WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
Residents in St. Joseph County and other counties in the region can expect to see low-flying helicopters beginning this week.
The flights are part of a U.S. Geological Survey, water-monitoring project to image geology and aquifers using airborne geophysical technology.
The flights started Monday and will continue into August.
The survey will span 16 counties. In addition to St. Joseph County, the aerial survey includes Cass, Branch, Van Buren and Kalamazoo counties.
Helicopters are equipped with a “hoop” that hangs roughly 100 feet beneath the helicopter. The device does not pose a risk to humans, plants, or animals, and no photography or video will be collected.
The flyovers will be conducted during daylight hours only, roughly 200 feet above the surface.
Collected data will be used to create 3-D maps of what is underground to about 1,000 feet below the surface, showing where layers of rock and aquifers are located.
