GROUNDWATER & WETLANDS

Groundwater

Water is the most basic natural resource. Its availability controls not only the distribution and health of plant and animal communities but also the extent and ultimate longevity of human cultures and economies in a given area. Throughout much of the western United States and particularly in the arid regions of Nevada and Utah, knowledgeable use of water is required for long-term occupation and economic growth as well as the health and productivity of the natural environment. The primary water resource in most arid regions lies below Earth’s surface in the form of groundwater, and in the Great Basin, significant quantities of groundwater lie beneath most basins. Sustainable development of these resources depends on an accurate understanding of the groundwater system.