URBANA, IL – Residents of Ford, Iroquois, and Vermilion counties in East Central Illinois may have unknowingly witnessed extraordinary science taking place overhead – a low-flying helicopter equipped with a large coil frame, part of a groundbreaking project by the Illinois State Geological Survey (ISGS), a division of the University of Illinois' Prairie Research Institute (PRI).
This federally funded initiative aims to create a detailed three-dimensional map of the Mahomet Aquifer, a vital source of drinking water for the area.
“As the Prairie Research Institute expands its pioneering aquifer-mapping project across East Central Illinois, we witness science at its finest, working tirelessly to safeguard our vital water resources,” said U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL). “Through meticulous research and cutting-edge technology, this project is paving the way for sustainable water management and resilience against climate challenges.”
The project, led by PRI geophysicist Kisa Mwakanyamale-Gilkie and PRI geologist Jason Thomason, is federally funded and will support PRI’s efforts to model the aquifer's sustainability and assess the impact of climate change and drought conditions. The findings will fill critical knowledge gaps and guide future water resource management strategies.
“The use of airborne electromagnetic mapping technology, is especially significant in Ford, Vermillion, and Iroquois County, as very little is known about the characteristics of the Mahomet aquifer in this area,” said Mwakanyamale-Gilkie, “The data we are collecting, once included in the hydrological modeling, will have crucial information with implications for irrigation, domestic water use, and economic growth for this area.”
Following the successful completion of a similar survey in Champaign County from November 2022 to January 2023, the ISGS is expanding its efforts to further understand the aquifer's structure and capacity.
“We are excited to work with the densest collection of geophysical data we’ve ever gathered for an aquifer-mapping project,” said Thomason, “These data can show us details of the subsurface we’ve never known before, and they will be valuable for years to come as new natural-resource priorities emerge.”
The helicopter will traverse the designated counties at approximately 115 feet above ground, avoiding urban areas and interstate highways to minimize electrical interference that could affect data collection.
Mwakanyamale-Gilkie and Thomason have concluded the aerial phase of data collection, and they now embark on a meticulous year-long process of analysis and refinement. This rigorous phase is critical for ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the final results, which we anticipate will be unveiled in approximately eighteen months.
This initiative underscores the Institute's commitment to advancing scientific knowledge and safeguarding Illinois' natural resources for future generations.
For more information on the Mahomet Aquifer mapping project and the Prairie Research Institute's work, please visit https://publish.illinois.edu/mahomet-aquifer-mapping/.
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Media contact: Tiffany Jolley, tjollley2@illinois.edu, (217) 300-2356.