Innovative Airborne Technology to Map California's Groundwater Basins

The California Department of Water Resources is using an innovative, helicopter-based technology to gather information about the state’s groundwater aquifer structure to support drought response and the implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. DWR’s use of airborne electromagnetic (AEM) surveys advances Gov. Newsom’s Water Resilience Portfolio goal of using technology to support the state’s understanding of groundwater resources.“The data collected during these surveys will provide a better understanding of California’s groundwater systems, and in turn support more informed and sustainable groundwater management and drought preparedness and response approaches,” says Steven Springhorn, DWR’s SGMA technical assistance manager.Beginning this month, DWR will conduct AEM surveys of groundwater basins in