Airborne Electromagnetic Surveys: One More Tool in California’s Journey to Sustainable Groundwater Management

摘要

THE SUSTAINABLE GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT ACT (SGMA) requires agencies across California to develop and carry out groundwater sustainability plans (GSPs). Plans depend on the sustainability thresholds of groundwater basins, but determining these thresholds is a complex undertaking. One new tool for collecting groundwater data—airborne electromagnetic (AEM) surveys—uses aerial surveying technology to see what’s happening below ground. Widespread use of this technology is just getting underway, but it has the potential to produce a wealth of data that can help water managers balance inflows and outflows of groundwater.