It’s been three years since we took Western Water magazine online to make topical issues regarding our most vital resource in California and the West accessible to more people.

Since 1977, the magazine has been a trusted resource, and our journalism team works hard to not break that trust.

Our latest offering is a special report on groundwater because it’s so vital to California as a drinking water source and to grow our crops.

In any given year, groundwater provides 40 percent to 60 percent of the state’s supply. Some areas of the state, both urban and rural, are entirely dependent on groundwater. 

The main story in our package of articles focuses on how two Groundwater Sustainability Agencies are working to meet the requirements under the 2014 Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.

But we chose to look at two GSAs -  McMillian and East Tule i- n the critical… becauss….examining how two local groundwater agencies are taking different approaches to achieve sustainability in the San Joaquin Valley, one of the most critically overdrafted regions in the state, by 2040.

After all, no two groundwater basins are alike; they all have their own issues, whether they are dealing with … disadvantaged communities, subsidence or xxxxxx, and there is never one silver bullet for these things. 

And we included a sidebar looking at how other GSAs are using innovactive approaches to try to seek balance.

The lesser cirtical basin must turn their plans in about a year, and we hope are articles shine a light on how others are working on this tough issue. 

As always, we have a lot of other resources on groundwater at the Foundation,a California Groundwater Map, which illustrates the value and use of groundwater in California, the main types of aquifers and the connection between groundwater and surface water.

Our Layperson’s Guide to Groundwater explores management challenges – such as overdraft, land subsidence and seawater intrusion – and the laws governing the use of groundwater.

 Our Groundwater Education Bundle allows you to purchase both the map and the Layperson’s Guide at a discount.

In addition, Aquapedia – our free online water encyclopedia – has numerous entries explaining different facets of groundwater in California.