this data is perhaps unsuitable for professional and scientific work.
However, some are valuable. There are a number of different categories of VGI that can be
considered useful for inclusion in scientific research (Spyratos, Lutz, and Pantisano 2014). One
category of VGI data is data intentionally collected for a scientific endeavor.
Academics and professional geographers must work to support the use of VGI in their
professional research due to its potential lack of quality assurance (Goodchild 2007, Goodchild
and Li 2012, Waters 2009). However, the uniqueness or potential value of a certain dataset may
37

make it appealing for inclusion in research papers and reports. If the work is conducted in the
interest of the public good or in conjunction with a government agency, these VGI data can be
even more appealing. Traditionally government funded projects have a limited source of funding
making the use of VGI appealing due to its low relative cost. Government funded data can
become out of date, with some sources of VGI being more accurate than government data
(Goodchild and Li 2012).
VGI is worthy of consideration, but the volunteered data quality screening process should
be considerable. Professional geographers must determine if VGI is valid data and if a particular
dataset warrants inclusion in professional or academic work. If a professional is going to use a
VGI dataset, it should be understood specifically how these data can improve the knowledge of
the project. Certain criteria must be met to warrant the use of VGI and the proper use of the data
must be considered within the context of a given study.
2.1.1. The Value of VGI
When Michael Goodchild first coined the term, he was acknowledging VGI as a source of user-
generated content that was at the time becoming voluminous enough to be recognized and
considered for inclusion in academic work (Goodchild 2007). During this time other professional
geographers also noticed this increase in volunteered spatial data and evaluated it in the
literature, recognizing the volume of data that was emerging as a “flood” of crowd-sourced
spatial data (Sui, Goodchild and Elwood 2013). While recognizing the volume and different
sources of VGI, professional geographers had to consider which of any of these data were fit for
inclusion in their scientific and professional research (Flanagin and Metzger 2008).
The significance or importance of a specific VGI dataset and the ability of professionals
to gain extraordinary benefit from this VGI can determine if the use of this data is worth the
38

effort of substantiating its inclusion in scientific or professional GIS. Sometimes the data that
professional geographers receive from the public cannot be gained in any other way. These data
include scientific information about local phenomena, information about hazardous
environments or emergency situations (Roche, Propeck-Zimmerman and Mericskay 2011).
To determine if the VGI offered for a particular study is important enough to warrant
consideration, the value of this VGI must be considered. As Feick and Roche (2013) remark,
“the sociopolitical dimensions of VGI value are both more interesting and more problematic to
consider in light of traditional valuing approaches.” The strategies used by governments and in
business to determine value should not be applied to scientific data or studies. However, for
addition to a project, the value of a particular VGI dataset must be determined before it can be
included.
2.1.2. The Use of VGI for Government Supported Studies
Requiring local governments to take the lead in the monitoring and management of groundwater
creates a potential for government-citizen interaction, or as Linders describes it “coproduction”
of data (2012). There is a long tradition of coproduction in government programs and projects.
With the Internet, there is an increasing opportunity for citizens to actively provide data to
government studies and projects. While this may not be considered true government designed by
the masses in the “ICT-facilitated strategic planning” fashion, it is the support of a government
mandated program with citizen science. This is a great opportunity to take advantage of data that
citizens have been collecting for years.
In the context of GIS-based government work, the opportunity for a government agency
to take advantage of volunteered information may be invaluable to planning and resource-
management. Ganapati acknowledges that in the face of increasing use of GIS technology by the
39

public, there is little mention of this cooperation or coproduction in the literature in terms of
policy-making (2011). However, this thesis project and SGMA, in general, provide a direct
opportunity for public-supplied data to support local groundwater management policy.
The opportunity for a government to have a “conversation” with the public has improved
with Web 2.0 (Johnson and Sieber 2013). Local “sensors” can provide information to
government agencies and monitor current situations on-the-ground. The reduction in government
spending for projects has increased these opportunities. Involving the public in projects such as a
county-wide groundwater monitoring program, may become a necessity in the future. How else
can a large-scale project such as this be successful without citizen-involvement?
Providing transparency is another essential element of projects affecting the public
(Ganapati 2011). Involvement by citizens improves this transparency and increases successful
project implementation. Throughout the SGMA implementation-process, transparency with the
public has been required. Identifying the private individuals supplying data for government
projects maintains quality assurance of the data, and is essential to determine the acceptable use
of this data (Johnson and Sieber 2013).
2.1.3. Citizen Science VGI
There are examples from all over the world of normal citizens engaging with governments and
academics to gather data to support a deeper knowledge of for specific projects. Defining the
term “citizen scientist” and the projects that these “scientists” may provide data for is helpful
(Haklay 2013). Many people who are involved in important data-collection efforts would not
identify themselves as scientists. For this project, the volunteers that collect groundwater data for
the two identified, project basins, using industry-standard methods, or are “active participants in
a scientific project (Haklay 2013)” are citizen scientists.
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Historically, scientific endeavors were carried out by individuals who had enough private
capital to fund their expeditions or research (Silvertown 2009). This recognition is helpful to
prevent suitable data collected by private citizens from exclusion in scientific projects. Criteria
must be applied the VGI, but it should not be so strict that it removes legitimate data from use.
There are numerous examples in the literature supporting the use of citizen science. If
citizens are trained how to properly use the scientific tools to gather data, then their analysis and
gathered data is valid. Different protocols should be used for citizen scientists, and they should
not be asked to do more analysis than is practical, but the information that they collect can be
valuable and helpful (Cohn 2008). Jeffrey Cohn gives several examples of citizens following
strict protocols to collect data for scientific use. Some of these are citizens collecting mammalian
data along the Appalachian Trail, Cornell’s Laboratory of Ornithology employing citizens for
bird monitoring and volunteers tracking the number of native and exotic species of crabs on the
Atlantic Coast.
Interestingly, Rick Bonney, director of program development for Cornell University’s
Laboratory of Ornithology is quoted in Cohn’s article stating that “Citizen science is science
2.0”, referring to how ecological studies are often conducted today. The 2.0 concept is
everywhere as many academic disciplines seek to redefine themselves in the wake of scientist
and citizen interaction.
Haklay notes that the fields or archaeology, meteorology and astronomy all have histories
of including citizen-gathered data for inclusion in official scientific studies or datasets (2013).
The history of scientific exploration and study is filled with non-academic or non-professional
scientists providing data that is credible and legitimate. Perhaps the two greatest or most well-
known contributions are the Christmas Bird Watch that has been ongoing since 1900 and Charles
41

Darwin’s inclusion on the H.M.S. Beagle as a companion of Captain FitzRoy. Both of these final
two examples alone have provided more scientific knowledge and understanding about our
natural world than many studies conducted by professional scientists.
2.2 Spatial Data Quality
When using spatial data, there are many potential sources of error. These errors can include
positional errors, attribute errors, errors of “logical consistency” and errors of data completeness
(Hunter and Beard 1992). Additionally, these errors can be compounded when the initial errors
are not communicated via metadata leading to erroneous use of the data. All of these primary and
secondary errors create an overall “global error” for the dataset (Devillers and Jeasoulin 2006).
This is perhaps more true of VGI, since there is no quality control associated with the collection
or distribution of the data.
2.2.1. Spatial Data Quality in VGI
Concerns exist that various aspects of VGI data will make it unsuitable for inclusion in a
scientific or professional study. One aspect of VGI that must be verified is the spatial data
quality. Spatial data quality can refer to the locational accuracy of the data or the values entered
into the tables. If data is not accurate, or the readings are not accurate, then the data will not be
valid. Another consideration is the quality of the data entered into the databases. Data inaccuracy
is a known issue when using VGI for analysis (Waters 2009).
Regarding the VGI for this project, there are two main types of error that may be
encountered: data collection errors and data input errors. The data collection errors may occur in
the field where the volunteers mark down or gather their water level data. The equipment may
fail to be improperly calibrated. The second type of error potentially introduced by volunteers
42

would be incorrect recording procedures. Volunteers may not accurately transpose or enter the
water level data correctly.
Another known type of error with regard to VGI is “thematic quality” (Fonte et al 2015).
This refers to volunteers’ ability to correctly assess classes in the collected data. This type of
error does not apply to this project as the volunteers collecting water level data are taking
objective readings. The issue of credibility of data provided by volunteers does apply. The
credibility of the data is used to denote the quality of the data provided by that volunteer (Fonte
et al 2015). This is an element of data collection that will be addressed for the VGI in this
project.
Positioning errors are not an issue with this project as the well positions exist in the
spatial data and are not collected when the well measurements are taking. Conflation errors are
not a consideration for this project, as each volunteers observes water level data for a discrete set
of wells, and there is no overlap (Fonte et al 2015). The most important characteristic for
consideration to determine the spatial data quality for this project are reputation and experience
of the volunteers (Senaratne 2016). Since the protocols for VGI-data-collection in this thesis
project are established and simplistic, and there is no collection of locations or classes of data,
the reputation of these volunteers and the methods they use are the only variables that can be
assessed.
2.2.2. Methods to Determine the Validity of VGI
As professional geographers, it is necessary to know how to manage and make the best use of all
spatial data used in reports and mapping projects. VGI is no different, and while there is an
apparent “novelty” to VGI it should not be viewed as a unique and precious data-type (Haklay
Forthcoming). VGI is perhaps newly recognized in the professional sciences but
43

nonprofessionals have been recording information around the world for centuries, and much of
the initial phases of science were conducted by novices (Goodchild 2007). Realizing that VGI is
just another type of data is important. Determining how to verify the validity of a specific dataset
for inclusion into a project is a secondary consideration.
Many methods for determining the fitness of a particular dataset. Bishr and Mantelas
(2008) suggest that a verification and reputation model can be helpful to determine the quality of
a dataset for use in a citizen-based VGI projects. Reputation is an important method to provide
quality assurance in the use of VGI for government projects (Maué 2007). Reputation creates a
level of confidence in the data particularly if the volunteers providing the information are
responsible to each other and the outcome of the project.
Goodchild and Li provide several approaches for determining the validity of VGI. One of
these deemed the “social approach” is helpful if a “hierarchical structure already exists in many
self-regulated collaborative efforts" (2012, 114), further supporting the concept of status and
self-regulation of the group with a feedback loop for reputation based quality-assurance. A group
providing VGI is responsible to each other, and can verify the work of the group.
Control data can be used to determine the spatial and attribute integrity of a VGI dataset
(Comber et al. 2012). Using control data to determine the accuracy of a VGI dataset can be
tricky. The control data must be of a very high quality, such as surveyed data, or a well-known
and vetted dataset. Methods such as random-sampling of the VGI data provided for this thesis
were not conducted for this thesis. This method and others are understood for their ability to
provide quality assurance. However, the training provided to the volunteers prior to this thesis
are considered acceptable as no funding exists for further testing or training.
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Government agencies may use VGI in a variety of different ways. Some examples are the
public development of accurate road data, created and edited at the local level for the greatest
benefit to the citizens, such as the data found in Open Street Map (OSM). The effort to create
more accurate data at a local level for OSM began 2004 and this project was significant to
supporting disaster response during the Haitian earthquake (Roche, Propeck-Zimmerman, and
Mericskay 2011). Emergency response data provided by citizens on-the-ground in the disaster
zones can be invaluable (De Longueville et al 2010). It can be the critical element that supports a
successful response to an event.
The VGI used for this thesis is critical and supports the success of this thesis project, the
implementation of SGMA in Sonoma County and future developments in California to protect
groundwater resources. All effort must be made to verify the VGI used in this thesis, to
determine if the data-collection methods are standard and acceptable and to determine if these
volunteers are trustworthy.
2.3 Web Mapping Applications
Web mapping applications are digital cartographic products that display spatial data in a web
browser. This is a relatively new method of displaying digital spatial data. In the past, GIS
software programs allowed users to see data on their computers but now users can create web
mapping applications using GIS software. Web mapping applications allow members of the
public, or other professionals that do not have the appropriate software application, to view
spatial data on the Internet in a web browser.
Conducting research on groundwater web mapping applications is challenging due to the
confidential nature of the data. Groundwater data typically includes private residential customer
information and is not provided to public-facing websites to protect the privacy of these citizens.
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However, as groundwater law in California changes, private well information is becoming more
available. State governments are providing groundwater data and some water level information
has become available to the public.
2.3.1. State Water Resources Control Board Web Mapping Applications
The website that is most similar to the web mapping applications developed for this project is the
SWRCB’s Groundwater Ambient Monitoring and Assessment (GAMA) Program. GAMA is a
part of the SWRCB’s Geotracker series of websites that share information and spatial data with
the public and other government agencies using GIS (State of California 2016a). GAMA can be
accessed by clicking on the Geotracker tab at the GAMA homepage, as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4 GAMA Homepage. Source: State of California 2016a

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After clicking the GAMA tab the option to use the GeoTracker GAMA Online Database
is available, via a button located directly below the main tabs. Clicking this button opens the
Map Water Quality Information page accessing a web mapping application. Entering an address
and hitting Map Address on the right opens a map with many different options for data analysis
and retrieval on the site. Figure 5 on the following page shows the results of searching in the
Santa Rosa Plains groundwater basin.

Figure 5 GAMA Web Mapping Application with Wells and Other Data. Source: State of
California 2016b.

This web mapping application allows the viewer to add or remove different categories of
wells, to turn off and on different layers, to view and download tabular data. There are multiple
different controls on the left of the screen that can be expanded to expose these options or
47

collapsed to show more map area. The viewer can click on a well in the map to expose another
page with specific information about the wells that were clicked on or the viewer can click from
the list at the bottom to highlight a well. The viewer can also sort by year or by chemicals that
might affect water quality in the wells.
2.3.2. DWR Groundwater Web Mapping Applications
To support SGMA, DWR created several web applications that are similar to the web
applications developed for this thesis project. The Water Management Planning Tool (Figure 6)
and the Groundwater Information Center Interactive Map Application (GICMA), (Figure 7 on
the following page) are two detailed, easy-to-use groundwater web mapping applications
providing comprehensive information and downloadable data for the public (State of California
2016c and 2016d).
These web mapping applications depict administrative data such as county boundaries,
Adjudicated Groundwater Basins, Groundwater Management Plan Boundaries, CASGEM
Groundwater Basin Prioritization and all of the Bulletin 118 groundwater basins for the entire
state.
48

Figure 6 DWR Water Management Planning Tool Web mapping application. Source: State of
California 2016c.
49

Figure 7 GICMA Web Mapping Application. Source: State of California 2016d.

In addition to administrative boundaries, these websites also depict scientific
groundwater data such as water level information and the locations of detected subsidence in the
state. The detected subsidence layers show locations where subsidence has been measured using
extensometers that are monitored by the USGS and DWR. For many of the layers depicting
scientific data, there is a detailed explanation of the sensor used and reports that can be accessed
from the right-hand column on the web page.
The accessible reports provide information and links to other government websites. The
DWR web mapping applications on the aforementioned sites are the most similar to the web
applications that were developed for this thesis project. However, as similar as these websites
50

appear to the ones developed for this project, they are primarily informational tools that DWR
uses to provide data and information to the public and other government agencies. They are more
extensive in the data and groundwater information they offer to the public than the web mapping
applications proposed for this project.
While DWR web mapping applications provide more detailed information they do not
engage directly with the public entering data, and they are not web editing mapping applications.
The web mapping application developed for this project show data for two groundwater basins in
Sonoma County and allow the volunteers in these two basins to edit their groundwater level data.
The web application developed for this thesis focus directly on these two groundwater basins and
the corresponding volunteers and Monitoring Entities.
Other groundwater applications may exist in other states where groundwater management
has been ongoing for many years. However, none were found during the research for this project.
2.3.3. Other Government Groundwater Mapping Applications
The USGS has developed a series of websites devoted to providing the public with groundwater
information and data. The main page for the USGS groundwater series is the “USGS
Groundwater Information Pages” (US Department of the Interior 2016). This website has links to
many USGS websites providing data, publications, modeling information and software that is
free to download by the public or trained professionals. Basic information is available at this site
to educate the public about groundwater. While this is an excellent source of information about
groundwater, it is not a web mapping application and does not allow editing, unlike this thesis
project.
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Figure 8 USGS Home Page for Groundwater. Source: US Department of the Interior. 2016.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Gravity Recovery and
Climate Experiment (GRACE) program uses satellites to map variations in Earth’s gravity field
(National Aeronautics and Space Administration 2014). Using this technology allows NASA
GRACE to evaluate groundwater levels and moisture content in the soil. In this regard, this tool
and the accompanying website do provide groundwater information as it maps groundwater
storage on land. The GRACE website has data to view and results on the loss of groundwater
around the world and in the Western United States. GRACE provides scientific data to the public
and academics alike, however it is not a web mapping application, nor is it an editable web page.
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Internationally, governments around the world recognize the need to protect and manage
groundwater resources and to educate the public. The Government of India has a website
devoted to managing national groundwater (Central Groundwater Board 2015). This site
provides links to reports and groundwater data, though the reports seem to be dated, and the web
mapping portion of the website did not function well. While this website is similar in design to
the website developed for this project, it is difficult to determine how similar the two sites are
given the poor functionality of the Central Groundwater Board site
It is helpful to recognize the global nature of websites and spatial data available regarding
groundwater. The ample supply of government-developed websites supports the significance of
this topic.
2.3.4. Professional Groundwater Applications
There are websites devoted to groundwater professionals and applications for professional
journals on groundwater monitoring and science. However, these professional websites are not
web mapping applications; they do not display spatial data in a web map, and they do not
provide any spatial data for download.
The National Ground Water Association (NGWA) is a “membership-based nonprofit
organization” that provides information and membership for groundwater professionals and
scientists nationwide (National Ground Water Association 2014). The NGWA has a web page
that hosts peer-reviewed articles, information about groundwater professionals and provides a
web application for download. This web application, the Groundwater Monitoring &
Remediation allows users to read the “leading ground water and hydrogeology journal.” The
website is helpful for groundwater professionals, but it does not provide groundwater data nor is
there a map depicting groundwater information.
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In addition to the NGWA site, there are a host of sites with products to help professionals
and governments manage their groundwater resources and manage the staff that are devoted to
managing groundwater resources. Canvas is one such product. “Canvas is a cloud-based software
service.” (Canvas 2016a). Canvas software has many “pre-built” applications available for
purchase and customizable to many different professional applications such as asset
management, building inspection, and employee timesheets. The Canvas website offers the
potential to allow for the entering of data in a website format, but it appears to be more of an
asset-management software solution and not a government-hosted website to enable the public to
enter data.
Canvas also provides the Canvas Ground Water Monitoring Report Mobile Application.
This application covers Geothermal Well location, Geothermal Area, Piezometric Head, Date
and time of Sampling, Place of Sampling, Firm Performing Water Quality Analysis (Canvas
2016b). This is a web application for the mobile collection of groundwater well data. The online
demonstration shows its use for a geothermal well, but it could be customized to collect potable
well data. The Canvas mobile site demonstrates the development of mobile technology for
groundwater asset management.

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Chapter 3 Methodology
This chapter discusses the two user-groups working on this project, the methods employed in this
project to meet their individual needs, the volunteer well data and the databases managed by
WRP, introduces two significant contributors/well volunteers and their process for well
monitoring, and the development methods employed to meet all user requirements including
those employed to meet SGMA requirements. This chapter also describes the use of GIS and
spatial data at the Water Agency and the process for creating the enterprise databases and the
web mapping application software architecture that allows the display and editing of the data in
the web mapping applications.
Two different types of web applications were created for two different user-groups;
volunteer-editors (private citizens) and view-only (WRP staff). Figure 9 shows the design
process for this project.

55

Figure 9 Project Design Process. Source: Heather Kelley 2016
Each group has a unique function in this project and uses methods specific to their work.
The workflow of both groups were considered in the development of this project as unique user-
groups, with specific requirements. The technologies developed for this thesis project were
created with the specific user-groups in mind, to supply a unique and necessary solution for their
unique tasks.
3.1 Project Design
This project was designed to facilitate an ongoing project with two different user-groups
accessing the databases and viewing the groundwater data in web applications. The two different
user-groups are comprised of 1) Water Agency WRP staff working internally at the Water
Agency managing data for multiple groundwater basins and 2) members of the public
(volunteers) taking water level measurements on private wells in the Sonoma Valley
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groundwater basin. These user-groups have different access needs, perform different tasks and
have different requirements. Their access to the data via the web mapping applications is based
on their needs and requirements for data access.
3.1.1. User-group 1- View-only Web Mapping Applications
User-Group 1 is the WRP section of the Water Agency’s the Engineering Division. GIS is
housed in the Water Agency’s Engineering and Resources Planning Division, in the Drafting and
GIS Department (Sonoma County Water Agency 2007). The Water Agency uses GIS in the
general support of all Water Agency Staff, i.e. Environmental, Operations, Maintenance and
Engineering Divisions all use maps, spatial data products, and internal web mapping applications
created and maintained by the GIS Department. WRP is the section that interacts with the
groundwater volunteers, collecting and analyzing water level data from the groundwater basins.
WRP uses GIS to depict the groundwater well data, groundwater management plan
boundaries, and groundwater basins. WRP creates posters and small maps for groundwater
workshops, public meetings, and groundwater reports. WRP works with data for the
management and planning of water supply. These data include layers for the management and
planning of surface water use and places of use and points of diversion from surface water
sources. WRP also manages the groundwater well data for Sonoma County. The well data
depicts the location and amount of groundwater extraction in Sonoma County.
The WRP group uses GIS in their modeling and produces maps using ArcGIS Desktop
software. However, the WRP does not utilize GIS in the specific manner presented for this
project: the creation of a relational database system that supports the SQL and web mapping
applications. An identified user requirement for User-Group 1 was the presentation to WRP of
new options utilizing GIS. It is necessary to demonstrate new tools for SGMA implementation so
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that WRP will be ready to develop the DMS. This project is a continuation of the existing
support model for GIS at the Water Agency.
In addition to viewing the well data in web mapping applications, WRP staff also require
access to the data through the database interface, using Microsoft Access or SSMS. Another
important user requirement for User-Group 1 was to implement a long-term database solution for
WRP, creating a stable, long-term repository for the groundwater well data.
This project differed from the other WRP maps and well mapping projects by creating
web mapping applications and SSMS enterprise databases as the WRP does not provide these
services. WPR manages the groundwater data in Microsoft Access databases. The use of web
mapping applications and enterprise databases creates efficiency in both data-sharing and data-
management. WRP staff have not edited their well data in ArcGIS Desktop, and they have not
asked for an editable web application to edit the well data. They will continue to edit the well
data in a database program, such as SSMS or Access.
The GIS Section creates view-only web mapping applications as a part of the day-to-day
work-flow of the Water Agency GIS; there is an internal GIS Map Gallery at the Water Agency
with 45 view-only web mapping applications. As this is a common work-flow at the Water
Agency, during initial project meetings WRP staff requested the creation of two separate web
mapping applications to display the wells, groundwater basins and management plan boundaries.
One web map was created for each groundwater basin: Santa Rosa Plain and Sonoma Valley.
WRP staff requested the layers that they wanted to have available to them, then these layers were
downloaded from the DWR’s GICMA website and loaded into the enterprise databases for
inclusion in the web maps.
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Charts and graphs, typically hydrographs, are made in Microsoft Excel. A hydrograph is
a graph that shows water level readings in a well over time. Newly developed reporting functions
in the web mapping application give WRP staff the ability to generate the hydrographs
dynamically in the web mapping applications. This was an additional requirement for User-
Group 1 as the previous method of hydrograph-creation was inefficient and time-consuming.
3.1.1.1. The use of REST Endpoints
The view-only web mapping applications developed for use by WRP staff were designed to view
multiple spatial data layers including the well data, query layers, and tabular data served from the
internal servers at the Water Agency. Other spatial layers are supplied by the DWR GICMA web
mapping application and the USGS Streamer web mapping application. The layers from these
web sites, can be added to the Water Agency Well Mapping Applications. These layers can be
used in the Water Agency web mapping applications due to the public availability of their REST
(representational state transfer) endpoints.
REST endpoints are essentially mapping service addresses whereby any publicly
available map service can be accessed and viewed in another web application. ArcGIS Server
software generates a REST endpoint when a mapping or feature service is created. A non-public
REST endpoint is available to anyone on the server with the correct “address” or uniform
resource locator (URL) and the ability to see the layers. Security can be applied to the mapping
or feature service to make the REST endpoint viewable only to those with the proper
authentication.
Five layers from other public agencies have been added to the web application for
viewing at the request of WRP staff and managers. These other layers are provided via their
publicly available REST endpoints. The public agencies providing these REST endpoints are the
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USGS and DWR. The Water Agency non-editable web applications are a mixture of services
provided by the Water Agency, DWR, and USGS. Other public services as may be added as they
are identified and requested by WRP managers.
These external services show data from the USGS Streamer web application and DWR
GICMA web application. The USGS Streamer website provides stream gauge data as live data
providing the stream flows in the state, and GICMA data shows the adjudicated groundwater
basins, groundwater management plan boundaries, CASGEM prioritization basins, and all of the
groundwater basins identified in the Bulletin 118 series.
There are advantages and disadvantages to connecting to a live REST endpoint from an
outside agency. If the outside agency moves the service to another server, the Water Agency will
lose its connection to the REST endpoint and the web application will not function properly. But
if the outside agency maintains the REST endpoint the Water Agency will always have a
connection to the official data supplied by the host agency.
Data supplied by an outside agency will be accurate if the REST endpoint is maintained
on the server or if the move of a service is coordinated and communicated between agencies. If
the data supplied by the REST endpoint live data, such as the stream gage data provided by the
USGS, the Water Agency can take advantage of this live data feed without purchasing and
maintaining stream gages itself. This is cost-effective and creates collaborative partnerships
between agencies when both parties want to share data amongst themselves.
3.1.2. The Groundwater Well Data
Figures 10 and 11 on the following two pages show the well data that WRP manages for Santa
Rosa Plain and Sonoma Valley by data source, the provider of the well data. There are more
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public entities involved in monitoring Santa Rosa Plain than in Sonoma Valley. Sonoma Valley
has five volunteers whereas Santa Rosa Plain has none.

Figure 10 Santa Rosa Plain Well Data by Source. Source: Heather Kelley 2016
61

Figure 11 Sonoma Valley Well Data by Source. Source: Heather Kelley 2016

Table 2 presents the breakdown of volunteers and public entities that supply water level
data for the Sonoma Valley Basin. There are five private entities or volunteers supplying water
level data and six public entities. There are 118 wells, and 63% of the wells are monitored by
private entities in this basin. There are 58 wells or 31% of wells monitored by public entities.
62

Some of the wells for the Sonoma Valley Basin and Santa Rosa Plain are Geotracker wells, from
the SWRCB’s GAMA Geotracker program. It would be helpful to understand why the WRP
does not have all GAMA wells in the basins or the county present in the existing Water Agency
dataset, but currently this information is not known.

Table 2 Sonoma Valley Sources of Water Level Data
Name Entity
Number of
Wells
Monitored
Percent of
Total
Null N/A 11 5.88%
DWR/CASGEM Public 12 6.42%
Ed Nelson Private 44 23.53%
Geotracker Public 24 12.83%
John Robb Private 29 15.51%
Kathy Pons Private 36 19.25%
Mark Nordberg Private 8 4.28%
New Well Private 1 0.53%
PRMD Public 2 1.07%
SCWA Public 11 5.88%
VOMWD Public 7 3.74%
WebH2O Public 2 98.93%
Total 187

There are a small number, 11 or 5.9%, of the wells that have no source information. As
this is a small percentage, it is not statistically significant for this study. The two volunteers that
gave interviews and tested the web application are monitoring 80 wells in the Sonoma Valley, or
approximately 43% of the wells in this basin. These two individuals produce a significant
proportion of the data and are a trustworthy and reliable sources of water level data given their
commitment to the project.
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3.1.3. User-group 2- Editable Web Mapping Applications (Volunteers)
Previously, the volunteers took their measurements in the field, recorded this information in the
field and then added these measurements to an Excel spreadsheet. They sent this data to Water
Agency Engineering Technician III, Nathan Baskett in the WRP at the Water Agency via email,
and he added the data to the Access database. This was a lengthy process for the volunteers and
WRP staff, any improvement in efficiency is a benefit for the volunteers and WRP staff.
Improved efficiency and communication with these volunteers was a user requirement for
User-Group 2. The editable web mapping application permits well volunteers to contribute water
level data creating an opportunity for immediate results and feedback from these important users.
This makes it unnecessary for the volunteer to email their water level data to WRP, as they will
add it directly to the database. The web applications also provide immediate feedback to the
volunteers which improves their communication with WRP. The volunteers can immediately see
their data in the database via the web applications.
Using the web mapping application, the volunteers add their bi-annual water level
readings to the database via the web mapping application and WRP staff will verify that the new
readings have been added. These readings are displayed in the web mapping applications as the
most recent reading. The most recent well reading as well as all water level readings are
available in the tabular display in the web mapping application. The volunteers only view their
well data in the web mapping application; while WRP staff can view all the data in the web
mapping application, or they can view these readings in the enterprise database.
The editable web applications meets the user-requirements of improved communication
between the well monitors in Sonoma Valley and WRP staff. The previous method of emailing
volunteer readings was not efficient in the required steps to get the monitoring data to WRP staff.
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Allowing the volunteers direct database access via the web applications allows the volunteers
improved efficiency and streamlines the data-entry process.
The different use-cases for the two user-groups are the volunteers for the Sonoma Valley
groundwater basins edit data in web applications and WRP staff view data for both basins in two
separate web applications. The WRP view-only web applications show all wells and have more
layers present than the well volunteers have access to. The volunteer web applications are
simplified, depicting only base maps and subsets of the well data, showing only the wells that
they each monitor. User -group 1 has access to more data layers and also views the data in a
database program. User-group 2 only sees the well data in a web mapping application, and they
use the web mapping application to add their water-level readings.
3.1.4. Volunteer Data
The volunteer well information is a critical piece of data for the WRP section and for the
establishment of the Sonoma Valley GSP. This volunteer data shows a long-term relationship
established many decades ago between DWR and the groundwater well owners in this basin.
This volunteer data is provided without any formal requirement or mandate. Initially, the DWR
was the agency that collected and housed this well data. Currently, the Water Agency, one of the
local entities analyzing Sonoma Valley groundwater basin data and the local lead agency in the
formation of the GSP, collects the volunteer well data.
There are five volunteers for the Sonoma Valley basin and none for Santa Rosa Plain. Of
these volunteers, one volunteer gathers data for 44 or 23.5% of the wells and another gathers data
for 36 or 19.3 % of the data. This is a statistically significant number of the data for this basin
comprising almost half of the well data for the basin. The volunteers gather the water level data
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twice a year and have been doing so for over ten years. Their contribution and commitment to
the process is admirable.
The two main volunteers for Sonoma Valley were interviewed to provide details on the
volunteer well monitoring program. The questionnaire and their responses are in Appendix B,
while a summary of their answers follows. The purpose of the questionnaire was to understand
more about the genesis of the volunteer monitoring program, the methods that the volunteers use
to obtain the water level data, and how they came to monitor wells that are not on their own
property.
3.1.4.1. Interview Results
Kathy Pons and Ed Nelson provided information regarding their involvement in the
volunteer well program for the Sonoma Valley groundwater basin. Both volunteers received
training from groundwater professionals to read water levels in wells. Both volunteers began
monitoring their own private wells first and then reached out to neighbors in the basin to monitor
these wells also. Both volunteers know of wells that are not monitored in Sonoma Valley. Also,
both volunteers expressed an interest for groundwater information; they want to know what is
happening to the water levels in their basin.
3.2 User Requirements
An important part of any GIS project are the user requirements of the system. GIS projects
should be designed to make analysis and communication easier and intuitive. An innovative new
technology is not worth inclusion in a project if it’s not helping someone or improving analysis.
The technologies employed for this project were designed to improve data-collection and
communication for the two user-groups. The workflows of both groups were considered when
this project was designed.
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3.2.1. Improve Data-Input Efficiency for the Well Volunteers
The first user requirement considered for this project was to improve data-input efficiency for the
well volunteers who monitor the wells in Sonoma Valley. The previous method utilized by the
volunteers to share data with WRP was outdated, had never been considered for update and took
too much time from these important volunteers. Essentially, the well monitors data was entered
into the system three times, once by hand in the field and then transferred into Excel and finally
emailed to Baskett. The method proposed by this project allows them to write the data in the
field and then enter it directly to the database via the web mapping application.
This is an important addition to this project because any improvement in efficiency for
these volunteers will be an incentive to continue participating in the monitoring program. Also,
entering the data directly into the database removes one step where errors can be introduced.
Baskett will no longer need to enter the data from Excel into the database; he will simply verify
that new data was added to the database.
The technological choices to implement this user requirement were to create a new
enterprise database and accompanying web mapping application. This implementation was
simple and economically feasible. Enterprise databases already exist at the Water Agency;
adding two new databases for each groundwater basin was easy and allowed the data to be easily
shared between WRP Staff and the volunteers.
3.2.2. Improve Communication Between the Well Volunteers in Sonoma Valley and WRP staff
The second user requirement considered for this project was to improve communication. The
previous method of communication between the well volunteers in Sonoma Valley and WRP
Staff was not efficient. During the monitoring season, the well volunteers would go out to the
field, collect data and then eventually send it to WRP. Once the volunteers emailed their data to
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WRP Staff, there was no feedback to communicate to the volunteers that their data was received.
WRP Staff were not always aware that the volunteers were conducting monitoring.
Improved communication between the volunteers and WRP Staff is important because it
allows both groups to be aware of the activities of the other, and enables both groups to
collaborate on data collection and the analysis that occurs once the data is collected. The
volunteers can see their data in the database via the web applications. WRP Staff can see the data
in the database via the internal web applications or the enterprise database. If something looks
incorrect or is missing, the volunteers or WRP can send an email to ask for clarification.
The web applications allow the volunteers to see their data in the database via the tabular
interface at the bottom of the web application. Alternatively, the volunteers can click-on the
wells they have edited to see if their newest readings have been added. WRP can also verify that
new data has been added to the system via the web app or the database. The databases and web
applications allow for a passive communication between the two groups that can be active if
either group requires more information. However, the system as designed should allow both
groups to verify that new data has been added and to conduct analysis.
3.2.3. Improve Efficiency for WRP by Creating Hydrographs Dynamically in Web Applications
The third user requirement considered for this project was to improve efficiency for WRP. WRP
previously used Excel to produce hydrographs. Enabling WRP to create hydrographs
dynamically in the web applications is more efficient due to improved processing power of
SSMS over Access. The submersible pressure transducers generate thousands of records,
therefore using SSMS to generate graphs of these wells and perform other analyses for these
wells saves a significant time and is more efficient.
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Another improvement in efficiency came from allowing WRP managers to generate the
hydrographs dynamically in the web application without interrupting the workflow of other WRP
staff. Previously, this task required the attention of two WRP staff; one manager requesting the
hydrograph for a report, and the WRP technical staff would stop their work and generate the
hydrograph for the manager. The ability to create hydrographs dynamically enabled an
immediate assessment of water levels in the wells by all staff. The development of this tool
created multiple improved efficiencies for WRP.
Improving efficiency via generating hydrographs dynamically in the web applications
was a requirement for successful implementation of this thesis project. The demonstration of
improved efficiency is critical to provide support for enterprise databases such as SSMS.
Enterprise database systems have not been used by WRP staff and successful implementation of
the SGMA DMS will require many advanced technological solutions such as enterprise
databases. Familiarizing WRP staff with data management in these enterprise database systems
and will be important for successful DMS creation.
The hydrographs are viewed in the web applications via a newly developed tool. This
tool allows the WRP Staff and Managers to view a hydrograph for any well in the system for any
time period that the well has been monitored, Tim McGee of Moosepoint Technology developed
this tool for this project. The hydrograph tool will be discussed in Section 4.1.
3.2.4. Improve Efficiency for WRP Working with the Submersible Pressure Transducer Data
The fourth user requirement for this project was to improve efficiency for WRP working with the
Submersible Pressure Transducer data. Previously, WRP staff used Access as the database
system for the groundwater data. Access is not the correct database tool (Microsoft 2016, CBS
Interactive 2016), to store the several million records generated by the submersible pressure
69

transducers. Access can become unstable if too many records are queried at one time and
eventually the database may fail and data will be lost.
With SGMA implementation underway and many outside agencies looking to access the
groundwater data for these basins, database failure is not an option. The Water Agency and WRP
in specific must be prepared to house this data for long-term storage. Access to the database
cannot be hampered by technology that does not handle multiple users accessing thousands of
records simultaneously. A robust database solution was necessary.
SSMS is a stable enterprise database system that support the millions of records
generated annually by the submersible pressure transducers, multiple concurrent editors and
online editable web mapping applications required by the volunteer users in Sonoma Valley. The
Water Agency has a license for SSMS and the capacity to store this data onsite as well as in-
house expertise to work with the system. This user requirement solution was simple and effective
and did not cost the project any money other than staff time to load the data.
3.2.5. Present WRP with New Options for Utilizing GIS
Previously WRP has a relatively small GIS-toolbox and did not understand the basics of data
management. GIS was used in a limited manner, each user creating and using data in a data silo,
not sharing their data with other users at the Water Agency and creating basic paper maps, no
web mapping applications were created for this section prior to this thesis project.
Database integrity was compromised with the use of Access for the submersible pressure
transducer data, data silos existed in WRP Section, and basic database methods were not
followed. The structure and integrity of the databases as received from Baskett was questionable.
The maintenance of complete tables with all necessary fields and unique IDs was not followed.
The WRP Section is comprised of engineers and hydrogeologists; they focus on the analysis with
70

the data, not the data itself. They do not primarily concern themselves with database and
information systems architecture and structure and there was no data integrity policy in place.
This user requirement was important for SGMA implementation. WRP Staff must
become aware of new methods to manage the groundwater data required for SGMA, and to
understand which technologies should be pursued and how to employ each one. While the GIS
Division can supply support in the form of expertise and information, WRP must be able to show
some level of independence with the other GSA entities when making decisions regarding data
development and sharing. WRP must learn what is important for SGMA and DMS
implementation and development, and the tools that they do not need for this project.
This thesis project presented WRP with many new options using GIS and enterprise
database systems. The work was performed free-of-charge and allowed them to see what new
technologies are available without hiring a consultant. All of the technologies employed in this
thesis project were new to WRP and allowed them to see what the GIS Division can do for them
before they must choose how to implement SGMA using the DMS. This information will help
them to provide sound advice to the GSA and let them make more informed choices.
3.3 Software Used for this Thesis Project
The software used for this thesis project is the typical software that the Water Agency uses for all
GIS and database projects. As stated above, the products of this project are two databases and
four web mapping applications. Keeping the software consistent with Water Agency standards
allows for project continuity and easy management of the data going forward. It is important for
the databases and web mapping applications developed for this thesis to be used in the future,
beyond the lifetime of this thesis project.

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3.3.1. Database Software
The GIS Section uses SSMS for all of its enterprise databases, allowing for nonspatial and spatial
database maintenance. SSMS works well with Esri products, and has a user-friendly interface
and query language. This software is a good choice for WRP to manage the databases going
forward, or if the GIS Section continues to manage the databases for WRP. Using SSMS meets
the user requirement for User-Group 1 of managing the submersible pressure transducer data in
an enterprise database, and also tangentially for User-Group 2 by allowing for online editing.
SSMS is a long-term, stable database solution, providing data integrity where no formal policy
currently exists.
If WRP continues using Access instead of SSMS, SSMS allows for an easy interface
between Access and itself. To support and maintain future workflows for WRP maintaining the
non-spatial well databases in Access, the SSMS tables and query layers will be linked to Access.
This provides for a seamless transition to SSMS, while still taking advantage of the enterprise
functionality.
Linking Access to SSMS is a straightforward process that ensures all updates will be
reflected in both software packages. In this way, if WRP decides not to seek training to manage
the well data directly in tables with SSMS, Access can be used to update data and manage
queries for reporting without duplicating data. Alternatively, the GIS Section can manage these
databases for WRP as it manages all Water Agency enterprise databases.
3.3.2. GIS Software
The GIS software used for this project is Esri’s ArcGIS Desktop and Server software version
10.3. The desktop software is used to create and manage spatial data and create maps to depict
and analyze data. The server software is used to create the map and feature services to display
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the spatial data and tables in an internet browser such as Microsoft’s Internet Explorer or
Google’s Chrome. The Water Agency uses ArcGIS Desktop and Server to routinely to create
maps and web mapping applications both of these browsers.
3.4 Database Creation
Two enterprise databases were created for this thesis project, one database for each
groundwater basin. The databases were created using the Import command in SSMS. All tables
were imported from Access without error. In addition to the Access well data, the SSMS
databases contain spatial data. These spatial data depict the groundwater basins and the planning
areas for these two groundwater basins. The spatial data were imported into the SSMS databases
using ArcCatalog.
3.4.1. Groundwater Data
There were two Access databases, one for each groundwater basin; Sonoma Valley and Santa
Rosa Plain. These Access databases were created and maintained by Baskett at the Water
Agency. Baskett has been the primary resource for information regarding these data. These
databases were originally nonspatial, housing tables with well information. No features classes
representing the wells as points were supplied for this thesis.
Two spatial databases were created in SSMS mimicking the setup of the two original
Access databases. Using the same database setup facilitated communication between the author
and Baskett in the initial phase of this thesis. All table and field names have been kept static from
the original databases. The databases may be consolidated into one overall Sonoma County
groundwater database in the DMS. Currently, the SSMS databases are consistent with the
original Access databases.
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3.4.2. SSMS Databases
After the nonspatial Access databases were imported into SSMS, creating the enterprise
databases, some spatial feature classes were added. These feature classes included the
groundwater basins and the groundwater management plan boundaries. The wells were created
as spatial point data using the coordinate attribute fields. The databases had eight spatial and five
nonspatial tables in total. Two query layers were also created, one for each database. These query
layers are connections from the well attributes to the spatial wells. Figures 12 shows the initial
groundwater database design for the Santa Rose Plain Groundwater Database. Figure 13 on the
following page show the initial database design of the Sonoma Valley Groundwater Database.
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Figure 12 Santa Rosa Plain Initial Database Design. Source: Heather Kelley 2016
75

Figure 13 Sonoma Valley Initial Database Design. Source: Heather Kelley 2016

The entities in Figures 12 and 13 depict the tables, features classes and the single query
layer stored in the Santa Rosa Plain and Sonoma Valley SMSS databases. The entities outlined in
blue are nonspatial tables, the features outlined in red are spatial feature classes and the entities
outlined in green are the two individual entities that create the Wells query layer. Two figures
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depicting the database schema in greater detail, such as attribute types of the tables are presented
in Appendix A. These more detailed figures show the attribute-types and attribute names in the
tables; OBJECTID and integer-type. There are more entities stored in the databases, but these are
system tables created by the software when the databases were created and will not be described
in detail here.
Initially, the Sonoma Valley database was designed to have two separate tables for water
level measurements; transducer and volunteer-based. The Santa Rosa Plain data has these
readings combined into one table with no volunteer data in this basin. All water level data for the
Santa Rosa Plain is supplied by the Water Agency or other public entities responsible for
monitoring the wells; there is no volunteer data for this basin, and no editable web applications
were created for it.
3.4.3. Significant Attributes of the Data
The spatial data for this project was used for display in the web mapping applications, no spatial
analysis was conducted. One attribute, GridID, was significant for creating relationships in the
databases, the other attributes were identified as significant to WRP staff and the volunteers. The
Unique ID field for the databases, the GridID, an alpha-numeric field of values generated using a
fishnet of 1-mile square grids in ArcGIS Desktop, (Create Fishnet, Data Management tool)
(Baskett 2016). Unique IDs are important in relational databases because they allow tables to
join together creating more complex relationships to display information.
Unique IDs establish integrity for any database to protect the data from becoming
corrupted. An enterprise database system such as SSMS will assign a unique system ID to
records in the database, and this unique system ID data was generated when the Access databases
were imported into SSMS. However, since WRP has established another unique ID to the wells
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in each basin using the geoprocessing tool in ArcGIS Desktop, this ID must be maintained and
added to in the future if new wells are added to the system.
Another significant field in the tables reports elevation data. Elevation data is used to
determine if the water level and the ground elevation are decreasing. Decreasing ground
elevation is a response to removing more groundwater from the basin than is replenished. These
elevations are monitored over time to determine if subsidence is occurring. This information is
significant as it is a part of the required monitoring for the CASGEM program (California
Department of Water Resources 2015).
If ground elevations decrease in these groundwater basins, the CASGEM priority will
change, and more drastic measure will be taken to manage these groundwater basins. Monitoring
elevations in groundwater basins is a good best practice for WRP to maintain as other basins in
Sonoma County may be added to SGMA. WRP is currently only collecting and maintaining
elevation data for the Santa Rosa Plain and Sonoma Valleys, however, other groundwater
monitoring entities in the county may be collecting data for other basins, and this data will be
added to the DMS. For consistency, this data must be maintained.
An example of these tables is shown in Table 3, a partial dataset from the Sonoma Valley
database. Other fields are significant for the volunteers and WRP staff: Well Name identifies a
particular well for the volunteers and Well Depth helps WRP staff to determine the well depth
category for the wells. WRP analyzes the wells according to the well depth attribute. The depth-
to-water is shown in the table with the attribute name DTW. DTW is the water level reading, and
this is the field in the table used to generate the points shown on the hydrographs in the web
mapping applications.

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Table 3 Sample of Fields and Data from the Well Attribute Table
Well
AttrID
GridID StateID
Well
Name
Status
Well
Depth
Perf
Interval
Depth
to
Top
Depth
to
Bot
160 G03-01
007N007W24A
Los
Guilicos
Active 622
208-
622
208 662
161 G03-02

Pat
Hansen
Active 450

162 G03-03

Jane
Ernsberger
Active 215

163 G03-04

Roger
Sanborn
Active 180

164 G03-05

Rita
Nichols
Active 150

165 G03-06 007N006W19N Ehle Active 149 30-149 30 149

The groundwater basin data and groundwater management plan boundaries are stored as
polygon feature classes in the databases. DWR supplied the groundwater basin data and
groundwater management plan data. These data can be found on the GICMA Application. More
layers can be downloaded from the GICMA, however, it will not be necessary to download these
layers for display in the web applications as they have been accessed via their representational
state transfer (REST) endpoints. The use of REST endpoints was discussed in greater detail in
section 3.1.3.1. REST Endpoints are generated in ArcGIS Server when a mapping or feature
service is created.
Figure 14 shows the location and extent of WRP-managed wells in the Sonoma Valley
and Santa Rosa Plain basins. Also shown are the groundwater basins and management plan
boundaries.
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Figure 14 Groundwater Well Data, Groundwater Management Plans and Basins. Source: Heather
Kelley 2016

3.4.3.1. Query Layers
One of the benefits of using SSMS in GIS is the ability to create and use query layers. In SSMS,
SQL commands are used to create query layers. They have traditionally been referred to in
SSMS as views. Views or query layers are “logical extractions of specific aspects of the physical
database” (Yeung and Hall 2007) and are familiar to any experienced database user. A query
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layer is the creation of a table that is not a physical table stored in the database, but a temporary
connection between two tables. The tables must have a common field with identical attributes;
the tables are joined using the common attribute. Esri refers to views as query layers (Esri
2016b), and this is how these data will be referred to hereafter. Figure 15 below shows an
example of spatial data, nonspatial data, (a table) and a query layer in ArcCatalog.

Figure 15 Query Layer as Depicted in ArcCatalog. Source: Heather Kelley 2016

In Figure 15 the first highlighted entity is spatial data, a polygon feature class. The icon
for this data looks like a polygon and appears just to the left of the feature name, this icon
indicates that this feature class is a polygon feature class. The second highlighted feature shown
in Figure 15 is a table, nonspatial data. This is a table that has no discrete spatial attribute, such
as a coordinate or a geometry, but it can be used in a map by creating a query layer with a spatial
feature class in the database. The requirement to create a query layer is that there is a field in this
table that has a like field in a spatial feature class. The third highlighted feature in Figure 15 is a
query layer. The table icon with a box resting on top of the table indicates that this is a feature
comprised of two other features, a query layer.

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The SQL query used to create the query layer for the Sonoma Valley wells is shown
below:
“SELECT dbo.WELLS.*, dbo.TBLWELLATTRIBUTES.*, dbo.WELLS.Shape AS Expr1,
dbo.WELLS.GridID AS Expr2, dbo.TBLWELLATTRIBUTES.GridID AS Expr3
FROM dbo.WELLS INNER JOIN
dbo.TBLWELLATTRIBUTES ON dbo.WELLS.OBJECTID =
dbo.TBLWELLATTRIBUTES.OBJECTID.“
This query layer was created by opening the database in SSMS, right-clicking on the
database Views objects in the Sonoma Valley database and using the command “New View.”
The spatial Wells feature class was joined to the nonspatial Well Attribute table using the GridID
attribute. This query created the wells that are present in the internal Sonoma Valley web
mapping application.
This query layer example depicts one query layer in the Sonoma Valley database, the
Wells query layer. The Wells point feature class has no descriptive attribute in the table except
for the GridID, which is joined to the GridID in the Well Attribute table. The Well Attribute
table has all of the descriptive attributes for each well in the database. These attributes include
well name, Perf Interval, Status and well depth. If a new well is added to the database, the only
piece of information that has to be collected in the spatial feature class is the GridID and the
location of the new well. As long as there is a matching GridID in the Well Attribute table, the
feature will exist in the map.
Query layers are powerful tools used to create dynamic connections to specific attributes
in the tables of the database. As long as the unique fields are identical in each table the join will
work and the query layer will be created depicting the specific attributes in the tables. As data is
updated, the query layer changes to reflect this new state of the data. While query layers are not
permanent tables in the database but they can be used to create maps and to analyze data. The
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benefit of query layers is the constant updating of the representation of the data in a web
application without the need to create a new, static layer.
A query layer was created for the internal web application to reflect the water level data
in the wells by making a connection from the spatial well point data to the nonspatial water level
table in the database. The GridID field was used to create this query layer between the tables in
SSMS. Query layers can represent more than the water levels in the wells. Other query layers
have been created to represent date-based and well-depth-based relationships. Many of these are
for testing and to demonstrate to WRP staff what can be accomplished in SSMS.
The SQL for a query layer that depicts the most recent well reading for the submersible
pressure transducer wells is shown below:
“SELECT m.GridID, m.DTW, m.Date_Meas, m.WtrElv_DEM, m.WtrElv_USGS1,
m.WtrElv_JRobb, m.WtrElv_SrvNAD88, m.WtrElv_SrvNAD29, m.WtrElv_JM_Survey,
m.Qustionable_Meas, m.Currently_Pump, m.Recently_Pump, m.Nearby_Pump,
m.Comment
FROM dbo.TBLWATERLEVELMEASUREMENTS AS m INNER JOIN
(SELECT GridID, MAX(Date_Meas) AS MaxDate
FROM dbo.TBLWATERLEVELMEASUREMENTS
WHERE (DTW IS NOT NULL)
GROUP BY GridID) AS MaxDt ON m.GridID = MaxDt.GridID AND
m.Date_Meas = MaxDt.MaxDate.”
There are several hundred-thousand records in the transducer well-level reading tables
and SSMS manages this data quite efficiently displaying the results in seconds. No analysis was
conducted with the submersible pressure transducer data, the creation of this query layer was a
test to determine if efficiency could be improved using SSMS. The result of this test was that
WRP did notice an improved time in the records retrieved from this query.
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3.5 Map and Feature Service Creation
ArcGIS provides the user the ability to create online web applications though ArcGIS Server
software. This software along with SSMS and Windows Server 2012 allow for the creation of an
editable web application. This group of products allows communication through the server
software with the Internet to display the web mapping services and applications.
After creating the databases and loading the spatial and nonspatial data into the databases,
ArcGIS Desktop was used to create the map and feature services. This is a very straightforward
process that only required the necessary hardware and software. Any ArcMap document file
(MXD) can be used to create a map or feature service. For this project, four map documents, two
map services, and two feature services were created. The map services are for viewing, and the
features services allow editing. The two different types of web applications support User-group 1
and User-group 2 with their different needs and requirements.
3.5.1. Mapping Services – View-only Web Applications
The first type of web mapping applications created include view-only web applications for WRP
internal staff. No security or special permission is necessary to view these web maps, and they
can be exposed to all WRP staff for their viewing and basic visual interpretation. The process for
updating and modifying these web mapping applications is informal, and minor changes may
occur as WRP staff recognizes other layers to add.
In the view-only web applications, there are more layers available to WRP staff than the
volunteers have present in their editable web applications. WRP staff is comfortable viewing
spatial data in web mapping applications, so there is no concern of too many layers confusing or
overwhelming this group. WRP will not be editing the data in the web applications, so there was
no need to allow them access to the feature services. Creating non-editable web applications
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decreases the chance that the water level data that is editable in the volunteers’ application will
be accidentally edited. There may be more modifications to these internal web maps over time;
more layers added and removed, so it is a good idea to create separate maps for this group.
The decision to make two types of web applications comes from understanding the two
disparate groups have different needs and expectations. The edit-group needs to see only the data
that is relevant to them, data they need to edit. The view-only-group requested to see more data,
and they will not be editing data in the web applications. As these uses are so different, it is a
safer choice to not co-mingle these two groups in web applications.
3.5.2. Feature Services -Editable Web Applications
The volunteers have the ability to edit the data in the enterprise databases directly via the web
applications. These web applications are feature services which are editable web applications
whereas mapping services are for viewing only. Creating feature services in ArcGIS Desktop
allows users access to the data in an enterprise database via a web application. To create an
editable web application, the feature service radio button must be selected when the service is
created in ArcGIS Desktop, and the enterprise database has to be a versioned database. Setting a
database to be versioned is also a straightforward process, these databases were set to be
versioned using ArcCatalog.
ArcGIS Server software also allows for security through server authentication. Each user
has a login and a password generated for them. New roles and users were added to the server
store for each volunteer, named Ed, and Kathy. Each user was given a password and permission
to access the data through their role in ArcGIS Server. Each user will edit the records for their
wells in the SSMS table that is part of the query layer exposed in the web application. This query
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layer is named SonomaValleyGroundwater.dbo.vw_Wells and the Where clause is used in
separate MXDs for each source; Ed or Kathy.
The data that the volunteers have access to is sensitive, so they need to use passwords to
ensure that they are the only person viewing and editing the data via the web application. The
volunteers are only editing three fields; DTW, Date and potentially Comment if they need to add
a comment. Two query layers were created, one for each user. Each volunteer only views the
wells that they monitor. This simplifies the editing process and the map-view for each volunteer.
They see only their wells and a base map for context. As this is a new method of entering their
water level data, it has been created to be a simple interface.
3.6 Web Mapping Application Creation
After a mapping or feature service is created, these services can be displayed in a web mapping
application by referencing their service URL in an application program interface (API). Once a
service is referenced in an API, this service is viewable in a web browser. Depending on the API
various tools will be in the web mapping application for users. There are many APIs available to
developers, so this section presents a relevant use case for the API used at the Water Agency and
for this project.
3.6.1. Web Application API
An API is a set of routines and tools for building software applications, sets of code to help
create web and software applications. The Esri JavaScript API was used for this project to create
web mapping applications. This API allows developers to embed maps in web pages using
JavaScript as the interface between the browser and the viewer. The Esri JavaScript API has all
of the building blocks to make a spatial web map function like an ArcGIS Desktop map
document; zoom-in and zoom-out tools, identify tools, a print tool, a legend tool and a base map
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switcher to allow the web map viewer to switch between a series of base maps that Esri provides
for use in web mapping applications. Base maps are displayed behind the main data, in this case
well and groundwater data to provide context.
For this project, The Configurable Map Viewer (CMV) code, Version 1.3.4 was used to
support the web mapping applications (CMV - The Configurable Map Viewer 2016). This code
and development tools work with Esri mapping and feature services. The Water Agency is using
CMV for all of its web mapping applications, thereby ensuring that this project is consistent with
all other Agency applications. The mapping and feature services are displayed in the CMV
mapping framework using the Esri JavaScript API and the Dojo Toolkit. The CMV can be
downloaded for use from the website GitHub (2016).
The CMV provides an intuitive application “wrapper” for web mapping applications. The
Dojo Toolkit is a modular JavaScript library of tools for use in a web mapping applications. Both
CMV and Dojo are open source frameworks so while they are freely available, they do require
development to make them run properly. Tim McGee is the President of MoosePoint Technology
in Santa Rosa, California, and provides the development expertise required by the Water
Agency. The Water Agency is currently using this CMV for all internal and external web
mapping applications. To keep the workflow consistent with Water Agency standards, this code
was used for this thesis project.
To maintain consistency with existing applications at the Water Agency, the CMV was
chosen for developing this project. Esri Arc GIS Online (AGOL), Web AppBuilder or WebApp
Studio for ArcGIS are a common choices for Esri customers. However, the Water Agency has
already chosen CMV over AGOL due to the relative ease with which this API can be
implemented. For example, web applications created using the CMV have shorter and more
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intuitively named URLs whereas the AGOL URLs can be very long with alphanumeric naming
conventions that are not intuitive and difficult to remember for general staff.

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Chapter 4 Results
Chapter 4 outlines the preliminary results of this thesis project and shows screen-shots of the
editable and view-only web mapping applications that have been developed. In addition to the
web mapping applications which are the main product, the results of volunteer-testing on the
editable web applications are reviewed. Finally, the spatial accuracy of the well data and the
accuracy of the volunteer well-reading data are discussed.
4.1 Web Mapping Applications
Four web mapping applications were developed for this project: two for viewing and two for
editing. The two view-only web mapping applications, developed for each groundwater basin,
Santa Rosa Plain and Sonoma Valley, were created for WRP staff to view groundwater data. The
two editable web applications show subsets of the Sonoma Valley data, and these were
developed for use by the two Sonoma Valley volunteers, Ed Nelson and Kathy Pons. These
volunteers gave interviews and tested these web applications.
The hydrograph tool was developed by Tim McGee to display the water level data in the
web application as a chart. The hydrograph chart opens in a second web page. McGee developed
this tool after the development of editable and view-only web mapping applications were
completed for this thesis project. The creation of the hydrograph was considered to be critical for
successful project implementation. The hydrographs are generated dynamically through a button-
click and depict the water level measurement over time for each well. Creating the hydrographs
in the web mapping application provides immediate feedback for WRP managers that relied on
technical staff to manipulate the data in Excel for hydrograph production.

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4.1.1. Non-Editable Web Mapping Applications
Figure 16 shows a screen shot the Santa Rosa Plain Groundwater Basin view-only web
application developed using CMV. Figure 17 on the following pages shows a screen shot for the
Sonoma Valley Groundwater Basin. The REST Endpoint layers from external public agencies
(DWR and USGS), appear as a sub-category on the left in the Table of Contents under the title
“USGS Stream Gages” and “DWR GICMA Layers.”

Figure 16 Standard Groundwater Web Application Santa Rosa Plain. Source: Heather Kelley
2016.

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Figure 17 Standard Groundwater Web Application Sonoma Valley. Source: Heather Kelley
2016.

The wells were symbolized using the well depth attribute in the legend tool to the left.
There are several elements that are standard in the CMV that can be seen in Figures 16 and 17
such as the Basemap Switcher tool in the top right of the application, the Table of Contents
element, titled “Layers” lists all layers in the web application. The symbology on the map and in
the Table of Contents comes from the symbology as created in the ArcMap Desktop MXD.
There is a Measurement tool allowing the viewer to measure either distances or areas and
the units (meters or feet) can be specified interactively from the tool. A print tool allows the user
to print the on-screen display to a PDF or a physical print to a printer device. Addresses can be
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found in the search tool at the top, and the home key under the plus and minus sign returns the
display to the original extent the web mapping application originally opened.
With regard to these web mapping applications meeting the user requirements for User-
Group 1, WRP expressed to the author that the dynamic creation of hydrographs was much
improved from the previous method. Baskett was the WRP Staff person most often required to
create the hydrographs for management. Baskett mentioned that he has noticed a significant
drop-off in hydrograph-creation requests. This user-requirement was successfully fulfilled.
The internal, view-only web mapping applications demonstrated to WRP new capability
for their groundwater data using GIS. These web applications also facilitated internal
communication regarding the groundwater data via the dynamic hydrograph creation. While
improved internal communication was not an identified user requirement, the results of improved
communication for this project has been impressive to WRP managers.
The testing of querying the millions of submersible pressure transducer records seems to
have been successful. Unfortunately, no previous records were kept regarding these queries using
Access, so this is mostly tangential information. Baskett thought that SSMS was able to return
the records more quickly than Access has. The author has not tested running these queries in
Access vs. SSMS at this time, no tests are currently planned.
The user-requirement determining the successful presentation of new GIS-techniques to
WRP has been informal. A debrief meeting was held with WRP Staff, the author and Tim
McGee. During this debrief meeting WRP Staff mentioned that they were impressed with the
volunteer-feedback and the results of the internals web applications and hydrographs. Currently,
GIS Division is involved with the planning for the DMS but no specific plans have been
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developed. The goals for this user requirement were accomplished. WRP is talking about
implementing the DMS using the techniques and tools presented in this thesis.
Creating the enterprise databases that allows for online editing took less than one
business-day, web application-creation took less than one day. The greatest time involved for
this process was retrieving the data from Baskett and creating attractive maps. This step also took
less than one day. All user requirements for WRP were implemented successfully and
affordably. For a government project, this is important.
4.1.2. Editable Web Applications
The editable web applications each used a definition query in ArcGIS Desktop MXD, one for
each volunteer. The source column was used to create the definition query for Nelson and Pons
to add their water level data to the feature service. The definition query was used to simplify
adding data, as both Nelson and Pons monitor several wells it is easier for them to open a web
mapping application that only has the wells they are monitoring present in the web app.
Figure 18 shows the editable web mapping application interface for Pons’ data, Figure 19
on the following page shows Nelson’s data.
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Figure 18 Pons Web Mapping Application Interface. Source: Heather Kelley 2016.
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Figure 19 Nelson’s Web Mapping Application Interface. Source: Heather Kelley 2016.

Each volunteer can edit a specific well record by locating the well in the table or on the
map. The tables can be sorted by any attribute column, in ascending or descending order by
clicking on the column name. Currently, the volunteers report that they sort the well data using
the GridID and locate the well they intend to update. The volunteer clicks a record in the table
and a second smaller window appears where they add their data in the table, seen in Figures 18
and 19.
Alternatively, the user can pick the well from the map, but this is a more haphazard
method for editing data. There are only three editable fields in the table: Depth to Water, Date,
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and comment. The comment field is necessary because there may be something precluding the
volunteer from accessing the well such as a locked gate or a dog.
When the user has completed entering data for the session they simply close the page,
there is no log out button. After the user has entered their well reading information to the
database, they can send Baskett an email informing him that they have conducted their
monitoring activities for this season. Baskett can check the database to see if the values are
entered correctly.
The feedback from the volunteers suggests that communication between the volunteers in
Sonoma Valley and WRP Staff was improved with the editable web applications. The volunteers
were able to assess the water level data, determine that they had successfully added new data and
verified this through both the hydrograph and the tabular display at the bottom of the user
interface. Both Nelson and Pons described their user-experience as positive and thought the web
application was intuitive.
The typically emails sending data between WRP and the volunteers were not sent, an
email notifying WRP that the volunteers had added their data was sent. Both WRP and the
volunteers could tell that the web mapping application worked as designed. Both user-groups
could see that data had been added. Both volunteers also expressed a desire to use the web
applications in the fall.
4.1.2.1. Testing the Editable Web Applications
The last phase of this thesis project involved the volunteers testing the web applications. Both
Nelson and Pons were able to test the web application for adding water level data to the database
via the web applications. They were each sent a unique URL to their own individual web
mapping application, with their subset of data and user instructions via email. In order to
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determine if the web mapping applications improved efficiency for the volunteers, it was
necessary for them to view and test the capabilities of the application.
The well volunteers were able to log in to the server using their individual user name and
password. Once the volunteers were able to see the maps with their subset of data, they followed
the instructions provided via email. The volunteer picked the current date from a date-picker
interface and added their current water-level readings in the Depth-to-Water field in the table.
They did not test the comment field.
Nelson was able to add his data and mentioned in an email that is was intuitive and easy
to use. Pons also entered some test data and found the web application interface to be easy. She
also enjoyed viewing data on the map. Both users mentioned in emails that they thought seeing
the dispersion of their wells in the map was helpful to understand where they are monitoring in
relation to the basin boundary. Both also tested the hydrograph tool developed by McGee of
Moosepoint and found that tool to be helpful also.
These two volunteers were willing to test the web mapping application for usability and
to provide the author with some feedback regarding their participation in the volunteer program.
Their willingness to test the web applications and give interviews is an additional testament to
their desire to contribute to the process of monitoring the resources of the groundwater basin.
The interviewing and web application test provided feedback to the author to know if the
site is working as expected, how the volunteers like the web mapping interface and if changes
are needed to make the web mapping application interface more user-friendly. This information
was very valuable and could not be gained in any other way.

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4.1.4. Spatial Accuracy of Well Data
The locational accuracy of the well points varies depending upon their origin. The wells that are
monitored by the Water Agency via pressure transducer have been surveyed and are of the
highest quality, survey accuracy. The other public agencies monitoring wells in Santa Rosa Plain
and Sonoma Valley have captured their wells using a GPS unit or a survey station. For these
wells, the spatial accuracy should be high. If a sub-meter post-corrected GPS unit was used by
the monitoring entity, the location of the wells will be accurate to within a meter or less.
The volunteer wells are of varying accuracies, the locations of these well were digitized
in the GIS. The source of the digitized wells is not known as there was no metadata provided by
WRP. If the volunteer wells were captured with a GPS unit, the GPS units used by the volunteers
were recreation grade. The accuracy of these measurements is accurate to about 10 meters or
approximately 30 feet. The source information is stored in the “Surveyed” columns in the tables:
SantaRosaPlainGroundwater.dbo.Well_Attributes and
SonomaValleyGroundwater.dbo.tblWellAttributes.
Figures 20 on the following page depicts this locational accuracy of the wells in the Santa
Rose Plain basin. Some of the wells have been surveyed, but many of the wells have been
located using a GPS unit or had their coordinate information generated by some other method, as
discussed above. Figure 21 on the following page shows the Sonoma Valley plain accuracy.
Figures 20 and 21 show the varying accuracies in the well location data across the basins.

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Figure 20 Santa Rosa Plain Well Accuracy. Source: Heather Kelley 2016.
99

Figure 21 Sonoma Valley Well Accuracy. Source: Heather Kelley 2016.

From the surveyed data, it can be seen that approximately 56% of the wells managed by
WRP in Santa Rosa Plain have been surveyed and 44% have not. In Sonoma Valley, the percent
surveyed is 40%, while approximately 60% of the wells have not been surveyed. This
information makes the location of the wells questionable, as only a relatively small percent have
been surveyed, but the locational accuracy of the wells might not be critical.
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Dan McManus, Supervising Engineering Geologist for the Sustainable Groundwater
Management, a section of DWR, stated that the groundwater basin data provided by DWR has an
accuracy of approximately 2,600 feet (Dan McManus, March 15, 2016, email message to
author). This is not considered to be high-level accuracy, but this is the state-vetted dataset and it
is the dataset that SGMA will use to determine if individual well owners are inside or outside of
a particular groundwater basin. According to Dan McManus, better data will be available by
2020. Until that time, this is the groundwater basin that will be used for this thesis project.
The spatial accuracy of the wells is better than the spatial accuracy of the groundwater
basin data. As a result, this report suggests that the accuracy of all of the wells will be sufficient
for this thesis project and further analysis. Whether or not a well is accurate to within 30 feet will
not change the effect the well has on the groundwater basin. The volunteer-supplied water level
measurement data itself is the most significant piece of information.
4.1.5. Accuracy of Volunteered Water Level Data
Determining the accuracy of the volunteer water level readings is difficult. To determine the
accuracy of these reading the volunteers’ monitoring methods have to be considered as well as
their motives for conducting these monitoring activities. These two aspects of the volunteers’
monitoring protocols can be assessed to determine if the data these volunteers share with the
Water Agency can be included for use in the GSPs and any other official groundwater work or
analysis going forward in the SGMA process. If these data are valid, these data will be one
component to support the management of the groundwater resources in these two basins.
The best source to determine the validity of the volunteers’ monitoring methods is the
community of groundwater science professionals. Both Nelson and Pons were trained by
groundwater professionals to use the methods they employ for groundwater monitoring. During
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their interviews Ed and Nancy mentioned the training they received to become groundwater well
monitors. As the methods themselves are valid, a secondary consideration is that Ed and Nancy
may be operating the equipment incorrectly.
The only test for this parameter is if the results are wildly out-of-the-range for the normal
and expected groundwater measurements. So far Baskett and others who examine this data have
not identified any erroneous readings. The volunteer readings can be compared to readings that
come from other sources monitoring groundwater data in the basins to determine if they are
correct. Alternatively, a verification protocol can be developed and employed by the Water
Agency or another monitoring entity to determine if the volunteer measurements are accurate.
The final consideration of the volunteers’ accuracy is the motives for their involvement
with the program. After the interviews with the volunteers, their motives seem to be well-
intentioned. Both Ed and Nancy expressed an interest in preserving the groundwater resources of
their basin. Citizens of the groundwater basins have the most to benefit or to lose if water quality
or levels fail. If mandated monitoring of the water level data is required due to decreasing water
levels and water quality this would also be an unfortunate outcome. The volunteers would longer
no longer be given a choice whether or not to participate, rather they would be mandated to do
so. This could create a potentially antagonistic relationship between government agencies and
private citizens.
The current Sonoma Valley volunteer program is the result of citizen science in Sonoma
County. Initiated by a few interested users 65 years ago, it would be nice to understand why
these original well-owners decided to freely offer their water level data all those years ago.
However, none of the original volunteers who began volunteering this data are available to
determine why they began this effort. As this information cannot be obtained directly from them,
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understanding why the current volunteers gather this data and share it with the Water Agency is
an important component of this thesis. If a motivation for this volunteer service can be
established, this information may shed light on the best way to attract new volunteers.
The volunteers currently send their water level data freely to the Water Agency have a
genuine interest in understanding the water levels in the groundwater basin where they live. This
interest motivates these contributors to collect data and support research to understand more
about a place and the resources of this place (Budhathoki and Haythornthwaite 2012). Some of
these volunteers have been sharing their data for many years, and at this point have developed a
“reputation” of reliability among their volunteer peers and with the professionals at the Water
Agency (Maué 2007). They want to submit accurate data about their water-level information to
protect this reputation and remain involved in the volunteer program.
This thesis project is a scientific project and as such, examination of the value of this
VGI, the water level data provided by the volunteers, from a scientific perspective is essential.
Scientific data is traditionally expensive and can be challenging to gather. Additionally,
acquiring scientific data spanning many decades would be very hard to come by and again,
expensive. The time-range for the volunteered well data is substantial, covering over 60 years of
data collection. For the purpose of understanding the long-term water levels in these two
groundwater basins, this volunteered data can be considered unique and important enough to
warrant its inclusion in this thesis project (Longhorn, Blakemore 2008). The VGI for this project
is valuable, since it is a unique contribution and a necessary source of data for this project.

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Chapter 5 Future Work
Chapter 5 describes proposed future modifications and additions to the web mapping
applications, and suggested changes as provided in the feedback from the volunteers. Changes
are planned for this project to prepare for SGMA implementation, and plans to assist WRP
implementation of the DMS using SSMS databases to manage the well data. Finally, the ongoing
management of the system as developed and potential projects outside of Sonoma County are
considered.
5.1 Volunteer Suggested Changes
After Nelson and Pons had tested the web mapping applications both users had suggestions to
modify the web maps for future use. Pons suggested giving the user the ability to edit the
location of a well as she noticed that some of her wells were not in the correct location. Pons also
thought it would be better if there were a logout button to end the session securely. She wanted
to modify the name of a well and definitely wants to use the web application in the future as her
method to add water level readings.
With regard to Pons, a desire to edit the well location and other attributes in the table was
presented, and this is an issue that will need to be addressed with WRP. These are good
suggestions from Pons, but it questions the validity of WRP’s data. As they have been the
stewards of this data until this time, they should be consulted before the data is modified. And
perhaps it should be considered how they manage the data going forward. Inherent errors need to
be removed or changed before outside editors such as the volunteers become involved in editing
the data.
Nelson also found data that he thought was in error in his web mapping application. He
wanted to add a new well and delete a redundant record. He also recommended edits for the
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hydrograph, such as plotting water surface elevation instead of water depth. Rename elevation to
reference surface elevation; subtract water depth from reference surface elevation in the database
to get water surface elevation.
Ed mentioned coloring the points from the spring reading differently from the fall
reading. Currently, both are the same color. Figure 22 shows the current hydrograph display.

Figure 22 Hydrograph Display. Source: Heather Kelley 2016.

Nelson mentioned that he found this method to be very convenient and would like to use
it again in the fall. He thought it would be helpful for his analysis as he could easily access water
surface elevation data and hydrographs. The responses from my web application testers indicate
the web application development was successful. This will be a better way for the volunteers to
enter their water level data. Communication between WRP and the volunteers has definitely been
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improved, evidence of this are the requested changes by the volunteers to the editable web
mapping applications.
WRP Staff tested the view-only web applications and thought they were impressive.
They are curious about adding REST Endpoints for weather data and appreciate the convenience
of the dynamic hydrograph-creation from the web applications. This will save them time and
allows them to run quick analysis in the web applications. WRP staff would also like the points
in the hydrograph changes for each season, spring and fall. This is currently under development
by McGee.
As previously stated, there was no formal speed test for queries on the submersible
pressure transducers performed in Access vs SSMS. However, informally Baskett has reported
that he thinks the queries execute more quickly in SSMS. The stability of the database system is
improved as SSMS is a more appropriate repository for these records. In the future, more records
will be added to these tables so this is a more stable place for these data to reside.
5.2 Changes to Prepare for SGMA Implementation
One important aspect of this project is to prepare the well data and to change the procedure that
WRP use to manage the well data in preparation for the DMS. As SGMA defines the
management of groundwater resources in the local basins and across the state, the methods used
to manage the data must become more sophisticated.
The DMS will require the public as well as other monitoring entities in the county to be
able to access, share and analyze data collaboratively. Each GSA will work together, with other
GSAs in the county to manage these data and develop policies that support the groundwater
resources of the county. WRP will need to manage the data using tools such as SSMS and
perhaps a cloud environment to support the public access element.
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No longer will WRP be able to work in a data silo, all of the groundwater data that they
manage, will be the collective data of the GSA. So their methods and tools will need to change.
This thesis project was a good first step. All of the groundwater data that WRP manages has been
moved into an enterprise database. They now have web mapping applications to allow outside
entities, the volunteers to share data and communicate collaboratively with them. Now WRP
must try new techniques to work with their data. The first technique will be loading data from the
transducer wells into SSMS.
Baskett will attempt this as he routinely works with the transducer data in Access. A
connection from Access will be made SSMS database so that he can use familiar methods to add
the new transducer data. The author will work with Tim McGee to see if there are other methods
that might streamline the process more, for example, adding the *.mon files directly to SSMS.
Another proposed improvement is to automate the data retrieved from the submersible
pressure transducers. These readings were retrieved from the wells at the well locations by Water
Agency Staff and were exported from the transducers in *.mon file format. These readings were
then manipulated and converted into *.csv file format. These Comma Separated Values (CSV)
files were then imported into the Access database. Research is ongoing to determine if SSMS can
automate this process, perhaps a native *.mon file can be imported to SSMS, increasing
efficiency. The rest of the wells monitored by other monitoring entities email their readings to
Baskett.
5.2.1. Ongoing Management of the System
To maintain the system developed in this thesis training must be explored to allow WRP to
manage the system. WRP must understand Relational Databases and how to use them for the
DMS even if they themselves do not perform this maintenance. A data integrity policy must be
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developed to protect the data stored in the DMS. As developed, the Water Agency GIS Division
can support the existing system. The ongoing maintenance will include a continuing support
structure for WRP provided by the GIS Division.
One component of the DMS’s mission is data-sharing with outside entities, and receiving
data from outside entities, there is no infrastructure at the Water Agency to accomplish this. A
cloud-computing solution may be pursued in the future. If this is the final repository for the DMS
and all of the data, an outside consultant will be hired to continue this maintenance.
The REST endpoints that are used from outside entities must be maintained for the web
applications to function. If the DMS moves to a cloud computing structure, the consultant that
maintains the system will determine how to ensure these REST endpoints continue to function.
Currently the author is exploring all options to see if a script exists that will determine if a REST
endpoint has been moved from the original location or has not been maintained. If such a script
can be found, it will be added to the current system.
5.3 Future Development in Sonoma County and Beyond
Considering that SGMA implementation is underway in Sonoma County, this thesis
project can provide some benefits to this implementation. As previously discussed, Figures 10
and 11 depict the sources of well information for Santa Rosa Plain and Sonoma Valley. There
are more public entities involved in monitoring Santa Rosa Plain than in Sonoma Valley. Both
basins have a varied well monitor pool to pull from. With regard to the development of the GSA
for these basins, currently untapped resources could be utilized.
The expansion of the volunteer pool might occur as other residents in this basin learn
about the web mapping application for well data input. Additionally, the Santa Rosa Plain may
use the web mapping application to attract volunteers as there are currently none in this basin
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working with the Water Agency. The availability of public entities is encouraged through the
existing SGMA process so it is unlikely that new public agencies will become involved with the
process due to the development of the web mapping application alone. However, the DMS and
enterprise databases could become a shared resource for the Monitoring Entities in Sonoma
County to collaborate. The web mapping applications and enterprise databases may be moved to
a cloud environment to facilitate data-sharing.
Lastly, perhaps other entities in the state would be interested in conducting a project like
this one for at-risk groundwater basins. Sonoma County has relatively healthy groundwater
resources, comparing the resources in the Central Valley and Southern California using the
GICMA web map this is clear. Many of the groundwater basins in the Central Valley and
Southern California are high priority according to CASGEM. Surely these basins could benefit
from a GIS and enterprise database to help manage these groundwater resources if none currently
exists.

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APPENDIX A: DETAILED DATABASE DIAGRAMS

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APPENDIX B: INTERVIEW QUESTIONNAIRE AND RESPONSES
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Kathy Pons Interview
Pons was the first volunteer that I interviewed. She decided to conduct the interview face-to-face
at the Water Agency. Initially she became interested in monitoring groundwater well data at the
inception of the Sonoma Valley Groundwater Management Plan process in 2004. She started
monitoring her own well and then gradually began monitoring data for neighbors and
acquaintances in the Sonoma Valley who did not want to monitor their own wells.
She was trained to collect water level data by Stephen Fuller-Rowell of the Sonoma
County Water Coalition at a seminar held in Sonoma Valley. The Sonoma County Water
Coalition is an organization comprised of 30 nonprofit groups in Sonoma County that are
interested in the protection of local water resources. Pons has also attended groundwater well
monitoring methods classes taught by Marcus Trotta of WRP. Marcus is a professional
Hydrogeologist. Both of these individuals are acceptable training sources.
The only data that Pons sends to the Water Agency is the water level depth data and this
is the only data that she collects. The first time she monitors a well she also collects location
information with a simple hand-help GPS unit. Pons collects the water level data twice a year, in
the spring and the fall and she submits as soon as she has collected all depth data with no lag
time between collection and submission. Pons stated that she never skips collecting the data, the
date of collection may change a little from year-to-year but she’s essentially consistent in her
data collection.
Pons came to collect data on other people’s wells due to the fact that these other private
well owners do not want to collect their own data. She mentioned in passing that some other well
owners have concerns about sharing data with the government and with regard to some well
owners, they will not allow Pons to monitor their wells for this reason. The only trouble Pons has
ever had with collecting data is due to an unfamiliar dog or a locked gate. Typically Pons will
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contact the well owner the first time that she sets out to collect data and after the initial contact
she only send emails or may phone call to let the well owner know she intends to check the well
on the upcoming weekend.
The method that Pons uses to check the well depth level is a cable or tape that she drops
into the well. When the weight on the end of the cable hits the water she records the
measurement. Over the past year Pons has been working in conjunction with an intern from the
Water Agency to help in the field collection. Typically, the intern will go into the well, take the
measurement and call out the reading to Pons who then writes the measurement down in a
journal. She then transposes this information into an Excel spreadsheet when she returns home.
When she has completed all of her measurements she sends this information to the Water
Agency.
Pons monitors 36 wells and has not trained any other volunteers. The only volunteer that
she knows is Ed Nelson. Pons shared that she thinks the monitoring program is very important
and she finds this information about water depth in her well and the surrounding wells to be very
interesting. Pons was an interesting person to interview, her own desire to know more about the
resources in her area makes her a concerned citizen and perhaps a citizen scientist. She is
collecting this information purely for the benefit of knowledge, without any desire for personal
gain other than her own understanding and to inform the Water Agency about water levels in her
basin.

Ed Nelson Interview
Nelson started monitoring well data in 2005. Nelson was part of the group that worked on the
formation of the Sonoma Valley Groundwater Management Program in 2007. Currently Nelson
sends well water depth data twice a year, in the spring and the fall. He also collects and submits
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well location and water depth reference level when a well is first added to the volunteer program.
He submits the data shortly after he takes the measurements and there is no significant lag time
between collection and submission.
Nelson began collecting water level depth data from wells on other private citizen’s
property as a result of his involvement with Sonoma Valley Groundwater Management Program
in 2007. He sometimes has trouble accessing wells on private properties and wrote in his
interview that when people volunteer their wells for the monitoring program, they agree to allow
access. He accesses some wells at any time without making an appointment, and for others he
makes an appointment. He does know other volunteers but did not elaborate on other volunteers.
With regard to other well monitors, no one but Nelson or other official well monitors
submit data to the Water Agency. As far as Nelson is aware, no one has submitted water level
data before him. According to Nelson, a number of people that he has asked to volunteer their
wells for the monitoring program have declined. There are many well owners that have not been
contacted personally to volunteer their wells for monitoring. There are many people that Ed
knows who do not volunteer their well data.
Nelson has two basic methods for collecting water level depth data. The first is to drop a
cable down the well until it reaches water, and the second is to use a sonic meter. The meter
sends a sound wave from the reference surface to the water surface. The wave is reflected back
to the meter and the round trip time is measured. Knowing the speed of sound in the path
between reference surface and the water surface allows calculation by the meter of the water
depth.
Nelson mentioned in his interview that he monitors 34 wells in the volunteer program,
while the source information received from WRP shows him as the Source for 44 wells. This
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discrepancy will be cleared up in the future. However, Nelson also mentions in his interview that
he occasionally monitors a few others that are not signed up for the program, these numbers
change with time because of both additions and subtractions. This may explain the discrepancy.
With regard to training, Nelson has not trained other volunteers. Nelson was trained in
the cable measurement method in 2004 by Paul Gradolph (Operations and Maintenance
Supervisor of the Valley of the Moon Water District at the time), this is an acceptable training
source. He trained himself to use the sonic method simply by reading the sonic meter manual. To
verify the sonic method, he took many measurements to compare the two methods.
In his final comment, Nelson writes that the current program is an outgrowth of an earlier
program initiated jointly by the Valley of the Moon Water District (VOMWD) and the City of
Sonoma (COS) in fall 1999. Nelson started collecting data from both VOMWD and COS in 2001
and started making the VOMWD measurements himself in 2004. In 2005 and 2006, supplying
all the data to the USGS for use in their Sonoma Valley groundwater study (USGS Report 2006-
5092). This data (together with data collected by the Department of Water Resources) were the
initial data for the current monitoring program.

Abstract (if available)

Abstract Citizen scientists and governments are managing resources and collaborating at a level unimaginable before the era of Web 2.0. The opportunities that currently exist for these collaborations are as exciting as they are manifold. These opportunities are only out-paced by the numerous challenges that scientists and citizens face. This thesis presents web mapping applications and associated databases developed for collecting, storing and depicting groundwater well data. These Geographic Information Systems (GIS) tools were developed to support the collaboration between citizen scientists and a local water agency, monitoring groundwater resources in two basins in Sonoma County, California: Santa Rosa Plain and the Sonoma Valley Groundwater Basin. The government-supplied data provided by the Sonoma County Water Agency and volunteer gathered data provided by volunteers from Sonoma Valley ensured the continued success of groundwater resource monitoring. While these volunteers were not trained professionals, the data and information that they provide is unique and invaluable. Their efforts, coupled with the local government agency have made resource management plans for groundwater successful. This thesis was successful in improving the previous methods of data management, communication and data-sharing while also providing opportunities for future improvement.

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Asset Metadata

Creator Kelley, Heather M. (author)

Core Title Creating a well database and web mapping application: using geographic information systems to manage and monitor groundwater resources in Sonoma County, California

School College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

Degree Master of Science

Degree Program Geographic Information Science and Technology

Publication Date 09/29/2016

Defense Date 08/26/2016

Publisher University of Southern California (original), University of Southern California. Libraries (digital)

Tag California,groundwater,OAI-PMH Harvest,SGMA,Sonoma county,Sustainable Groundwater Management Act,wells

Format application/pdf (imt)

Language English

Contributor Electronically uploaded by the author (provenance)

Advisor Sedano, Elisabeth Jane (committee chair)

Creator Email hethkelley@yahoo.com,hmkelley@usc.edu

Permanent Link (DOI) https://doi.org/10.25549/usctheses-c40-309349

Unique identifier UC11214252

Identifier etd-KelleyHeat-4841.pdf (filename),usctheses-c40-309349 (legacy record id)

Legacy Identifier etd-KelleyHeat-4841.pdf

Dmrecord 309349

Document Type Thesis

Format application/pdf (imt)

Rights Kelley, Heather M.

Type texts

Source University of Southern California (contributing entity), University of Southern California Dissertations and Theses (collection)

Access Conditions The author retains rights to his/her dissertation, thesis or other graduate work according to U.S. copyright law. Electronic access is being provided by the USC Libraries in agreement with the a...

Repository Name University of Southern California Digital Library

Repository Location USC Digital Library, University of Southern California, University Park Campus MC 2810, 3434 South Grand Avenue, 2nd Floor, Los Angeles, California 90089-2810, USA