High-Resolution Bathymetric Mapping of Lake Maumelle

The bathymetric data provides a crucial foundation for data-driven water resource stewardship, supporting the mission to monitor and manage one of the region’s most vital water sources

Central Arkansas Water (CAW)

The Challenge

As part of a continuing multi-year effort to map and manage critical water infrastructure, Sanborn was awarded the second of three one-year extensions under its existing agreement with Central Arkansas Water (CAW) to complete detailed bathymetric mapping of Lake Maumelle. The goal was to produce high-resolution elevation data to support water resource planning, infrastructure maintenance, and environmental monitoring, including investigation of a recent landslide near the dam.

The Outcome

The data Sanborn collected at Lake Maumelle supports Central Arkansas Water’s mission to monitor and manage one of the region’s most vital water sources. From addressing immediate geohazard concerns near the dam to informing long-term infrastructure and environmental decisions, this high-resolution bathymetric mapping provides a crucial foundation for data-driven water resource stewardship.

The Details

Sanborn’s task involved the collection of detailed bathymetric data and the creation of derived elevation products covering the eastern portion of Lake Maumelle—specifically Grids 1 through 5, with a re-collection of the area near the dam to assess sediment movement from a recent dirt slide.

Sanborn provided Bathymetric data for Lake Maumelle

Key elements of the scope included:

Mobilization and demobilization of survey vessel
GAMS calibration and QA/QC setup
Ten days of on-water multibeam data collection using Ping DSP equipment
Data overlap with previously collected lidar datasets
Nighttime operations as needed to maintain project schedule
Daily sound velocity casts and bar checks for precision calibration
On-site data processing using Hypack, Qimera, and Cyclone
Delivery of fully calibrated point clouds and processed data in multiple formats

Technical Approach

Sanborn employed a “skunk striping” method of planned survey lines spaced at 50 meters, optimized for varying lakebed relief. Real-time kinematic (RTK) positioning and Inertial Navigation System (INS) integration ensured precise spatial accuracy.

Sanborn followed IHO Special Order hydrographic standards (S-44, Edition 6.1.0), using advanced QA/QC procedures like daily crossing lines, sound velocity corrections, and static GNSS logging for post-processing where needed.