A year of average precipitation gave California’s groundwater supplies a significant boost, according to a state analysis released Tuesday. California’s aquifers gained an estimated 2.2 million acre-feet of groundwater in the 12 months that ended Sept. 30, the state’s 2024 water year. That’s about half the storage capacity of Shasta Lake, California’s largest reservoir. State officials said local agencies reported that about 1.9 million acre-feet of water went underground as a result of managed aquifer recharge projects designed to capture stormwater and replenish groundwater. … Gov. Gavin Newsom said California is collecting more groundwater data than it has previously, and is continuing to prioritize efforts to recharge aquifers. He said, however, that the state’s water infrastructure is unprepared for the effects of climate change, and he reiterated his support for building a water tunnel beneath the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.

Other groundwater news:

• The Arizona Republic (Phoenix): House passes a plan to let developers tap farmers’ water. Next stop: Hobbs’ desk
• University of New Mexico: News release: Research recommends several legal reforms to preserve groundwater in southwest​
• Triple Pundit: Blog: A map of the fastest pathways to replenish groundwater in California’s Central Valley