Mission - The Hydrogeology specialty area supports the enhancement of an installations' critical natural resources infrastructural knowledge, maximizes operational land use and minimizes Air Force environmental liabilities through experienced technical leadership and guidance. Vision - Achieve common recognition of high-level principles for identifying hydrogeology practices that support investigation strategies and decision logic to allow for better protection of human health, safety, and the environment. Overview - The Hydrogeology Specialty Area has four subareas of operation: site-specific geology, groundwater flow, groundwater/surface water interaction, and water quality and is responsible for facilitating increased application of sound hydrogeological principles and practices in the areas of environmental management, compliance and restoration. This specialty area provides subject matter expertise in understanding fundamental geologic and hydrologic issues at installations across the Air Force and integrates an installation's geological and hydrological natural resources into the Natural Infrastructure Assets Management Plan.
Groundwater flow in aquifers ultimately is released into streams, lakes, wetlands, or springs (discharge areas). The direction of groundwater flow normally follows the general topography of the land surface. The more permeable the aquifer material, the higher the rate of groundwater flow and discharge.