A new Layperson’s Guide to the Colorado River Delta is now available from the Water Education Foundation. This 24-page publication provides readers with the facts about the past, present and future of this once-vast wetlands area at the end of the Colorado River near the Gulf of Mexico.

Also now available to the readers of this acclaimed series: a revised and updated Layperson’s Guide to Groundwater. Expanded to 28 pages, this version of this popular title now includes more information about groundwater overdraft and subsidence, and explains efforts underway to implement California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.

“The Foundation’s Layperson’s Guide series is an ideal way to learn about all aspects of water in California and the Southwest,” said Jennifer Bowles, Foundation executive director. “The Colorado River and groundwater play such key roles in California water so these two publications can really help the public to become more aware of the history, use and issues associated with water in easy-to-understand prose.”

The guide to the Colorado River Delta provides an overview of the history of this once-vast wetlands, its geographic scope, environmental significance, role within the Colorado River Basin, and issues related to its restoration – including the pulse flow in Minute 319 (the supplemental agreement to the 1944 U.S.-Mexican Water Treaty).  

The 2017 version of the groundwater guide still provides the basic explanation of what groundwater is – not an underground network of rivers and lakes! – and the important role it plays in the story of water use in California.

“The revised and updated guide also gives readers vital information on California’s reliance on groundwater, especially during the recent drought, and how management of the resource has taken center stage with passage of California’s first-ever groundwater management law,” said Sue McClurg, Foundation deputy executive director.

In addition, the guide discusses the history of groundwater use and development, problems related to overdraft and subsidence, groundwater pollution and cleanup efforts, and includes a glossary of groundwater terms.

The guides are $15 each; click here to place an order. If you are a major contributor to the Foundation ($100 or more annually), your free guides will be in the mail soon.

“We want our members to have the most up-to-date information from a reliable and impartial source so we offer all updated guides or new ones as a benefit to major contributors,” Bowles said.

The Foundation’s Layperson’s Guides offer readers an easy-to-understand, broad overview and perspective on a variety of important water topics. They are available as a set or individually.