AEM Mapping Helicopters with Huge Magnets is Reshaping Water Management in Colorado and California

The Upper Black Squirrel Creek Groundwater Management District in El Paso County, Colorado, uses AEM mapping technology to locate water sources in Eastern El Paso County.

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AEM mapping involves a low-flying helicopter towing a device that identifies "rechargeable" aquifers up to 2,000 feet below the surface.

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The goal of AEM mapping is to identify areas for storing water in replenishable aquifers, creating a sustainable water source for the region.

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Groundwater from aquifers is vital for drinking water and irrigation, but the depletion of the alluvial aquifer has impacted the region.

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AEM mapping provides officials with actual data about underground resources, enabling informed water management decisions in Colorado.

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The AEM mapping device, installed on a helicopter, will survey the area from June 7th by transmitting signals to measure soil resistance and classify it as sand or clay, crucial for identifying suitable groundwater recharge areas.

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Groundwater supplies a significant portion of California's water, but overexploitation has caused water scarcity, requiring strategies like capturing floodwater and snowmelt for recharge.

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Collaborations between the Tulare Irrigation District and Stanford University focus on mapping aquifers and diverting surface water to store in the groundwater system during wet years, effectively creating an underground reservoir.

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