Beneath the Surface

Groundwater is a vital resource, but there is limited data available to help agencies and planners protect and sustainably manage it. The interaction between surface water and groundwater is complex and difficult to understand without well-developed science. The gaps in information are more problematic today than ever before. Groundwater buffers water supplies during droughts—which are occurring more often and with greater intensity due to climate change. An increasing reliance on groundwater, combined with development pressures and global demand for food, is a silent, unseen crisis for wildlife and humanity.

A group of Nature Conservancy scientists—the Global Groundwater Group—has taken on this challenge. Using advanced computing techniques and satellite imagery, the group is developing a first-of-its-kind map that locates groundwater-dependent ecosystems in arid regions. The goal of this effort is to advance sustainable groundwater management to meet the future water needs of nature and people.