Water & Topography
Too much or not enough water? We map it, then fix it.
Too much water drowns a crop. Too little starves it. Most fields have both problems, sometimes within a few hundred feet. We use high-accuracy GPS elevation data to see exactly how water moves across your ground — and design changes that keep it where it helps.
The problem
Too much water
Ponding, drowned-out spots, wet corners that plant late and harvest poorly, and erosion where runoff concentrates.
The problem
Not enough water
High ground and slopes that shed water before it soaks in, uneven irrigation coverage, and areas that always fall short in a dry year.
Reading the land
Micro and macro topography
Micro topography
Small elevation changes of a few inches — low spots, ridges and old field features — that decide where water collects at the row level.
Macro topography
Field- and watershed-scale slope and drainage — where water enters, crosses and leaves your ground, and how neighboring land affects it.
What we do
From elevation data to earth moved
- 01
Elevation & slope mapping
RTK GPS elevation surveys turned into contour, slope and flow-path maps.
- 02
Drainage & tile design
Tile layouts and surface drainage designed from your elevation data.
- 03
Land leveling & earthwork
Cut and fill designs sent straight to scrapers and dirt-moving equipment through machine control.
- 04
Irrigation & drip tape
Consistent drip tape spacing and layouts that match the shape of the field.
- 05
Water-aware prescriptions
Seeding and fertility prescriptions adjusted for zones that are consistently wet or dry.
Common questions
How accurate is GPS elevation data?+
With RTK correction, elevation is typically measured to within about an inch — enough to see the small changes that control where water goes.
Can you use data I already have?+
Often, yes. Elevation recorded during planting or harvest with RTK guidance can be a starting point, and we can fill in gaps with a dedicated survey.
Do I need new equipment?+
Not necessarily. Many designs can run on the GPS and machine control equipment you already own. We will tell you what you need before you spend anything.
Let's look at how water moves on your ground.
Call us today for a free visit and initial evaluation.