Last year’s groundwater recharge numbers were impressive but what about this year?
This current, remarkably average water year – not last year’s barn burner – will be the true test to see how well groundwater agencies are rejuvenating the San Joaquin Valley’s withered aquifers, longtime water managers say. Yes, 2023’s historic wet year did a lot to help groundwater levels rebound in many parts of the valley. And the numbers were impressive: 453,000 acre feet of floodwater was captured for storage, according to the state’s most recent semi-annual groundwater report released this month. The valley captured 91% of the state’s annual managed recharge, about 3.8 million acre feet. Groundwater levels rose in 52% of monitoring wells and stayed level in 44%. An area of about 800 square miles saw ground uplift, 40 times more than uplifted in 2018-2022. But the state report notes even a record breaking wet year isn’t enough to refill the aquifers and groundwater deficit persists.
Related groundwater articles:
- Chino Champion: Snowpack delivers lots of water to the Chino Basin
- UCLA Samueli School Of Engineering: New study - Climate change increases crop water demand in San Joaquin Valley, exacerbating shortage on groundwater supplies
- SJV Water: Kings County farmers face probation as state demands well registration, detailed pumping reports
- Agri-Pulse: Above-average precipitation sparks optimism for growing season