Following on previous efforts by the Western Australia (WA) Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) in the Myalup region just south of Perth, an airborne electromagnetic (AEM) survey is available as part of the Water for Food initiative. The WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) engaged CSIRO to provide an updated map of the electrical conductivity of the saturated zone of the Superficial Aquifer and to provide potential exploration drilling targets for groundwater resources in the Leederville Formation. In addition to these objectives, we provide an updated surface of the base of the Leederville Formation based on reinterpretation of the AEM inversions and available borehole information.
Comparison of groundwater salinity (measured from available monitoring and production bores) to inverted AEM conductivity provides the basis of a 3D atlas of Leederville Formation groundwater conductivity for the survey region. DPIRD has produced a web-based groundwater quality map for agricultural and groundwater development. The interactive map allows a user to query the survey region for specific ranges of groundwater quality. A pop-up display then informs the user on the depth and thickness of the aquifer that satisfies the search criterion. This tool will allow agriculturalists and other users to specifically target areas for groundwater extraction and provides a spatial information system for future development and maintenance of the groundwater resources in the region.