Butte Valley Monitoring Wells

Shasta Valley Resource Conservation District (SVRCD) on behalf of the Siskiyou County Flood Control and Water Conservation District serving as the Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) for the Butte Valley Groundwater Basin 1-003, is proposing the Butte Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Implementation Project (Project).The GSA proposes to construct six (6) new dedicated shallow groundwater monitoring wells within the Butte Valley Wildlife Area (BVWA), near Macdoel, CA area. These monitoring wells will provide the basis for continuous shallow groundwater elevation data, periodic water chemistry samples, and improved data resolution and understanding of the relationship between groundwater and surface water. Additionally, these wells supplement existing monitored wells and will help elucidate the temporal and spatial relationship between groundwater levels and water surface elevation of Meiss Lake, an important lake and wetland area for migratory birds and several other native animal species. The project footprint is relatively small (approximately 10 sq. ft. per well, 60 sq. ft. total). The project utilizes direct-drive prepacked GeoProbes. The GeoProbes are driven into the ground using a special device and a truck mounted hammer. GeoProbes will be driven approximately ten feet beyond the first encountered water, or until refusal, whichever is first. To ensure a sufficient number of GeoProbes are successfully implemented, ten proposed sites will be reviewed. Given the sensitive wetland nature of the BVWA, equipment will use existing improved roads and GeoProbes will be installed in existing graveled parking lot areas. A workplan including conceptual rendering of the well construction and maps of the Project area are included.??Key actions include marking well locations, identifying underground utilities, mobilization and drilling of monitoring wells, installation of casing and sanitary seal in accordance with local, state, and USGS requirements.?This project aims to improve the temporal and spatial data resolution which will inform groundwater modeling efforts, improve understanding of Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems (GDE) and various management actions within the Butte Valley Groundwater Basin 1-003.?