More than 1,200 dry wells in California
10/5/2022 5:00:18 PM
CATEGORIES:
Agriculture
Relief, Response & Restrictions
Society & Public Health
Water Supply & Quality
AFFECTED AREAS:
California
Fresno County, CA
Kern County, CA
Kings County, CA
Madera County, CA
Fairmead, CA
Mariposa County, CA
Merced County, CA
San Joaquin County, CA
Stanislaus County, CA
Tulare County, CA
Tuolumne County, CA
Start Date: 1/1/2022
- End Date: 10/4/2022
More than 1,200 wells have run dry in California this year, a nearly 50% increase over the same time frame last year, according to the California Department of Water Resources. In comparison, fewer than 100 dry wells were reported annually in 2018, 2019 and 2020.
The groundwater crisis is worst in the San Joaquin Valley, California’s prime agricultural land. Farmers pump more groundwater because they were not getting water, or much of it, from state or federal projects. Water tables are falling with 64% of wells at below-normal water levels. About 430 wells have gone dry in Madera County so far this year.
The Associated Press (New York), Oct 4, 2022
Sources
