SAN
FRANCISCO, July 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A new
partnership between California and
Australia will test specialized
sensors to monitor water quality in the Sacramento-San Joaquin
River Delta, a crucial agricultural and ecological water body near
the Bay Area.
Developed by CSIRO, Australia's
national science agency, AquaWatch Australia will be a world-first
system which combines data from water sensors and satellites to
provide near-real-time water quality monitoring and
forecasts.
University of California (UC) Davis,
UC Merced and United States Geological Survey (USGS) will work with
CSIRO to pilot test AquaWatch, which has the potential to help
protect the Delta's natural ecosystem - including the endangered
Delta smelt - and the agricultural sector reliant on it.
Secretary Wade Crowfoot of
California Natural Resource Agency said the landmark partnership
between California and
Australia was game changing.
"This will benefit California
and our communities who rely on water quality moving through the
Delta. It will also protect fish and wildlife," Mr Crowfoot
said.
UC Merced's Dr Erin Hestir said
one of CSIRO's specialized water quality sensors has been installed
near where the Sacramento and San
Joaquin Rivers merge to monitor water delivered for agriculture and
protect the delta's natural ecosystems.
"Using the sensor, we can estimate turbidity, an important water
quality measurement for the critically endangered fish, the Delta
smelt," Dr Hestir said.
"It can also be used to give insight into where contaminants of
concern, such as mercury, may travel."
CSIRO's Dr Alex Held said testing
AquaWatch in a variety of waterways and ecosystems is helping CSIRO
to build and improve the system for use globally.
"AquaWatch will be a world first in many ways, including the
ability to forecast water quality, providing crucial early warning.
It contributes to our joint climate and sustainable development
goals on the global stage," Dr Held said.
The project contributes to a Memorandum of Understanding to
support climate adaption signed between the Australian Government
and the Californian State Government in 2023.
Australian Consul-General in Los
Angeles, Tanya Bennett, said
it was fantastic to see the AquaWatch test site in Sacramento reach this significant milestone,
as a key activity under the Australia-California agreement on climate action.
"This test site highlights the importance of global
collaborations and technology advancements to monitor the impacts
of water quality, improve our natural environments and safeguard
our future water supply," said Ms Bennett.
The Californian test site joins already established AquaWatch
sites in Australia, Italy, Malaysia and the UK, with more global sites
currently in development.
Additional quotes:
Dr Susan Ustin, UC Davis: "They
have worked on monitoring water quality in the delta using airborne
and satellite remote sensing systems for many years, especially in
relation to the growth and distribution of aquatic weeds that take
advantage of the nutrient rich waters flowing through the delta.
This study complements past work with CSIRO on remote detection of
invasive plant species and other applications of remote sensing
data."
Dr Dulcinea Avouris, USGS: "The collaboration between the USGS
California Water Science Center and CSIRO AquaWatch not only
furthers development of new sensor technology, but it also enables
further exploration of integrated sensor networks that combine in
situ measurements and satellite based remote sensing for water
quality assessment and monitoring."
For more information about AquaWatch Australia, visit
www.csiro.au/AquaWatch
– ends –
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SOURCE CSIRO