Skip to content
Help support CapRadio’s local public service mission 
and enrich the lives in your community.
Support local nonprofit public media.
Donate Now

View thank you gift options

CapRadio

CapRadio

listen live donate
listen live donate
listen live
donate
  • News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
    News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
    Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
  • Podcasts & Shows
  • Schedules
  • Events
  • Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
    Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
  • Environment
  • State Government
  •  

California Farmers Used Enough Groundwater During Drought To Fill Lake Mead

  •  Amy Quinton 
Thursday, May 18, 2017 | Sacramento, CA
Listen
/
Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
Amy Quinton / Capital Public Radio
 

Amy Quinton / Capital Public Radio

California farmers in the Central Valley pumped enough water out of the ground to fill Lake Mead, which can store the entire average flow of the Colorado River for two years. It’s enough to drown the state of Pennsylvania in a foot of water.  

A new study from UCLA and the University of Houston shows that’s how much groundwater was used during the most recent drought in one of the nation’s largest agricultural hubs.

The study also found the rate of groundwater withdrawal per year in the most recent drought was double that of the drought of 2007 to 2009, even though there was less land to irrigate. 

“That sort of doubling of the extraction rate was attributable more or less in equal amounts to the fact that the recent drought was warmer and the evaporative amount was higher and the shift to row crops to tree crops,” says Dennis Lettenmaier with UCLA, the study’s lead author.

Over the years, farmers have shifted from row crops that can be left fallow during dry years to planting higher-value tree crops like almonds that must be watered year-round.

“Pumping groundwater during a drought is not an unreasonable strategy when there’s not enough surface water," says Lettenmaier.

But he says the strategy is unsustainable. 

"This is the big issue and there’s no real plan for putting that back in.”

Laws to manage groundwater are being implemented in California. Counties, irrigation districts, farmers and other entities must form agencies by the end of June that will be tasked with managing groundwater sustainably. But limits on groundwater pumping won't likely happen until after 2020.

To track groundwater levels for the study, researchers used NASA satellite data and water balance estimates, which take into account surface water inflow from rain and snow, soil moisture, and evapotranspiration. 

Lettenmaier says the study shows that between droughts there was some groundwater replenishment. 

The study was published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.


Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  

    Related Stories

  • Amy Quinton / Capital Public Radio

    First Step In California Groundwater Law Stirs Debate

    Thursday, June 16, 2016
    California is one of the last states in the nation to pass a law to manage groundwater. But putting the law into practice won't come easy. Paso Robles' effort to manage groundwater is a perfect example.
  • Curtis Jerome Haynes / Courtesy

    Scientists Flood Almond Orchards To Restore Groundwater in California

    Wednesday, January 20, 2016
    UC Davis scientists are flooding almond orchards this winter in an effort to restore depleted aquifers in the Central Valley.

 central valleywater resourcesgroundwaterNASAWater SupplyUCLA

Amy Quinton

Former Environment Reporter

Amy came to Sacramento from New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR) where she was Environment Reporter. Amy has also reported for NPR member stations WFAE in Charlotte, WAMU in Washington D.C. and American Public Media's "Marketplace."  Read Full Bio 

Sign up for ReCap and never miss the top stories

Delivered to your inbox every Friday.

 

Check out a sample ReCap newsletter.

Thanks for subscribing!

Thank you for signing up for the ReCap newsletter! We'll send you an email each Friday with the top stories from CapRadio.

Browse all newsletters

More Environment Stories

Humboldt County Sheriff's Office

In the northern California snow, stranded cows are getting emergency hay drops

March 15, 2023

Mario Tama/Getty Images

Climate is changing too quickly for the Sierra Nevada's 'zombie forests'

March 18, 2023

Mark Lennihan/AP

City provides tool to help Sacramento residents cut home energy bills, emissions

March 15, 2023

Most Viewed

The Maine lobster industry sues California aquarium over a do-not-eat listing

California could be the first state in the country to ban some much debated food additives

10 new California laws that go into effect in 2023

Newsom administration to provide 1,200 tiny homes statewide, including 350 for the Sacramento region

California’s Covid misinformation law is entangled in lawsuits, conflicting rulings

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Most Viewed

The Maine lobster industry sues California aquarium over a do-not-eat listing

California could be the first state in the country to ban some much debated food additives

10 new California laws that go into effect in 2023

Newsom administration to provide 1,200 tiny homes statewide, including 350 for the Sacramento region

California’s Covid misinformation law is entangled in lawsuits, conflicting rulings

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    •  
      (916) 278-8900
    •  
      (877) 480-5900
    •  Contact / Feedback
    •  Submit a Tip / Story Idea
  • About

    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Stations & Coverage Map
    • Careers & Internships
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
    • Press
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile Apps
    • Smart Speakers
    • Podcasts & Shows
    • On-Air Schedules
    • Daily Playlist
    • Signal Status
  • Connect

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen Live

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2023, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.