California has been called the most hydrologically altered landmass on the planet, and it is true. Today the state bears little resemblance to its former self. Where deserts and grasslands once prevailed, now reservoirs store water to move it to the arid land. Swampy marshes have given way to landfill for urban development. Wetlands have been converted to farmland. California’s water resources now support 35 million people and irrigate more than 5.68 million acres of farmland.
California is no stranger to drought. When conditions become dry, water storage declines and water conservation mandates make news headlines; questions from the public often surface about what appear to be easy solutions to augment the state’s water supply. But the answers can be complicated and, in the end, there is no silver bullet to ensure a resilient water supply, especially during drought.
We explore “frequently asked questions” often posed by the public and provide answers below. Simply click on the question for the answer to appear.
Fresh water is already a finite resource in California, so with or without drought conditions, it’s important to reduce water use where and when possible.
A series of storms swamped California in 2018 and early 2019, erasing drought conditions for the first time in seven years. The three-year period between 2012 and 2014 was the driest in 120 years of recorded history.
Watersheds are all around us. You’re sitting or standing in one right now.
A watershed is more than just a piece of land that water flows through. It is a place where people and animals live, and plants and trees grow. All life is dependent on a healthy watershed. Without watersheds, we wouldn’t have water for farms, cities, wildlife, recreation – everything!
The slideshow is packed full of useful information and photographs, maps and web links to help you explore each topic further.
Salt. In the right amount, it’s a gift from nature. Our bodies need some salt to absorb water and, basically, to survive. But any doctor will tell you, if you take in too much salt, you’ll start to have health problems. A similar negative effect is happening in California and is particularly obvious in the Central Valley.
Excess salinity poses a growing threat to food production, drinking water quality and public health. Salts increase the cost of urban drinking water and wastewater treatment, which are paid for by residents and businesses.
The 1,440-mile-long Colorado River passes through parts of seven states, several Indian reservations and into Mexico. Since the river was first tapped by humans 1,500 years ago, the water has been claimed, reclaimed, divided and subdivided many times.
Today, there are many demands for Colorado River water: Agriculture and Livestock, Municipal and Industrial, Recreation, Fish/Wildlife and Habitat, Hydroelectricity, Tribes and Mexico.
More water is exported from the Colorado River’s 250,000 square-mile basin than from any other river basin in the world. Every drop of its average 5 trillion gallons of water is used each year. In fact, the river often runs dry before it reaches its final destination at the Sea of Cortez in Mexico because of use by the United States and Mexico. There’s no doubt: All the competing demands for the water make it one of the most controlled and controversial rivers in the United States.
Watch the Colorado River slideshow, which is full of useful information and photographs, maps and web links to help you explore Colorado River topics further.
California Watersheds: Our Vital Link Slideshow
Watersheds are all around us. You’re sitting or standing in one right now.
A watershed is more than just a piece of land that water flows through. It is a place where people and animals live, and plants and trees grow. All life is dependent on a healthy watershed. Without watersheds, we wouldn’t have water for farms, cities, wildlife, recreation – everything!
The slideshow is packed full of useful information and photographs, maps and web links to help you explore each topic further.
What you will learn:
How watersheds function and how their overall health impacts all life around it
What issues threaten watersheds: Land-based pollutants, recreation, development, water quality, high-intensity fire and unhealthy forests
What’s being done through watershed management to ensure watershed health is maintained and improved
Where individual projects all over California are making a real difference
How you can locate the watershed in your area and get involved.
State Water Project Slideshow
This full-color slideshow, entitled “The State Water Project: Connecting California’s Water,” pays tribute to California’s State Water Project (SWP), celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2010.
The slideshow highlights the historical value of the SWP to the daily lives of Californians. In total, the SWP provides drinking water for 25 million people and irrigation water for more than 750,000 farmland acres. In 2001, the American Society of Civil Engineers selected the SWP as one of the greatest engineering achievements of the 20th century.
