Mapping Snowpack with Unprecedented Precision
Arizona State University (ASU) and the Salt River Project (SRP) have launched a groundbreaking collaboration with Airborne Snow Observatories Inc. (ASO) to revolutionize how water supplies are measured in the Salt River watershed. For the first time in Arizona, a research team is utilizing an aircraft equipped with state-of-the-art scanning lidar and imaging spectrometers to map snowpack with unprecedented precision. This airborne technology, developed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, will be paired with advanced computational modeling and artificial intelligence from ASU. The flights will focus on basin areas upstream of Roosevelt Dam and the Upper Black River Basin, where a pilot and scientist will crisscross the landscape to gather data on snow depth and water content.
The significance of this project cannot be overstated for the 2.5 million residents who rely on this water supply. Historically, the Salt River watershed has proven difficult to monitor due to its snow that changes rapidly in forested regions. Accurate runoff forecasting is critical for managing the seven reservoirs that sustain the Valley. By measuring snow depth every 10 feet and analyzing snow reflectivity, this initiative provides a level of detail that standard ground-based SNOTEL sensors cannot achieve alone. This enhanced data allows SRP to time reservoir releases more effectively, ensuring that every drop of meltwater is maximized for municipal and agricultural use.
This campaign involves three scheduled flights through March, depending on weather conditions. While the aircraft captures high-resolution maps from above, SRP crews will simultaneously work on the ground to measure snow water equivalent manually, verifying the aerial data. The lidar beams measure the time it takes for light to reflect off the terrain, calculating depth with extreme accuracy, while spectrometers assess how fast the snow might melt based on its reflectivity. This fusion of aerospace technology and hydrology represents a major leap forward in resource management, promising a more resilient water future for the arid Southwest.
Written by Adam Clark. Adam has spent the past 13 years exploring the world from above by using drones, satellites, and mapping tools to better understand our landscapes. Connect with him on LinkedIn: Adam Clark
