Groundwater depletion is a growing concern for regions that need to provide water for growing cities and thirsty agriculture in a drying climate, but Las Vegas offers a case study for how intervention can help stabilize a major source of potable water. New research published in Science Magazine Thursday documents dozens of cases of “groundwater recovery” across the globe — where groundwater levels rose after a prolonged period of depletion.  Las Vegas stood out as a rare case of groundwater levels recovering significantly after intervention through artificial recharge, which involves direct injection of treated unused Colorado River water into the local groundwater aquifer.

Other groundwater news around the West:

• SJV Water (Bakersfield, Calif.): State staff give thumbs down to “good guy” exemptions for Tulare County groundwater agencies
• SJV Water (Bakersfield, Calif.): Tulare County water agencies to spend $80,000 on PR campaign aimed at state funding to help farmers
• Los Angeles Times: Video: How California farms recharge groundwater
• UC Santa Barbara: Study: Why some regions are winning the fight against groundwater depletion
• EPA: News release: EPA proposes to give Colorado primacy to protect underground water resources