Davis Aerodrome Project (DAP) – Borehole Water Level Monitoring Data

The Davis Aerodrome Project (DAP) collected a range of environmental survey data over several field seasons to support a comprehensive environmental assessment of the proposed aerodrome. This data includes flora, fauna, soils, lake ecosystem, nearshore, marine, air quality and meteorological information which has been collected by a number of different methods, and extends across the current Davis Station, proposed aerodrome and supporting infrastructure footprint (Ridge Site), previous sites considered for the aerodrome (Heidemann Valley, Adams Flat), as well as locations across the Vestfold Hills away from any of the proposed developments. This dataset contains long-term borehole water level monitoring data collected for the Australian Antarctic Division’s Davis Aerodrome Project (DAP). Eleven boreholes were established in the 2012/13 season during preliminary site investigations undertaken as part of the Capability Development Project. During this season field investigations were centred on the coastal site at Adams Flat and the boreholes were located within soil-filled valleys between outcrops of bedrock in the vicinity of Dingle Road. Monitoring of water levels in these boreholes has been undertaken since their establishment up until November 2021 under the Year-Round Aviation Access (YRAA) scoping project and DAP. The original boreholes were drilled to a range of depths from 0.8 to 6.5 meters, and each hole was capped with a PVC casing standing approximately 20 cm above ground level. Ten sites had water well installations, with one site containing two wells. Water level measurements were taken approximately every 6-8 weeks, but more frequent measurements, generally weekly, occurring March through to May while the winter freeze occurred, and from mid-October to December when the ground water thawed. Measurements were taken using a 30m weighted tape measure from the water depth to the top of the casing with corrections made in the data table to adjust for the casing height and weighted extension to the tape measure.Site Name    Hole Depth (m recorded 12-13 in logs)HP03    1.7PDH02a    1.6HAO2    0.9HA03    0.8PDH03a    1.45PDH03b    3.7HA10    1.35PDH04    6.5HA16    1.5HA15    1.4HA14    1.4Site Names indicate the original installation method used, i.e., HP – Hand Pit, PDH – Percussion Drill Hole, HA – Hand Auger. Site ID    Easting     NorthingHP03    378520    2392932PDH02a    378445    2392916HA02    378349    2392936HA03    378244    2392810PDH03a    377977    2392239PDH03b    377981    2392235HA10    377731    2392200PDH04    377803    2392000HA16    377802    2391628HA15    377882    2391556HA14    377820    2391499(UTM Zone 44 D)