Scientists Investigate A Resource Critical To Millions Of People In Washington State

Groundwater is water that flows through the soil and rocks underneath us. People use groundwater for about half of their water needs in the southeast Puget Sound region. These needs include public water supply, drinking water and household use, and agricultural water demands. Groundwater is crucial for communities; however, it can be an elusive resource for scientists and managers to measure and understand because it remains hidden underground. 

The model is available so that other scientists and resource managers can use it to assess additional scenarios to inform management decisions. Resource managers may use the results of this study to evaluate the response of groundwater levels and stream base flows to potential changes in water use, drought, and other climatic conditions. 

The southeast Puget Sound groundwater investigation was conducted in close collaboration with 18 local and state water resource agencies. The model is regional in scale, covering an area of 887 square miles in central Pierce County and southwestern King County. This is an area that is more than half the size of the state of Rhode Island. The USGS holds expertise in developing large-scale investigations of water resources.

The USGS is already using the published model to further overall understanding of groundwater topics in the region, including water table depths and groundwater flow paths. The model will support continued scientific applications to for managing surface and groundwater.