CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES - BASIN CHARACTERIZATION PROGRAM ACTIVITIES

DWR’s Basin Characterization Program builds off DWR’s historical role in characterizing groundwater basins as a part of California’s Groundwater (formerly B-118). The Program provides the latest data and information about California’s groundwater basins to help local communities better understand and manage their aquifer systems.

Under the Basin Characterization Program, DWR will conduct a series of Groundwater Evaluations at various scales to address SGMA implementation initiatives and fill data gaps. Statewide Investigations include the recently completed Statewide Airborne Electromagnetic (AEM) Surveys, which provided an advanced geophysical dataset across the state’s priority basins and improves the understanding of large-scale aquifer structure. Local and Regional Investigations will focus on local SGMA implementation initiatives, like groundwater recharge, surface water groundwater interaction, subsidence, vulnerable domestic wells, disadvantaged communities, seawater intrusion, base of fresh water, etc. Investigations will include the collection of new data and digitization of existing data to create state-stewarded maps and models that describe the distribution of aquifer materials, aquifer structure, and recharge pathways. To develop the maps and models, new tools, analyses, and process documents will be created that integrate and analyze geologic, geophysical, and hydrogeologic datasets.

To support data access and data equity, all Basin Characterization Program datasets, tools, and maps and models will be published on the CNRA Open Data Portal. Additionally, the Program will continue to develop new online, GIS-based, visualization tools to serve as a central hub for accessing and exploring groundwater related data in California.

The Program also aims to increase coordination across groundwater-related projects, including groundwater recharge, modelling, watershed studies, water conveyance, habitat rehabilitation, and others. To support outreach and engagement with the basin characterization community, DWR has launched the Basin Characterization Exchange, which will serve as the Program’s public meeting and network platform.