DWR's Basin Characterization Program

(Website under development)

Basin Characterization Program Overview

DWR has a long history of studying and characterizing California’s groundwater aquifers as a part of California’s Groundwater (Bulletin 118). The 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.) will be integrated to create continuous maps and three-dimensional models. To support this effort, new data analysis tools will be developed to create texture models, hydrostratigraphic models, and aquifer flow parameters. Data collection efforts will be 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 will develop 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.

DWR's Evaluation of Groundwater Resources: Maps and Models

DWR will undertake local and regional investigations to evaluate California's groundwater resources and develop state-stewarded maps and models. New and existing data will be combined and integrated using the analysis tools described below to develop maps and models to be developed will describe the 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 Important Aquifer Units
• Depth to Basement
• Depth to Freshwater

Local Investigations:

• Local Investigation: Madera & North Kings
• Local Investigation: Pajaro

Regional Investigations:

Information on regional investigations coming soon.

Data Collection, Compilation, and Digitization

Data Collection

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.

Datasets collected under the Basin Characterization Program can be found under the following resource:

• Geophysical, Hydrogeologic, & Geologic Datasets

Digitized Existing 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.

Digitized lithology and geophysical logging can be found under the following resource:

• Digitized Lithology and Geophysical Logs.

Analysis Tools and Guidance

To develop the state-stewarded maps and models outlined above, new tools and guidance will be created to integrate and analyze a wide range of data, including geologic, geophysical, and hydrogeologic information. By combining and assessing various datasets, these tools will help create a more complete picture of California's groundwater basins. All tools, along with guidance documents, will be 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 guidance are made.

Analysis tools and guidance documents can be found under the following resource:

• Data Analysis Tools and Guidance.