Summary LAB/PROJECT INACTIVE

In August of 2014 EBMUD awarded a contract to the Seafloor Mapping Lab at California State University Monterey to conduct a combined hydrographic and topographic survey of Pardee Reservoir. The success of that reservoir capacity study lead to an augmentation of the original budget and scope of work to include two additional EBMUD reservoirs in this project; Upper San Leandro and Briones that were completed in spring 2016. The survey data yielded 2 foot resolution digital elevation models (DEM) of reservoir bathymetry and topography which were used to calculate reservoir volume losses since construction in the 1920’s.

Student Involvement

This project originated through the interest of AMWS PSM student John Urness, who took on an internship with EBMUD and convinced them to engage the SFML to determine the capacity of their reservoirs. John has taken the lead in data processing, product creation and report preparation for this project.

Broader Significance

The importance of this project and related SFML efforts is underscored by the unprecedented drought California is undergoing along with the predicted loss of the state’s Sierra snowpack by mid-century.