Recharging more water from large winter and spring storms into California’s underground aquifers is a powerful tool for reducing groundwater overdraft, improving drought preparedness, and limiting flood risk to downstream communities. The banner wet year of 2023 saw considerable progress on this front. The state facilitated the recharge of flood flows through new executive orders and legislation (SB 122), and numerous local programs got more water into the ground. In the water-scarce San Joaquin Valley, our recent survey found that recharge had increased by 17% since 2017, another very wet year. As we enter another storm season, stakeholders are focused on understanding a key question: how to build on this success, while ensuring that enough water stays in rivers to protect the environment and the rights of downstream water users?

Other groundwater article:

• California Globe: Finding Water for the San Joaquin Valley