Aquifer depletion exacerbates agricultural drought losses in the US High Plains

Nature Portfolio (Springer Nature) | January 15th, 2024

Aquifer depletion poses a major threat to the ability of farmers, food supply chains and rural economies globally to use groundwater as a means of adapting to climate var

Aquifer depletion poses a major threat to the ability of farmers, food supply chains and rural economies globally to use groundwater as a means of adapting to climate variability and change. Empirical research has demonstrated the large differences in drought risk exposure that exist between rainfed and irrigated croplands, but previous work commonly assumes water supply for the latter is unconstrained. Here we evaluate how aquifer depletion affects the resilience of irrigated crop production to drought risk using over 30 years of data on historical corn and soybean yields, production areas and aquifer conditions for the High Plains region in the United States. We show that aquifer depletion reduces the ability of farmers to sustain irrigated crop yields and production areas in years and locations with large growing-season water deficits. Our findings demonstrate that drought-related production losses on irrigated croplands increase non-linearly with aquifer depletion, highlighting the need for proactive aquifer conservation interventions to support adaptation and resilience to future increases in rainfall variability under climate change.

Aquifer-system compaction and land subsidence: Measurements, analyses, and simulations-the Holly Site, Edwards Air Force Base, Antelope Valley, California

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) | July 1st, 2000

At Risk: Public Supply Well Vulnerability Under California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act

Pacific Institute | June 1st, 2021

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.

Best Management Practices of the Sustainable Management of Groundwater Land Subsidence

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | January 21st, 2026

The Subsidence Best Management Practices document (Subsidence BMP) provides a guide on the fundamentals of land surface subsidence (also called “land subsidence” or �

The Subsidence Best Management Practices document (Subsidence BMP) provides a guide on the fundamentals of land surface subsidence (also called “land subsidence” or “subsidence”), technical assistance related to subsidence, and best practices for managing subsidence. The Subsidence BMP also provides specific information about subsidence in California and how it must be considered within the structure of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). Subsidence is one of the six sustainability indicators required to be managed under SGMA. The Subsidence BMP does not supersede or replace any existing local, state, or federal regulations. Rather, it is meant to help groundwater managers, especially Groundwater Sustainability Agencies and the public, better understand land subsidence and how it can be managed.

Borrego Water District v. All Persons Who Claim a Right to Extract Groundwater in the Borrego Valley Groundwater Subbasin No. 7-024-01

Superior Court of California, County of Orange | April 8th, 2021

Bulletin 39-A, South Coastal Basin Investigation, Records of Ground Water Levels at Wells for the Year 1932, Seasonal Precipitation Records to and including 1931-32

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | January 2nd, 1933

Bulletin No. 39, South Coastal Basin Investigation, Records of Ground Water Levels at Wells

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | December 1st, 1932

Bulletin No. 52-B Salinas Basin Investigation Summary Report

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | December 13th, 1946

The Board of Supervisors and the Flood Control and Water Conservation Conmittee of the County of Monterey became concerned in April 1944 over the intrusion of saline wate

The Board of Supervisors and the Flood Control and Water Conservation Conmittee of the County of Monterey became concerned in April 1944 over the intrusion of saline water in the ground water supply utilized for irrigation, domestic and industrial purposes in the lower reaches of the Salinas Basin near Monterey Bay. The entire agricultural and urban development in the basin depends on an adequate supply of ground water of good quality. There had been some abandonment of wells in the Salinas Basin near the bay shore due to excessive salinity as early as 1938. Accelerated encroachment of the contamination occurred in 1943, and the matter was brought to public attention in 1944. The County of Monterey and the Department of Public Works, State of California, executed a contract on July 10, 1944, providing for maintenance in cooperation an investigation of the water resources of the Salinas Valley in Monterey County and conditions relative thereto which obtain in the valley or affect the water supplies available therefor. It further provides that the Department shall prepare a report based on the investigation setting forth the physical facts pertinent to water supply and to salt water Intrusion, and if possible, incorporate findings as to a method or methods of solving the problems involved.

Bulletin No. 81 Intrusion of Salt Water into Ground Water Basins of Southern Alameda County

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | December 31st, 1960