Prompted by Drought, California Will Regulate Groundwater for First Time

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California will no longer be the last Western state with a pump-as-you-please approach to groundwater.

Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation on Tuesday overhauling the state's management of its groundwater supply, bringing it in line with other states that have long regulated their wells.

See also: California Drought Is Worst Since at Least 1895, Data Shows

Groundwater, which can take hundreds or thousands of years to recharge after being depleted, makes up nearly 60% of California's water use during dry years. But it is not monitored and managed the same way as water from reservoirs and rivers. Read more...

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