10/07/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/07/2024 14:17
California Department of Water Resources employee Katy Janes, Groundwater Hydrogeologist in the Geology and Groundwater Investigations Section of the Division of Regional Assistance North Central Region Office, installs new telemetry equipment in groundwater monitoring wells in the Colusa Basin in Colusa County. Photo taken July 25, 2024.
Latest report shows that local agencies have made great strides under SGMA, but climate extremes pose challenges
Groundwater levels continued to stabilize and fewer dry wells were reported in the last water year
Sacramento, Calif.- On the heels of the 10-year anniversary of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act(SGMA) last month and the start of the new water year, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) today released its Fall Semi-Annual Groundwater Conditions update.
The recent update, using the most current data and information on groundwater conditions, describes the accomplishments made towards a sustainable groundwater future under SGMA -including rebounding groundwater levels and fewer dry wells reported - as well as the challenges posed by climate extremes, especially extended periods of drought when groundwater is heavily used.
Groundwateris an important resource that helps sustain communities, households, agriculture, ecosystems and businesses across the state. Nearly 85 percent of Californians depend on groundwater for some portion of their water needs, but managing groundwater is difficult because it is out of sight, beneath our feet. Better data improves our understanding and ability to manage groundwater and prepare for extreme weather events such as droughts and floods. DWR's Semi-Annual Groundwater Conditions Updates include the latest information on statewide groundwater levels, land subsidence, well infrastructure and the status of California's groundwater basins.
"With a better understanding of groundwater conditions, state and local agencies can make more informed management decisions that will lead to a sustainable groundwater future under SGMA," said Paul Gosselin, DWR Deputy Director of Sustainable Water Management. "One of the most significant accomplishments in the first ten years of SGMA has been a great improvement in groundwater data collection and sharing."
The latest update includes data collected through August 31, 2024. A few of the highlights from the report are provided below:
Sustainable Groundwater Management Act
Groundwater Levels
Land Subsidence
Well Infrastructure and Groundwater Monitoring Enhancements
California's water year runs from October 1 through September 31. After a very wet 2023, Water Year 2024 delivered average precipitation to California along with one of the hottest summers on record and a recent fall heatwave that dried the landscape and erased some of the benefits of the past two years. Despite favorable conditions over the past two years, some areas of the state continue to experience groundwater level declines, and over the long-term, groundwater storage remains in a deficit.
With a high level of uncertainty about the season ahead, it's important to be prepared for the possibility of extreme weather eventsincluding drier than average conditions punctuated by flashy, wet storms. DWR is working with our partner agencies throughout the season to assess, adjust and adapt to changing hydrology conditions in real-time. The State and local agencies will continue monitoring and tracking groundwater conditions and collecting new data allowing locals to better manage water resources including implementing groundwater recharge during average and wet years to ensure groundwater will be available as a buffer for future dry and drought times when it is needed most.
For more information: