Groundwater Study Brings Back Unusual Sight Across Southwest Michigan

*GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.* — An oddity in the sky is set to return to West Michigan in 2026, as a helicopter towing a giant hexagon will be back to continue a scientific study of groundwater resources across the state.

Last August, many neighbors in the Kalamazoo area spotted the hexagon dangling beneath a helicopter, sparking curiosity and questions from residents who wondered what unusual aircraft was buzzing overhead.

The sight is not an alien technology or experimental drone, but rather part of an ongoing effort to survey aquifers and groundwater resources throughout Michigan.

"Everyone's seen the little hand metal detector. It's just a big metal detector under a helicopter," Jared Abraham of Wyoming-based Aqua Geo Frameworks told FOX 17 in 2025.

The U.S. Geological Survey is planning to conduct more flights with the magnetic hexagon in 2026 and 2027 to help the Michigan Water Use Advisory Council get a better understanding of what liquid resources are available in the state.

Survey Flights Scheduled to Begin This Spring

The survey flights are scheduled to begin this spring and stretch into the fall in 2026, covering a vast area of southwestern Michigan and beyond.

Areas where the helicopter will fly include Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Eaton, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Ottawa, St. Joseph, and Van Buren counties.

The large hexagon-shaped device can measure up to 1,000 feet beneath the earth's surface to find groundwater resources. This capability provides scientists with unprecedented insight into the subsurface geology.

Creating 3-Dimensional Maps of Underground Aquifers

The data collected allows scientists to build a 3D image of the area's geology, which should provide a better understanding of how water flows underground.

"We are hoping to have a 3-D, dimensional map of the subsurface, so we can look for all of the aquifers, those are the water-bearing zones inside the earth, so we can place our production wells in them," Jean Talanda, Water Programs Manager for the City of Kalamazoo, said last year.

The Michigan Water Use Advisory Council relies on this data to inform water management decisions across the state, ensuring that drinking water supplies and agricultural irrigation needs are met sustainably.

Safety Measures and Flight Patterns

The helicopter flights have pre-determined grids to follow, so neighbors will see it cover the same area multiple times during the survey period.

The helicopter has to fly relatively low, just a few hundred feet from the ground, but it won't fly within 500 feet of buildings. The pilot will try to avoid going over people whenever possible.

The magnetic hexagon is supposed to be safe for people, plants, and animals, according to the geological survey.

The electromagnetic field it generates is no more than what you experience standing near a toaster.

If you want to track the flights, the U.S. Geological Survey provides a live map showing where the helicopter is flying as the study progresses.

What You Need to Know

  • The hexagon is 60 feet wide according to WTVB coverage
  • It will fly approximately 100 feet above the ground
  • Pilots are instructed to maintain a distance of at least 500 feet from buildings
  • The device will actively fly around large ground equipment and animals
  • The electromagnetic field is comparable to standing near a toaster
  • The helicopter will fly in a gridded pattern to collect comprehensive data
  • The study will continue through the summer of 2026

Why This Matters for Kalamazoo Residents

This groundwater mapping initiative is particularly important for the Kalamazoo area, which has long relied on aquifers for drinking water supplies and agricultural irrigation.

The data will help the Michigan Water Use Advisory Council make informed decisions about water resource management, ensuring that current and future needs can be met sustainably.

Local residents interested in the project's timeline can monitor the helicopter's flight path through the U.S. Geological Survey website as the study progresses through the summer.