DWR's Basin Characterization Program

DWR has a long history of studying and characterizing California’s groundwater aquifers as a part of [California’s Groundwater (Bulletin 118)](https://water.ca.gov/Programs/Groundwater-Management/Bulletin-118 "California’s Groundwater (Bulletin 118)"). [California's Groundwater Basin Characterization Program](https://water.ca.gov/Programs/Groundwater-Management/Bulletin-118/Basin-Characterization "California's Groundwater Basin Characterization Program") provides the latest data and information about California’s groundwater basins to help local communities better understand their aquifer systems and support local and statewide groundwater management.  

Under the Basin Characterization Program, new and existing data (AEM, lithology logs, geophysical logs, etc.) are integrated to create continuous maps and three-dimensional models. To support this effort, new data analysis tools have been developed to create texture models, hydrostratigraphic models, and aquifer flow parameters.  Data collection efforts have been expanded to include advanced geologic, hydrogeologic, and geophysical data collection and data digitization and quality control efforts will continue. To continue to support data access and data equity, the Basin Characterization Program has developed new online, GIS-based, visualization tools to serve as a central hub for accessing and exploring groundwater related data in California. 

Additional information can be found on the [Basin Characterization Program webpage](https://water.ca.gov/Programs/Groundwater-Management/Bulletin-118/Basin-Characterization "Basin Characterization Program webpage").

#Local, Regional, and Statewide Groundwater Investigations
DWR is undertaking local, regional, and statewide investigations to evaluate California's groundwater resources and develop state-stewarded maps and models. The following section describes the work being conducted in each area and links to view available datasets. 

##Local Investigations 

+ [Madera & North Kings](https://data.cnra.ca.gov/dataset/dwr-basin-characterization/resource/8400c923-e18d-4ac5-958b-82f88e5af4f8 "Madera & North Kings"): AEM data collection, lithology log digitization, texture model development, aquifer recharge potential mapping analysis.
+ [Pajaro](https://data.cnra.ca.gov/dataset/dwr-basin-characterization/resource/043aaa87-5c5d-433e-9afe-80f6966ca3ad "Pajaro"): AEM and tTEM data collection
+ [Western San Joaquin Valley](https://data.cnra.ca.gov/dataset/dwr-basin-characterization/resource/c2633b9c-cd34-445b-ac2d-4a5b49eb881d "Western San Joaquin Valley"): AEM data collection, lithology and geophysical log data digitization, texture model development.
+ [Prospect Island](https://data.cnra.ca.gov/dataset/dwr-basin-characterization/resource/b96e8832-d8af-416e-abcd-9240f7fb33d4 "Prospect Island"): AEM data collection, FloaTEM data collection test.

##Regional Investigations

+ [Sacramento Valley](https://data.cnra.ca.gov/dataset/dwr-basin-characterization/resource/fed9f9dd-fd0d-4ef6-a21b-a8835404b3c6 "Sacramento Valley"): AEM data collection, texture model development, aquifer recharge potential mapping analysis. 
+ [Four County Area of San Joaquin Valley (Madera, Fresno, Kings, and Tulare counties) ](https://data.cnra.ca.gov/dataset/dwr-basin-characterization/resource/a19efaf7-c0c0-4816-bcdc-1c1010a38ab3 "Four County Area of San Joaquin Valley (Madera, Fresno, Kings, and Tulare counties) "): AEM data collection, data digitization, texture model development, hydrogeologic conceptual model development, clay delineation, subsidence potential and mitigation, and aquifer recharge potential mapping analysis.
+ [San Joaquin Valley](https://data.cnra.ca.gov/dataset/dwr-basin-characterization/resource/19ea1234-6545-41c9-aeb2-f655d6599286 "San Joaquin Valley"): AEM data collection, data digitization, texture model development, hydrogeologic conceptual model development, clay delineation, subsidence potential and mitigation, and aquifer recharge potential mapping analysis.

##Statewide Investigations
+ [Statewide AEM Surveys](https://data.cnra.ca.gov/dataset/dwr-basin-characterization/resource/c9297796-80fb-4a0c-9464-5ec7a12c24bf "Statewide AEM Surveys"): AEM data collection, geophysical and lithology log data digitization.

# [Maps and Models](https://data.cnra.ca.gov/dataset/dwr-basin-characterization/resource/6b4823ed-e1e6-4a91-b1c6-f88423962f90 "Maps and Models")
 New and existing data have been combined and integrated using the analysis tools described below to develop maps and models that describe grain size, the hydrostratigraphic properties, and hydrogeologic conceptual properties of California’s aquifers. These maps and models help groundwater managers understand how groundwater is stored and moves within the aquifer. The models will be state-stewarded, meaning that they will be regularly updated, as new data becomes available, to ensure that up-to-date information is used for groundwater management activities. The first iterations of the following maps and models will be published as they are developed:  

+ Texture Models 
+ Hydrostratigraphic Models
+ Aquifer Recharge Potential Maps
+ Extent of Corcoran Clay
+ Base of Freshwater

 

# Data Collection & Digitization

## [Collected Geophysical Data](https://data.cnra.ca.gov/dataset/dwr-basin-characterization/resource/32347fa2-cadb-4994-88aa-6e9a87914c4e "Collected Geophysical Data")
As a part of the Basin Characterization Program, advanced geologic, hydrogeologic, and geophysical data will be collected to improve our understanding of groundwater basins. Data collected under Basin Characterization are collected at a local, regional, or statewide scale depending on the scope of the study. Geophysical data collection methods include:

+ Airborne electromagnetics (AEM)
+ All-terrain vehicle towed electromagnetics (tTEM)
+ Floating towed electromagnetics (FloaTEM)
+ Geophysical borehole logging


## [Digitized Lithology and Geophysical Logs](https://data.cnra.ca.gov/dataset/dwr-basin-characterization/resource/942aa75e-8727-4e12-84a6-280b5896f3b0 "Digitized Lithology and Geophysical Logs")
Lithology and geophysical logging data have been digitized to support the Statewide AEM Survey Project and will continue to be digitized to support Basin Characterization efforts. All digitized lithology logs with Well Completion Report IDs will be imported back into the OSWCR database. 


#[Analysis Tools and Process Documents](https://data.cnra.ca.gov/dataset/dwr-basin-characterization/resource/ffcfe414-9221-4ddd-970c-40e83c65909b "Analysis Tools and Process Documents") 
To develop the state-stewarded maps and models outlined above, new tools and process documents have been created to integrate and analyze a wide range of data, including geologic, geophysical, and hydrogeologic information. By combining and assessing various datasets, these tools help create a more complete picture of California's groundwater basins.  All tools, along with guidance documents, are made publicly available for local groundwater managers to use to support development of maps and models at a local scale. All tools and guidance will be updated as revisions to tools and process documents are made. 
 

##Data Analysis Tools

+ [Data2Texture](https://data.cnra.ca.gov/dataset/dwr-basin-characterization/resource/91b11192-9867-4020-82f0-df795d6eb7b4 "Data2Texture"): Data2Texture is an advanced spatial data interpolation tool for estimating the distribution of sediment textures from airborne electromagnetic data and lithology logs to create a 3D texture model

+ [Data2HSM - Smart Interpretation](https://data.cnra.ca.gov/dataset/dwr-basin-characterization/resource/a00585a3-d330-41b1-aeba-f450526596b9 "Data2HSM - Smart Interpretation"): Data2HSM via Smart Interpretation (SI) is a semi-automatic Python tool for delineating continuous hydrogeologic surfaces from airborne electromagnetic data products.

+ [Data2HSM - Gaussian Mixture Model](https://data.cnra.ca.gov/dataset/dwr-basin-characterization/resource/14a82d4c-c6f7-4d13-8189-91cada79f867 "Data2HSM - Gaussian Mixture Model"): The Data2HSM via Gaussian Mixture Model tool ingests the AEM data and groups the data into a user-specified number of clusters that are interpreted as stratigraphic units in the hydrostratigraphic model (HSM)

+ [Data2HSM - Geological Pseudolabel Deep Neural Network](https://data.cnra.ca.gov/dataset/dwr-basin-characterization/resource/ab9d4d5b-0c7a-4374-a3bc-1ad6f1c25621 "Data2HSM - Geological Pseudolabel Deep Neural Network"): The GeoPDNN (Geological Pseudolabel Deep Neural Network) is a semi-supervised machine learning tool that integrates lithologic well logs and AEM data into plausible stratigraphic surfaces.

+ [Texture2Par V2](https://data.cnra.ca.gov/dataset/dwr-basin-characterization/resource/ef60d3ee-91d3-40cc-9455-5b9775993ee5 "Texture2Par V2"): Texture2Par V2 is a groundwater model pre-processor and parameterization utility developed to work with the IWFM and MODFLOW families of hydrologic simulation code.

##Process Documents

+ [Aquifer Recharge Potential Mapping](https://data.cnra.ca.gov/dataset/dwr-basin-characterization/resource/7d33d618-38bc-4511-834c-6e791695f8e2 "Aquifer Recharge Potential Mapping"): The Aquifer Recharge Potential (ARP) Mapping Process Document provides a framework for identifying locations that have relatively higher potential for managed aquifer recharge. 

#Data Visualization 
Data access equity is a priority for the Basin Characterization Program. To ensure data access equity, the Basin Characterization Program has developed applications and tools to allow data to be visualized without needing access to expensive data visualization software. This list below provides links and descriptions for the Basin Characterization's suite of data viewers.

##[SGMA Data Viewer: Basin Characterization tab](https://sgma.water.ca.gov/webgis/?appid=SGMADataViewer#basincharacter "SGMA Data Viewer: Basin Characterization tab"): 

Provides maps, depth slices, and profiles of Basin Characterization maps, models, and datasets, including the following:

+ Aquifer Recharge Potential Maps
+ Subsurface Texture Model Depth Slices
+ Statewide AEM Survey Texture Depth Slices
+ Lithology Log Location Maps
+ Geophysical Logs Location Maps
+ Statewide AEM Survey Profile Images

##[California's Groundwater Subsurface Viewer](https://sgma.water.ca.gov/subsurfaceviewer "California's Groundwater Subsurface Viewer"): 
Provides interactive map, profile, and 3D views of the Statewide AEM Survey’s electrical resistivity and coarse fraction data, along with surface‑based geophysical datasets and lithology logs. The map view dynamically displays the surface location of subsurface AEM data.

Please review the demo videos below for instructions on how to use the CalGW Subsurface Viewer.

+ [Demo - AEM Data](https://cadwr.box.com/s/n0r66gkq4zoso0n9i6vb2o42uzcoq17s "Demo - AEM Data") 
+ [Demo - tTEM data](https://cadwr.box.com/s/a1mlh8wh2dagya4uahlxsbm9b79x44lp "Demo - tTEM data") 


#Basin Characterization Exchange
The Basin Characterization Exchange (BCX) is a meeting series and network space for the Basin Characterization community to exchange ideas, share lessons learned, define needed guidance, and highlight research topics. The BCX is open to federal, state, and local agencies, consultants, NGOs, academia, and interested parties who participate in Basin Characterization efforts. The BCX also plays a pivotal role in advancing the Basin Characterization Program’s activities and goals. BCX meetings will include regular updates from the Basin Characterization Program and participants can provide feedback and recommendations. Participants will also be provided with early opportunities to test data analysis tools and submit comments on draft process and guidance documents. BCX meetings are (generally) held the 3rd Tuesday of the month from 12:30 - 1:30 pm (PST). 

[Join the BCX listserv](https://forms.office.com/g/VgNif0iEuE "Join the BCX listserv") to become a BCX member and receive meeting registration emails. Check the [BCX Hub](https://cadwr.box.com/v/BasinCharacterizationExchange "BCX Hub") for the upcoming schedule and past meeting materials.

Tags: aem, airborne-electromagnetic, aquifers, basin-characterization, bulletin-118, california-department-of-water-resources, geophysical-logs, geophysics, hydrostratigraphic-model, lithology-logs, sgma, texture-model
Organization: State of California