Groundwater Recharge Permits
Faster, lower cost permits allow California to store more water underground for future droughts
Since 2015, California has authorized local agencies to capture enough stormwater to supply 4.5 million families for a year.
85% of Californians depend on groundwater for all or part of their water needs.
Years of extreme droughts and over pumping depleted the state’s groundwater supplies.
Some land has sunk, collapsing into the emptier aquifers' space.
This is called subsidence. It prevents the aquifer area from being refilled with water.
Refilling aquifers with stormwater can prevent or reduce the sinking.
Groundwater storage matters because California has less rain than most states
60% of California’s water comes from groundwater during droughts.
100% of water supply comes from groundwater for many municipal, agricultural, and disadvantaged communities, including farmworker towns.
- Most of California has:
- No precipitation for half the year and
- Recurring droughts of little rain or snow for several years.
State Water Resources Control Board’s Permits protect California’s rivers and Delta, and guard people’s legal water rights
- The State Water Board ensures groundwater recharging:
- Follows state law.
- Respects existing water rights.
- Doesn’t harm fish or wildlife.
- Occurs in locations not contaminated by pesticides and animal waste.
- Manages shared water resources to provide enough water supply for the state.
California:
- Started issuing 5-year permits in 2023 for easier stormwater capture.
- Shortened the time to get a 5-year permit before the rainy season in 2025.
- It used to take up to a year.
- Now it takes about 4 months.
- Lowered the cost of a stormwater permit.
State Water Resources Control Board issued 9 groundwater recharge permits this rainy season to:
- Scott Valley Irrigation District
- Sierra Valley Groundwater Management District
- Stockton East Water District
- Corning Subbasin
- Modoc County groundwater sustainability agency
- Lassen County groundwater sustainability agency
- Siskiyou County
- Tehama County
- Yolo County flood control and conservation districts.
Permits are not required to move floodwaters in emergency situations.
California Needs More Water than Most States
- 40 million people, the most people in any US state.
- Growing crops for:
- Californians.
- 1/3 of the nation's vegetables.
- 3/4 of America's fruits and nuts.
- Industry that makes up the 4th largest economy in the world.
- The salmon fishing industry needs flowing rivers.
- 33 million acres of forests that provide oxygen, climate cooling and recreation to Californians.
- A certain amount of water must flow out of California rivers and the Delta to push back salt water that would contaminate water supply for 2/3rds of the state.
