EXPLAINER: Where does California’s water come from?
Most of us remember learning about the water cycle, so we can understand easily enough that rain and snow are the ultimate sources of most of our water supply. But what most Californians might not realize is how vast the state’s water infrastructure is that irrigates the farmland and delivers the water to our faucets and how profoundly that infrastructure has remade the state as we know it today.
Click here for more on where California’s water comes from.
EXPLAINER: California’s groundwater
Groundwater in California has been in the spotlight recently, and rightly so: we rely heavily on it. In fact, California’s groundwater usage is the highest in the United States, accounting for about 21% of the nation’s total groundwater extraction. Groundwater, often referred to as a ‘hidden resource’, plays a crucial role in California’s economy. Its vast supply has significantly contributed to the state’s status as the nation’s largest food and agricultural economy and the world’s fifth-largest overall economy. This economic significance underscores the value of groundwater, a resource that is often overlooked due to its invisible nature.
Click here to learn more about California’s groundwater.
EXPLAINER: Sustainable Groundwater Management Act
In September 2014, Governor Brown signed the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), a three-bill legislative package to sustainably manage California’s groundwater basins. A key aspect of SGMA is the emphasis on local management, mandating the establishment of Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) to create and develop groundwater sustainability plans to achieve sustainability within a 20-year timeframe.
Click here to learn more about the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.
EXPLAINER: Statewide and Delta planning processes
A list of statewide water plans, Delta plans, flood management plans, and climate change plans.
Click here to learn more about statewide and Delta planning processes.
