Bathymetric surveys were conducted in December 2007 and January 2008 along sections of levees on
portions of the Sacramento, American, San Joaquin, and Calaveras Rivers. Bathymetric surveys
(bathymetry) are underwater explorations conducted on a shallow draft, jet-drive boat, equipped with
special multibeam sonar. This survey method provides detailed topographic data of the riverbed and
riverbanks that form the base of the levee systems. Highly sensitive multibeam sonar imagery is
used to reveal any underwater erosion of the riverbanks that is not clearly visible from above the river surface.
During the recent surveys, sonar data was collected along the levees as near to the water's edge
as possible. The data collected in the bathymetry surveys will supplement the above-water topographic
data collected during the LiDAR surveys conducted last year. Together, these data are being used to
assist in the geotechnical evaluation of the levees.
Bathymetric surveys were conducted in December 2007 and January 2008 along sections of levees on
portions of the Sacramento, American, San Joaquin, and Calaveras Rivers. Bathymetric surveys
(bathymetry) are underwater explorations conducted on a shallow draft, jet-drive boat, equipped with
special multibeam sonar. This survey method provides detailed topographic data of the riverbed and
riverbanks that form the base of the levee systems. Highly sensitive multibeam sonar imagery is
used to reveal any underwater erosion of the riverbanks that is not clearly visible from above the river surface.
During the recent surveys, sonar data was collected along the levees as near to the water's edge
as possible. The data collected in the bathymetry surveys will supplement the above-water topographic
data collected during the LiDAR surveys conducted last year. Together, these data are being used to
assist in the geotechnical evaluation of the levees.