CHAPTER 5 

 GROUNDWATER DATA ISSUES 



5 . 1 Groundwater-Data Initiatives 



Groundwater protection involves a wide variety of specialized manage- 

 ment programs (and their associated databases) within different offices 

 and agencies at all levels of government. The Data Management Committee 

 was charged with the critical task of exploring different issues and needs 

 associated with groundwater -related databases. The group's primary charg- 

 es were to: provide data gathering support for the other groups; make re- 

 commendations for improved data management; and explore the use of Geogra- 

 phic Information Systems (GIS) as a tool for groundwater management. 

 However, the group focused most of its efforts on data collection for use 

 by other CCAMP committees and on the lessons learned from the databases 

 used. It was unable to spend extensive time in data gathering and 

 simultaneously examine every groundwater related data system and to make 

 in-depth recommendations. 



The CCAMP Data Management Committee found fragmentation in groundwater 

 related data systems. Through practical data- gathering efforts, came a 

 number of recommendations for improved data structure, integration and 

 accessibility. Many of the recommendations related to spatially referenc- 

 ing data and readying data for use in a GIS are contained in the CCAMP 

 report, "CCAMP GIS Demonstration Project Report". Presented in this 

 section are brief discussions of the group's groundwater- information 

 inventory, data related recommendations and the GIS study. 



5 . 2 Inventory of Groundwater Related Data Systems 



To assist CCAMP in its work, the Data Management Conmiittee extensively 

 searched agency files and libraries to locate publications, files, maps 

 and reports relating to groundwater, sources of contamination, land-use, 

 planning and related topics. These items were computerized into a 

 database so they could be used interactively by CCAMP members and are 

 currently maintained by the EPA Region I library. An inventory of these 

 data sources is available in the CCAMP report "CCAMP Bibliographies: 

 Publications and Maps" and will be provided to officials working on Cape 

 Cod groundwater management issues. 



This inventory includes the following sources of information: 



- Listing of published books, reports, articles, and maps which EPA, 

 DEQE, CCPEDC, USGS have in their respective collections dealing with 

 groundwater or sources of contamination. 



- Entries relating to Cape Cod, particularly Barnstable and Eastham. 



- Title, author, date of publication, publisher, abstract, and up to 

 six key words or subject terms. 



- All land-use, resource, or contaminant -source maps relating to Cape 

 Cod, particularly Barnstable and Eastham. 



