On Friday, March 7th, key partners and consultants gathered in person and online for the kickoff meeting of the Columbia Basin Groundwater Cooperative Interactive Web Application. This meeting marked the official start of an important effort to improve groundwater data accessibility and coordination across the Columbia Basin.
The Columbia Basin Conservation District (CBCD), in collaboration with Franklin and Lincoln County Conservation Districts, is leading the development of this new web-based tool. The Columbia Basin Groundwater Cooperative – A web resource managed by your local conservation districts for the benefit of all will serve as a centralized hub for groundwater information.
Currently, much of the region’s groundwater data exists in separate locations and is not easily accessible. This project aims to compile and organize existing information, including:
Past data and studies from the Columbia Basin Groundwater Management Area (CBGWMA)
Recent monitoring efforts by the Columbia Basin Sustainable Water Coalition (CBSWC), conservation districts, individual municipalities, Washington State University, and others
Once developed, this interactive website will help stakeholders—including water resource managers and purveyors, landowners, conservation districts, and policymakers—better understand groundwater trends, access historical and recent data, and support informed decision-making.
To move the project forward, CBCD has contracted Landau Associates, Inc., a Washington-based consulting firm specializing in environmental site management, permitting, engineering design, and water resources management. Their primary role will be to develop a Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP), conduct the compilation, synthesis, and management of the CBGWMA data, and develop the interactive GIS-based web application.
The kickoff meeting served as a critical step in aligning project goals, establishing roles, and outlining the timeline for development. This is just the beginning of an important project for the Columbia Basin. As development progresses, we will provide updates on key milestones and opportunities for engagement. Thank you to everyone who participated in the kickoff meeting—your involvement is essential in making this groundwater resource a success!
We would also like to thank the Bureau of Reclamation, the Washington State Department of Ecology’s Office of Columbia River, and the Washington State Conservation Commission for funding this important work, and the Columbia Basin Sustainable Water Coalition for providing the forum where the original need and the vision for the Columbia Basin Groundwater Cooperative Interactive Web Application was born.
Project partners anticipate the Columbia Basin Groundwater Cooperative Interactive Web Application will be live and available to the public in early 2026. For project updates, please subscribe to the Columbia Basin Sustainable Water Coalition’s newsletter here.
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