TR-470 Implementing the Pecos River WPP through a Heliborne Electromagnetic (EM) Survey: Final Report
Authors: L. Gregory, Z. Sheng, A. El Hassan, A.K. McDonald, A. Porter
The Pecos River Watershed Protection Plan identifies the need to identify the sources and specific locations of salinity loading to the river; specifically between Pecos, TX and Girvin, TX. Between these points, the river traverses more than 100 miles making intensive, ground-based data collection extremely difficult and time consuming. To allow for rapid and continuous data collection, a Heliborne Electromagnetic (EM) Survey was planned. Its goals are to 1) identify salinity sources and understand mechanisms of solute transport in the Pecos River and 2) gain a better understanding of hydrological connections between surface water and groundwater as well as inter-aquifer (shallow-deep aquifers) exchange. However, landowner’s privacy concerns prevented the survey from being conducted and led to the early termination of the project.