Why it’s hard for California to store more water underground
Despite the storms that have deluged California this winter, the state remains dogged by drought. And one of the simplest solutions — collecting and storing rainfall — is far more complicated than it seems. Much of California’s water infrastructure hinges on storing precipitation during the late fall and winter for use during the dry spring and summer. The state’s groundwater aquifers can hold vast quantities of water — far more than its major reservoirs. But those aquifers have been significantly depleted in recent decades, especially in the Central Valley, where farmers have increasingly pumped out water for their crops. And as Raymond Zhong, a New York Times climate journalist, recently reported, the state’s strict regulations surrounding water rights limit the diversion of floodwaters for storage as groundwater, even during fierce storms …
Related articles:
- ABC 7 – Los Angeles: Orange County Water District looks to replenish groundwater basin for the 2nd time this year
- CA Natural Resources Agency: 6 ways California is capturing & storing water from storms
- KSBW – Monterey: Record rainfall out to sea has water agencies talking about tapping the potential
- Hanford Sentinel: Kings River runoff estimated at 180%