Laserfiche WebLink
Additional Groundwater and Agriculture Drain Monitoring Work Plan <br /> Residential Neighborhood G <br /> April 18,2005 <br /> Page 2 <br /> Consequently, Condor prepared the Additional Groundwater and Agricultural Drain Monitoring Work <br /> Plan, revised August 6, 2004, for groundwater and agricultural drainage ditch monitoring for the <br /> expanded reclamation area. <br /> In August 2004, 15 additional monitoring wells were installed. The expanded monitoring network for the <br /> additional reclamation area consisted of six pairs of very shallow and somewhat deeper wells as well as <br /> three unpaired wells (Monitoring Well Installation Report prepared by Condor dated October 7, 2004); <br /> and associated agricultural drainage ditch locations. Collection of the one-year baseline data commenced <br /> in August 2004. <br /> On September 22, 2004, a Condor representative observed that the agricultural drains for monitoring <br /> locations 8A, 9A, and 11A had been altered by construction or farming practices and were no longer <br /> usable. As an interim step, an alternative agricultural drain sample location was selected as a replacement <br /> for two sample locations that were no longer drains. A revised agricultural drain sampling plan is being <br /> submitted under separate cover for Regional Board approval. <br /> Further proposed expansion of the reclamation area has led to the development of this work plan. <br /> 3.0 MONITORING WELL DESIGN EXEMPTIONS <br /> Due to the need to monitor groundwater and agricultural drainage water near the ground surface in a flood <br /> plain area, modifications to the minimum seal thickness and to the casing height above ground specified <br /> in the State Water Well Standards and the San Joaquin County Well Standards were proposed in the <br /> August 6, 2004 work plan and are included herein. California Well Standards published by the <br /> Department of Water Resources allow for modifications to the standards. The California Monitoring Well <br /> Standards, Bulletin 74-90 (Part 1, Section 3) indicates that exemptions for unusual conditions are to be <br /> approved by the enforcing agency, the San Joaquin County Public Health Services Environmental Health <br /> Division (SJCPHS/EHD). The SJCPHS/EHD may also waive compliance to the County Well Standards <br /> under certain circumstances. The following exemptions from water well standards were approved for the <br /> previously-installed wells and must be approved by the SJCPHS/EHD for these proposed monitoring <br /> wells before drilling and installation of the wells: <br /> 1. Exemptions from the minimum surface seal thickness: The target depth of groundwater <br /> monitoring is above the depth of the specified minimum 20-foot seal thickness. Thinner seals are <br /> therefore necessary. The seal thickness for each well will be maximized within the geometric <br /> constraints of each well design. A minimum two-foot bentonite seal thickness will be placed <br /> above the screened section of each well. Overlying the bentonite seal, a surface seal of <br /> cement/bentonite grout will extend to the surface. In addition, a sloping foundation pad with a <br /> three-foot radius will be constructed to protect against ponding of surface water. <br /> 2. Exemptions from the requirement for the top of the casing to be above the 100-year flood <br /> level: Due to the location of some of the wells at the lowest points on the property(approximately <br /> sea level), it will be impractical and dangerous for personnel to conduct sampling activities if <br /> monitor wells are constructed with the casing extending to the 100-year flood level <br /> (approximately eight to ten feet above sea level). Wells located within the 100-year flood plain <br /> will be constructed with the top of the well casing four feet above ground, the maximum height <br /> appropriate for safe sampling by hand (truck access will be limited during the winter). To avoid <br /> penetration of floodwaters in the unlikely event of flooding above four feet, each well casing will <br /> be equipped with a watertight expansion cap. Watertight expansion caps are commonly used in <br /> i a CONDOR <br />