Abstract: A watershed autonomous robotic data recorder maps subsurface topography and obtains water quality data for bodies of water. The device is capable of fully autonomous, manual, or hybrid navigation and includes a modular hull design which enables customization to accommodate both large and small bodies of water. A tangle-proof propulsion system is provided, to propel the hull(s). A deployable sensor pod includes a water sensor for determining if the sensor pod is in water, a pressure sensor for determining depth of the sensor pod, and a plurality of sensors for measuring water conditions. An onboard controller operates a winch that raises and lowers the sensor pod while the controller and a GPS receiver log positions of the sensor pod. This three-dimensional environmental, physical and chemical water quality attribute data collection creates a digital twin of the body of water to establish a common data environment for water modeling and analysis.