Electrical Geophysical Data Collected in the Scott M. Matheson Wetlands Preserve Near Moab, Utah

Quantitative evaluation of groundwater/surface water exchange dynamics is universally challenging in large river systems, because existing physical methodology often does not yield spatially-distributed data and is difficult to utilize in deeper water. Here we apply combined frequency domain electromagnetic induction (EMI) and direct contact vertical electrical sounding (VES) measurements to identify shallow, fresh groundwater discharge to the Colorado River through a 4 km2 wetland that borders the town of Moab, Utah, USA. EMI data were collected by a mobile tool that was hand carried or floated on the back of a kayak, providing extensive spatial coverage for the upper approximate 5 m of river channel/sediments. The VES measurements are made by installing electrodes directly into the ground around a common point and are therefore much less-mobile than the EMI approach, but can yield information about deeper (e.g., up to 25 m) saturated sediment electrical conductivity transitions. This data release contains (2) child items, one that contains and describes the EMI data, and another that contains and describes the VES data.