Lake Mapping in California

Lake & reservoir mapping in California

California's reservoirs are the backbone of the state's water supply, and wildfire-driven sediment is changing them fast. Our volumetric and bottom-composition surveys quantify what has changed since the original capacity tables were drawn.

California has more than 1,400 named reservoirs. Lake Monitor AI provides on-site bathymetric depth mapping, aquatic vegetation mapping, bottom composition and hardness mapping, fish and habitat mapping, side-scan imagery and GIS deliverables for waterbodies of every size across the state — from private ponds to major reservoirs.

Waterbodies
more than 1,400 named reservoirs
Survey season
year-round
Regulatory context
California Department of Water Resources (DWR)
Coverage
Entire state, we travel to you
Waterbodies we map

Lakes & reservoirs in California

Well-known California waters like these — and thousands of smaller lakes and ponds — benefit from current depth, vegetation and habitat maps.

  • Lake Tahoe
  • Shasta Lake
  • Clear Lake
  • Lake Oroville
Regional challenges

What California lake managers are dealing with

  • Drought storage accounting and capacity loss
  • Post-wildfire sediment and debris inflows
  • Invasive Egeria densa, water hyacinth and quagga mussels

Each of these starts with an accurate map. Our surveys give you the baseline and the year-over-year comparison to act on.

Who we serve in California
  • Water districts & municipalities — Water Resources & Reservoirs
  • Parks, cities & governing bodies — Community & Municipal Lakes
  • Associations & lake boards — HOAs & Lake Associations
  • Private pond & lake owners — Homeowners & Private Ponds
How a California survey works
  1. 01Consult & Plan. We learn your goals, then design a survey plan and transect coverage tailored to your waterbody.
  2. 02On-Site Data Collection. Our team travels to your site and collects survey-grade sonar and GPS data from our boat — you don't lift a finger.
  3. 03Processing & Review. Data is processed and quality-reviewed by our hydrographers and GIS specialists for accuracy.
  4. 04Delivered Maps & Reports. You receive finished, cloud-accessible maps, data layers, and a clear report ready to share.
FAQ

California survey FAQ

Ready when you are

Map your California lake or reservoir

Tell us where it is and what you need. We'll plan the survey around the year-round window and quote it with no obligation.

Request a Quote