Madera County committee hears seven proposals for satellite measurement and groundwater accounting platforms

Summary

Vendors including HydroSat, LandIQ, ESA, 4 Creeks, Davids Engineering/h2oTech, MLJ Environmental and United Tracking Systems presented measurement methods and grower portals in response to the county's RFP. Staff said public questions will be accepted in writing and responses posted July 15; a grower questionnaire will follow.

MADERA COUNTY, Calif. — The Madera County Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) Committee heard seven vendor presentations July 1 for satellite evapotranspiration measurement services and online groundwater accounting platforms as part of a measurement-methods RFP process.

The presentations, each limited to five to seven minutes, described providers' approaches to daily or near-daily evapotranspiration (ET) measurement, field- and parcel-level reporting, and grower-facing portals that could integrate into the County's existing data management system (DMS). Staff characterized the item as informational and said no committee action was required at the meeting.

Why it matters: The GSA is seeking tools to support SGMA implementation by providing accurate, timely estimates of consumptive use and by giving growers and the GSA a platform for water accounting, meter appeals and billing. Committee members and growers said accuracy, vendor interoperability with the county DMS, and grower outreach are priorities.

What vendors described - HydroSat (presented by Brett Blom): A remote-sensing company that operates its own satellites and provides daily ET and ETAW (evapotranspiration applied water) at field…

Madera County committee hears seven proposals for satellite measurement and groundwater accounting platforms

Summary

Subscribe to keep reading