Acknowledgments

The authors thank the many people that contributed their time and knowledge to help complete this study. We are grateful to the many well owners who have permitted access to their wells, well drillers who have diligently recorded and reported their findings, and the many people and agencies that collect, analyze, maintain, or disseminate the scientific data needed for studies of groundwater systems. The following agencies are noted for their special assistance with the collection of data used in this study: U.S. Department of Energy, Oregon Water Resources Department, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Washington Department of Ecology, South Columbia Basin Irrigation District, Walla Walla Basin Watershed Council, Palouse Basin Aquifer Committee, East Columbia Basin Irrigation District, Bureau of Reclamation, Franklin Conservation District, and the Columbia Basin Ground Water Management Area. USGS employees whose efforts contributed to the study include Erick Burns, Matt Ely, and Sue Kahle, whose statistical, modeling, and geologic expertise facilitated the interpretation of the data; Gregory Justin, Karen Payne, Danial Polette, Kevin Knutson, Rachel Peavler, Keith Hein, Peter Elliott, Tessa Harden, Annette Campbell, and Benjamin Johnson (volunteer) who assisted in the collection of field data to supplement the knowledge of the groundwater system; Leonard Orzol, Tiffany Jacklin, and Elisabeth Fasser whose skills greatly simplified access to existing data; David Morgan and Richard Dinicola for their guidance and support, and the many other USGS employees whose everyday efforts go to support this and many other studies.