Neighborhood Groundwater Network (OWRD)
The Neighborhood Ground Water Network: A Pilot Program Created for the Eola Hills Ground Water Limited Area 
The Neighborhood Ground Water Network was developed as a pilot program to teach landowners the importance of caring for ground water and how to measure and interpret the water levels in their wells. Oregon Sea Grant Extension and Oregon Water Resources Department collaboratively supported this program with the help of a master’s student in Water Resources Policy and Management at Oregon State University.
What is a ground water level measurement?
The answer is here.
Pilot Program Spotlight
This program was implemented from July 2008 to June 2009 in the Eola Hills Ground Water Limited Area just northwest of Salem, Oregon. A series of community workshops were held to teach landowners about ground water science and ground water level measurement. Some landowners continued measuring the water level in their well once each month using a water level meter purchased for the community by OSU Extension Service. Oregon Water Resources Department developed an online database to collect these water level measurements from landowners. These measurements will help provide information about the health of aquifers in various locations.
Pilot Program Materials
Many materials were created for this program to offer information to community members about ground water science and ground water level measurement. These program materials have been compiled into a handbook available for community groups or organizations interested in starting a similar program in their communities. You may access some contents of the handbook online here. However, to obtain a complete digital or hardcopy version of the handbook, you should contact Oregon Sea Grant Extension in Corvallis, Oregon
For More Information
For more information on the Neighborhood Ground Water Network (or if you would like to start a similar program in your community), please contact: Megan Kleibacker, Watershed Education Program Associate, Oregon Sea Grant Extension, 30Ballard Hall, rvallis, Oregon 97331Phone: 541-737-8715 E-mail: megan.kleibacker@oregonstate.edu
Great Ground Water Links
The following websites have more information about ground water science and ground water level measurement:
