California's Hidden Resource STATE OF CALIFORNIA The Resources Agency Department of Water Resources BULLETIN No. 118 ~ CALIFORNIAlS GROUND WATER , SEPTEMBER 1975 CLAIRE T. DEDRIC EDMUND G. BROWN JR. RONALD B. ROBIE Secretary for Resource Governor Director The Resources Agen State of California Department of Water Resources FOREWORD The wate in our underground basins and the storage space afforded by those basins com rise one of California's most valuable resources. A significant por­ tion of the otal water used each year in California is ground water. This Bulle in summarizes the known technical information on ground water basins and he extent of their water supplies throughout the State. It also discusses th ways in which ground water basins have been used and misused in the past nd suggests better management mechanisms for the future. By using round water and surface water supplies together in a planned manner, mo e complete management of the total water resources is possible. Although b th surface and underground water sources are being' utilized in many areas of the State today, much of this activity is not providing the max­ imum bene its that are possible from conjunctive ground and surface water manage me t. Use of storage capacity of ground water basins has a great potential to increase the dependability of presently developed surface water supplies if t e two supplies are used conjunctively. A recent ecision of the California Supreme Court has significantly modified legal doctri es relating to ground water. The revised ground water law which resulted wil enable more effective use of existing ground water resources. We must be prepared to use imaginative new approaches to ground water manageme t. Ronald B. Robie, Director Department of Water Resources The Resources Agency State of California iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page FOREWORD. ............................................................................................................ iii ORGANIZAT ON...................................................................................................... viii CALIFORNIA WATER COMMiSSiON................................................................ ix CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION. CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS ......................................................... Purpose of R port .................................................................................................. 1 Scope of Re ort ...................................................................................................... 2 Conclusions . ............................................................................................................ 3 Recommend tions .................................................................................................. 4 Glossary ....... ............................................................................................................ 4 CHAPTER II. THE RESOURCE...................................................................... 7 Origin of Gr und Water ........................................................................................ 7 Nature and ccurrence of Ground Water........................................................ 11 Movement of Ground Water............................................................................ 17 Quality of round Water .................................................................................. 19 The Role of round Water in California's Development.............................. 20 Domestic nd Stock Water .............................................................................. 20 Artesian ell Irrigation...................................................................................... 23 Centrifugal Pumps .............................................................................................. 23 Deep Well Turbines............................................................................................ 23 Economy to upport Water Importation .......................................................... 24 CHAPTER III. INVENTORY OF CALIFORNIA'S GROUND WATER RESOURCES .......................................................................... 27 Hydrologic S udy Areas (HSA) .......................................................................... 29 North Coa tal ...................................................................................................... 29 San Franci co Bay.............................................................................................. 35 Central Co stal .................................................................................................... 41 South Coa tal ...................................................................................................... 47 Sacrament Basin .............................................................................................. 57 San Joaqu n Basin .............................................................................................. 65 North Lah ntan.................................................................................................... 69 South Lah ntan.................................................................................................... 73 Colorado iver .................................................................................................... 85 County Listi g of Ground Water Basins (Listing by Counties in Alphabetical Order) ................................................ 95 Bibliographi .......................................................................................................... 103 Selected R ferences for Statewide Coverage ............................................ 103 Selected R ferences for Inventory Summaries .......................................... 104 CHAPTER IV. GROUND WATER BASIN PROTECTION AND UTILIZATION .......................................................................... 115 Protection 0 Basins .............................................................................................. 115 Excessive ump Lifts.......................................................................................... 115 Salt Water Intrusion............................................................................................ 115 Quality De radation............................................................................................ 118 Buildup of Salt in Ground Water .................................................................... 118 High Wat r Tables.............................................................................................. 118 Land Subs dence ................................................................................................ 118 Water We I Standards........................................................................................ 119 v State of California The Resources Agency Department of Water Resources EDMUND G. BROWN JR.. Governor CLAIRE T. DEDRICK. Secretary for Resources RONALD B. ROBIE. Director ROBIN R. REYNOLDS. Deputy Director DIVISION OF PLANNING Herbert W. Greydanus. Chief This Bulletin was prepared by a Task Force Charles A. McCullough .......................................... Principal Engineer. W.R .. Chairman Raymond C. Richter................................................ Supervising Engineering Geologist Joseph F. LoBue ........................ Associate Engineering Geologist. Southern District Larry Chee .................................................... Associate Engineer. W.R .. Central District Assisted by Verne L. Cline ............................................................................................ Staff Counsel III Helen J. Peters ................................................................................ Senior Engineer. W.R. Louis R. Mitchell.............................................................................. Senior Engineer. W.R. Earl G. Bingham ........................................................................................ Research Writer James M. Wardlow ........................................ Associate Land and Water Use Analyst William G. McKane ................................................................................ Senior Delineator Paulyne D. Joe ...................................................................................................... Delineator William L. Wilson .......................................................................... Audio-Visual Specialist Assistance Was Provided by the District Offices of the Department of Water Resources Under the Direction of Albert J. Dolcini' ........................................................ District Chief. Northern District Wayne MacRostie ............................................................ District Chief. Central District Carl L. Stetson.......................................................... District Chief. San Joaquin District Jack J. Coe .................................................................... District Chief. Southern District • Consultant to the Task Force viii State of California Department of Water Resources C)I'LIFORNIA WATER COMMISSION IRA J. CHRISMAN. Chairman Visalia CLAIR A. HILL. Vice-Chairman Redding Mal Coombs ................................................................................................. Garberville ~~!£~~~;:;:.... :.: .....::::.:.:: .... ::.:.: .... :::::.. :::.: ..:....... :::.:::::::::.::::::::::::::u··sF~~:~l~g~ William P. M ses ..................................... u................................................