California's aquifers experienced a significant increase of approximately 2.2 million acre-feet of groundwater during the water year ending on September 30, 2024. While this uplift is noteworthy, it pales in comparison to the record 8.7 million acre-feet replenished during the extraordinarily wet previous year. Managed aquifer recharge projects have been instrumental in this process, capturing stormwater to bolster groundwater supplies. Despite these gains, groundwater pumping for agricultural usage in the Central Valley continues to strain resources, illustrating the ongoing challenge of balancing water demands with sustainability efforts.
California aquifers replenished an estimated 2.2 million acre-feet of groundwater in the 2024 water year, a significant gain but less than the previous wet year.
The increase in groundwater is a result of managed aquifer recharge projects capturing stormwater, even as agricultural demands continue to drive pumping.
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