Spatio-Temporal Monitoring Of Floodplain Environments Using Electromagnetic Methods: A Scaled Approach To Understanding Surface Water- Groundwater Interactions On The Chowilla Floodplain, South Australia

Geophysical methods are used in Australia to provide detailed spatial information to help predict the impact of current and future irrigation developments, the design of salt interception schemes and protection of floodplain values. RESOLVE frequency domain helicopter electromagnetic data were acquired over the Chowilla Floodplains, in the Lower Murray region of southern Australia, to provide detailed baseline data on the spatial distribution of near-surface salt stores and materials in the floodplain and their relationship with in-river salinity. Degradation across the floodplain and wetlands has resulted primarily from a significant reduction in flood events, and overgrazing. Restoration of the floodplain will involve the reduction of salinity flow from groundwater into the river and increasing H87environmental flows across the floodplain. Conductivity models predicted from HEM data help identify local recharge and discharge areas,<br>and links with river salinity. The baseline data provided by the airborne data are used with high resolution ground EM surveys including EM31 and time-domain EM, over targeted areas. Ground methods can be repeated, to monitor affects of artificial flooding designed to restore vegetation health. Similarly the combination of airborne and ground data, allows piezometers to be effectively targeted with the resulting information interpreted within the context of the baseline conductivity structure defined form airborne data.