Total California Water Storage Near Decade Low Amy Quinton Thursday, February 6, 2014 | Sacramento, CA Listen / Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin. Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio The report from UC Irvine’s Center for Hydrologic Modeling is an update to a 2011 study which showed the basins lost nearly as much water as the volume of Lake Mead over a seven year period. The new report finds water storage in the last two years continues to plummet, and the study doesn’t even include the most recent dry winter. Report author Jay Famiglietti says the amount of water lost is equal to the water used by all of California’s urban areas each year. Most of the loss is due to groundwater withdrawals. “This is a worse than ever situation," says Famiglietti. "So we really have to watch what’s going to happen with the groundwater. It’s been bad in the past during drought periods and now with a zero surface water allocation I’m quite concerned that it will be terrible in the future.” Famiglietti says groundwater levels drop faster during drought than they can be replenished during wet periods. UCCHM Water Advisory 1 Related StoriesClimate change whiplash could mean more flooding, water-management challenges in CaliforniaJanuary 28, 2022Last year, California saw everything from intense drought to torrential rain. Researchers and water agencies say that the future of the state’s drought depends on adapting to these shifts.Winged warning: Migrating birds hit hard by California’s droughtNovember 11, 2021As the drought dries up California’s wetlands, traveling birds such as ducks, geese and eagles are struggling to survive and breed. “This drought is bad. The odds are against us,” a state expert said.Water Shortages: Why Some Californians Are Running Out In 2021 And Others Aren’tJune 23, 2021Drought resilience depends on location but also extraordinary engineering — determining which California places are running out of water this year and which remain in good shape.As Drought Intensifies, State Warns Users To Stop Pumping Water From Major RiversJune 17, 2021About 4,300 users were issued notices to halt diversions from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.California’s Reservoirs Face Dangerously Low LevelsJune 5, 2021Experts say the current drought is hotter and drier than previous ones, meaning water is evaporating faster. 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
