Groundwater Content

Growing Crops with Less Groundwater

Amy M Quinton — April 25, 2023 - 12:08pm

Learn about 51�ԹϺ�� Davis’ innovative approach to growing crops with less groundwater in drought-prone regions like California. Farm sustainably for a better future.

Will a Wet Winter End Water Woes?

Andy Fell — March 27, 2023 - 4:17pm

After a series of dry winters in California, the 2022-23 season has brought a series of storms filling reservoirs and piling up the Sierra snowpack. The turnaround led Governor Gavin Newsom to announce the end of some drought-related conservation measures last Friday.

51�ԹϺ�� Davis to Lead Groundwater and Irrigated Agriculture Sustainability Study

Amy M Quinton — October 18, 2021 - 9:40am

51�ԹϺ�� Davis researchers to lead research to find ways to sustain irrigated agriculture and improve groundwater quality and quantity under a changing climate.

Flooding Farms in the Rain to Restore Groundwater

Katherine E Kerlin — January 26, 2016 - 9:59am

The Central Valley sky was a never-ending expanse of gray. Not a single pixel of blue in sight. Under it, 51�ԹϺ�� Davis scientists were flooding a Modesto almond orchard with half a foot of water. On purpose. In the pouring rain.

It sounds a bit strange, and on Jan. 19, looked even stranger.

Helping replenish California's groundwater

IET WebDev — December 09, 2015 - 12:00am

As California’s drought grinds on, the state is in chronic groundwater overdraft: more water is being pumped out of underground sources than filters back in. 51�ԹϺ�� Davis researchers are encouraged by early results from tests to see if deliberately flooding farmland in winter can replenish aquifers without harming crops or affecting drinking water.

Flooding farms in the winter may help replenish groundwater

Katherine E Kerlin — September 09, 2015 - 9:20am

In promising new research, 51�ԹϺ�� Davis scientists worked with ranch manager Jim Morris to deliberately flood alfalfa fields to recharge the aquifer.

Drought costs California agriculture $1.84B and 10,100 jobs in 2015

IET WebDev — August 18, 2015 - 10:10am

The drought is tightening its grip on California agriculture, squeezing about 30 percent more workers and cropland out of production than in 2014, according to the latest drought impact report by the 51�ԹϺ�� Davis Center for Watershed Sciences.

In 2015, the state’s agricultural economy will lose about $1.84 billion and 10,100 seasonal jobs because of the drought, the report estimated, with the Central Valley hardest hit.

The analysis also forecasts how the industry will fare if the drought persists through 2017.

Drought impact study: California agriculture faces greatest water loss ever seen

IET WebDev — July 15, 2014 - 8:25am

A new report from the University of California, Davis, shows that California agriculture is weathering its worst drought in decades due to groundwater reserves, but the nation’s produce basket may come up dry in the future if it continues to treat those reserves like an unlimited savings account.