California Department of Water Resources (DWR) Completes First Phase of Innovative Groundwater Mapping ProgramState-of-the-art helicopter-based ...
Published on by Water Network Research, Official research team of The Water Network
State-of-the-art helicopter-based technology and local coordination improve management of our underground water supply
March 7, 2024 - Sacramento, Calif. – National Groundwater Awareness Week is next week, and in the spirit of promoting groundwater knowledge, cadwr ground water mappingthe Department of Water Resources (DWR) is excited to announce that its innovative groundwater mapping project is complete and will provide critical information about our underground water supply.
The California Department of Water Resources Statewide Airborne Electromagnetic (AEM) Surveys holds an event to learn about AEM surveys, the innovative technology used to conduct them, and how the information gathered supports the implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). Photo taken April 8, 2022.
The Statewide Airborne Electromagnetic (AEM) Survey Project has now completed surveys in all high-and-medium-priority groundwater basins in California.
AEM surveys use state-of-the-art helicopter-based technology to scan the earth’s subsurface to depths of up to 1,000 feet, like taking an MRI of the earth, to visualize the aquifer structures beneath our feet. You can see the AEM equipment in action in this DWR video: DWR's Airborne Electromagnetic (AEM) Surveys: The AEM Method (youtube.com).
DWR collected nearly 16,000 miles of AEM data within 95 groundwater basins across California between December 2021 and November 2023. This data, which is now publicly accessible, is invaluable for identifying the most suitable locations to implement groundwater recharge projects that can capture water from winter rain and runoff events to store underground for use during dry periods.
The replenishment of depleted groundwater basins is a key action that local agencies are implementing under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) and is an essential part of California’s long-term water resilience and drought mitigation efforts, as seen in Governor Gavin Newsom’s strategy document, “California’s Water Supply Strategy, Adapting to a Hotter, Drier Future.”
“AEM data helps GSAs move more expediently towards development of projects in areas previously deemed as non-suitable for groundwater recharge,” said Kassy Chauhan, Executive Officer, North Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency. “AEM has helped to navigate below ground to find the small pockets where the soil conditions are prime for groundwater recharge to occur. The picture of the sub-surface geology helps with project siting and ensures available financial resources are going towards feasible projects which will help get water into the underground helping the North Kings GSA reach its sustainability goals.”
Attached link
https://goldrushcam.com/sierrasuntimes/index.php/news/local-news/54683-california-department-of-water-resources-dwr-completes-first-phase-of-innovative-groundwater-mapping-programTaxonomy
- Groundwater Modeling
- Groundwater Mapping
- Groundwater Quality & Quantity
- Groundwater Resource