Public Update for Drought Response: Groundwater Basins with Potential Water Shortages, Gaps in Groundwater Monitoring, Monitoring of Land Subsidence, and Agricultural Land Fallowing

California’s Water Year 2014 (October 1, 2013 through September 30, 2014) was one of the driest in decades and followed two consecutive dry years throughout the state. Water year 2014 was the fourth driest year on record after 1924, 1931, and 1977, based on the Sacramento Valley water year index, and the second driest year on record after 1977, based on the San Joaquin Valley water year index.

On January 17, 2014, Governor Brown signed a Proclamation of a State of Emergency in response to the drought. In accordance with the proclamation, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) prepared Public Update for Drought Response, Groundwater Basins with Potential Water Shortages and Gaps in Groundwater Monitoring, dated April 30, 2014.

On April 25, 2014, the governor issued a second emergency proclamation to strengthen the state’s ability to manage water and habitat effectively in drought conditions and called on all Californians to redouble their efforts to conserve water. In accordance with Order #11 of the April proclamation, this report provides additional and expanded information on groundwater basins with potential water shortages, gaps in groundwater monitoring, monitoring of land subsidence, and agricultural land fallowing.