Availability of high-magnitude streamflow for groundwater banking in the Central Valley, California

Environmental Research Letters (IOP) | July 31st, 2017

California’s climate is characterized by the largest precipitation and streamflow variability observed within the conterminous US This, combined with chronic gr

California’s climate is characterized by the largest precipitation and streamflow variability observed within the conterminous US This, combined with chronic groundwater overdraft of 0.6–3.5 km3 yr 1, creates the need to identify additional surface water sources available for groundwater recharge using methods such as agricultural groundwater banking, aquifer storage and recovery, and spreading basins. High-magnitude streamflow, i.e. flow above the 90th percentile, that exceeds environmental flow requirements and current surface water allocations under California water rights, could be a viable source of surface water for groundwater banking. Here, we present a comprehensive analysis of the magnitude, frequency, duration and timing of high-magnitude streamflow (HMF) for 93 stream gauges covering the Sacramento, San Joaquin and Tulare basins in California. The results show that in an average year with HMF approximately 3.2 km3 of high-magnitude flow is exported from the entire Central Valley to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta often at times when environmental flow requirements of the Delta and major rivers are exceeded. High-magnitude flow occurs, on average, during 7 and 4.7 out of 10 years in the Sacramento River and the San Joaquin-Tulare Basins, respectively, from just a few storm events (5–7 1-day peak events) lasting for 25–30 days between November and April. The results suggest that there is sufficient unmanaged surface water physically available to mitigate long-term groundwater overdraft in the Central Valley.

Base of fresh ground water (approximately 3,000 micromhos) in the San Joaquin Valley, California

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) | June 30th, 1971

Widespread pumping of groundwater in the San Joaquin Valley began about 1900, and since 1940 pumpage has increased at an accelerated rate. In response to the heavy withdr

Widespread pumping of groundwater in the San Joaquin Valley began about 1900, and since 1940 pumpage has increased at an accelerated rate. In response to the heavy withdrawal of groundwater, water levels have declined rapidly beneath extensive areas of the valley. Consequently, it becomes necessary to delineate the base of fresh groundwater so that changes in thickness of the fresh-water zone can be monitored, and limited depths of water wells can be determined. In turn, those data will be useful in determining favorable areas for groundwater storage, and areas and depths for waste-water disposal wells. Because other agencies and the U.S. Geological Survey have collected a vast amount of well log and other data, most of the information in this report was assembled from existing files. However, for areas where data were scanty, a few hundred additional electrical logs were collected to supplement the available information.

Basin Framework for a Multi-benefit Groundwater Replenishment and Water Trading Program: Groundwater Sustainability Plan Chapter Template

Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) | October 1st, 2018

The following Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) chapter templates were developed by Environmental Defense Fund and New Current Water and Land, LLC to assist Groundwat

The following Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) chapter templates were developed by Environmental Defense Fund and New Current Water and Land, LLC to assist Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) with incorporating multi-benefit replenishment and water trading mechanisms into GSPs. These chapter templates provide an initial framework that can be adapted to reflect regional conditions and objectives. Achieving groundwater sustainability in many overdrafted basins is contingent upon collaboration between landowners/pumpers/operators (“operators”) and GSAs to replenish groundwater. Chapter [X] Multi-Benefit Groundwater Replenishment outlines mechanisms to encourage and incentivize operator engagement in groundwater replenishment projects, with opportunities to pair these efforts with community and natural resource values, such as habitat creation and improved drinking water quality. When properly designed, groundwater trading programs can assist in efficient allocation of scarce resources, while avoiding negative third party impacts. Chapter [Y]: Water Trading provides a framework for implementation of groundwater trading programs as a groundwater management mechanism. Appendix A. outlines qualifying conditions that allow for streamlined approval of water trades.

Bay Area Green Infrastructure Water Quality Synthesis

San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) | June 1st, 2018

San Francisco Bay is impacted by the numerous urban pollutants that flow from the surrounding landscape during storm events. In San Francisco Bay, total maximum daily lo

San Francisco Bay is impacted by the numerous urban pollutants that flow from the surrounding landscape during storm events. In San Francisco Bay, total maximum daily load (TMDL) clean-up plans are in place for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and mercury (Hg) (Davis et al., 2007; Davis et al., 2012). As municipalities strive to reach regulatory targets, green infrastructure (GI) presents a promising solution for managing stormwater pollutants while achieving additional environmental and social benefits. However, remaining data gaps including the best design layout, media composition, and vegetation and submerged zone effects on performance can prevent local managers from accurately assessing water quality benefits provided by green infrastructure as well as the maintenance needs to sustain adequate performance.

Benefits and Economic Costs of Managed Aquifer Recharge in California

University of California, Davis (UC Davis) | July 14th, 2016

Groundwater management is important and challenging, and nowhere is this more evident than in California. Managed aquifer recharge (MAR) projects can play an important ro

Groundwater management is important and challenging, and nowhere is this more evident than in California. Managed aquifer recharge (MAR) projects can play an important role in ensuring California manages its groundwater sustainably. Although the benefits and economic costs of surface water storage have been researched extensively, the benefits and economic costs of MAR have been little researched. Historical groundwater data are sparse or proprietary within the state, often impairing groundwater analyses. General obligation bonds from ballot propositions offer a strategic means of mining information about MAR projects, because the information is available publicly. We used bond-funding applications to identify anticipated MAR project benefits and proposed economic costs. We then compared these costs with actual project costs collected from a survey, and identified factors that promote or limit MAR. Our analysis indicates that the median proposed economic cost for MAR projects in California is $410 per acre-foot per year ($0.33 per m3 per year). Increasing Water Supply, Conjunctive Use, and Flood Protection are the most common benefits reported. Additionally, the survey indicates that (1) there are many reported reasons for differences between proposed and actual costs ($US 2015) and (2) there is one primary reason for differences between proposed recharge volumes and actual recharge volumes (AFY): availability of source water for recharge. Although there are differences between proposed and actual costs per recharge volume ($US 2015/AFY), the ranges for proposed costs per recharge volume and actual costs per recharge volume for the projects surveyed generally agree. The two most important contributions to the success of a MAR project are Financial Support and Good Communication with Stakeholders.

Bulletin No. 39-57, Water Supply Conditions in Southern California during 1956-1957, Volume II, Precipitation and Water Level Data Central Coastal and Los Angeles Regions

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | June 16th, 1958

Bulletin No. 39-57 Volume I Bulletin No. 39-57 Volume III Bulletin No. 39-57 Volume IV

Bulletin No. 39-57 Volume I Bulletin No. 39-57 Volume III Bulletin No. 39-57 Volume IV

Bulletin No. 39-57, Water Supply Conditions in Southern California during 1956-1957, Volume III, Precipitation and Water Level Data Lahontan, Colorado River Basin, Santa Ana, and San Diego Regions

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | June 16th, 1958

Bulletin No. 39-57 Volume I Bulletin No. 39-57 Volume II Bulletin No. 39-57 Volume IV

Bulletin No. 39-57 Volume I Bulletin No. 39-57 Volume II Bulletin No. 39-57 Volume IV

Bulletin No. 39-57, Water Supply Conditions in Southern California during 1956-1957, Volume IV Cross-Indexes

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | June 16th, 1958

Bulletin 39-57, Volume I Bulletin 39-57 Volume II Bulletin 39-57 Volume III

Bulletin 39-57, Volume I Bulletin 39-57 Volume II Bulletin 39-57 Volume III

Bulletin No. 39-57, Water Supply Conditions in Southern California during 1956-57, Volume I, Text

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | June 16th, 1958

Click here for: Volume II,Volume III, Volume IV

Click here for: Volume II,Volume III, Volume IV

Bulletin No. 39-58, Water Supply Conditions in Southern California during 1957-1958, Volume I

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | August 1st, 1960