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2. Groundwater Monitoring Well Network <br /> According to the conditions specified in the permit,the groundwater monitoring network was to consist <br /> of a minimum of ten wells for the measurement of water levels and a minimum of five wells for water <br /> quality testing. The wells for water quality testing were to be located such that two wells were upgradient <br /> from the Vernalis plant site, one on site, and two downgradient. To select the network wells,a <br /> preliminary groundwater investigation was conducted by LSCE in 1991 and 1992(LSCE, 1992),which <br /> indicated that the depth to groundwater ranged between 80 feet beneath the valley floor to the northeast <br /> and 250 feet beneath the mountain flanks to the southwest. In addition,a confining clay was identified <br /> beginning at an approximate depth of 250 feet beneath the Lone Tree I Mining phase that appeared to <br /> divide the underlying aquifer into shallow and deep zones. This clay is most likely the Corcoran Clay <br /> Member of the Tulare Formation,which has been reported to extend beneath much of the San Joaquin <br /> Valley,including the present monitoring network area(Hotchkiss, 1972). Further,the investigation <br /> indicated that the direction of groundwater flow in the shallow zone was to the southeast. <br /> The established monitoring network presently consists of fourteen network wells(see Figure 1). At each <br /> well in the original monitoring network,the elevations of the ground surface and wellhead were surveyed <br /> by LSCE in November and December, 1994. Ground surface and wellhead elevations were referenced to <br /> several local bench marks(DWR,USBR, and San Joaquin County)relative to the USGS datum. The <br /> survey was conducted so that measured groundwater depths could be equated to groundwater elevations <br /> that, in turn, could be used to determine groundwater flow directions beneath the area. <br /> The South Tracy#3 well was installed more recently,and presently,the ground surface elevation <br /> estimated from the USGS topographic map for the area(Solyo Quadrangle,7.5 Minute Series)is utilized <br /> to equate depth to water measurements to groundwater elevations. Similarly estimated ground surface <br /> elevations are presently utilized to equate depth to water measurements to groundwater elevations at the <br /> newly added wells Granite#3 and Granite#4. <br /> Depth-to-water measurements are retrieved in seven shallow wells(Hall,Faulkner,Rustan,Thoming, <br /> Koster,4S/6E-5A1,and 4S/6E-6A1),four deep wells(South Tracy#1, South Tracy#3,Brown's#1,and <br /> Brown's New), one composite well(the Petz irrigation well), and two newly added wells of unknown <br /> well completion intervals(Granite#3 and Granite#4). The South Tracy#3 well(previously referred to as <br /> South Tracy#2)has been utilized since 2001 in place of the Ponderosa well,which has a broken airline. <br /> The current water quality network includes two wells upgradient from the Vernalis plant(Hall and <br /> Faulkner domestic wells),two wells onsite(South Tracy#1 and South Tracy#3 production wells), and <br /> one downgradient well(Granite#3 production well). The South Tracy#3 production well was added to <br /> the water quality network in 2004 in lieu of the Brown's New well,which became inoperable in 2001 <br /> (due to the removal of the pump). Since early 2005,the Brown's#1 well has been inoperable due to <br /> vandalism. With the help of Teichert's neighbor to the south, Granite Construction,a replacement well <br /> (Granite#3),was established a few hundred feet north of the Brown's#1 well. From 1994 to 1997,the <br /> Koster irrigation well was sampled periodically(depending on the availability of a tractor engine for the <br /> pump). <br /> According to the permit requirements, depth-to-water measurements and groundwater quality sampling <br /> occurs on a quarterly schedule. Samples from the water quality network wells are analyzed for general <br /> minerals, including a selection of metals,and nitrate,all meeting Title 22 requirements. Samples from the <br /> ©LUHDORFF & SCALMANINI <br /> 2 CONSULTING ENGINEERS <br />