California drought now a record

The past three years have been the driest on record in California, according to data dating back to 1896. Although the just completed 2022 water year was slightly wetter and cooler than the 2021 water year, it was still 24 percent below the historical average of precipitation. The state’s reservoirs are at 69 percent of their historical average. 

With a third year of La Nina expected in 2023, water analysts are pessimistic about the state’s water reserves in both the near and long-terms. 

Jeanine Jones, drought manager, California Department of Water Resources: "This is our third drought in this century. And we have definitely been seeing more droughts and increasing impacts this century as compared to the last century, reflecting our transition to a warmer and drier climate."

The California Department of Agriculture estimates that more than 500,000 acres or 5.5 percent of irrigated land has been fallowed for the 2022 growing season. More acres may need to be left vacant to direct scarce water supplies to water intensive crops such as nut crops.

Jeanine Jones, drought manager, California Department of Water Resources:  "We can't just continue thinking of drought as something that happens occasionally and we go about our normal way of life once the drought is over. We really are transitioning to different conditions that we need to plan and adapt for."

Heavy pumping of water from underground aquifers has caused more than 1200 wells to run dry for both residential and agricultural users. Fewer than 100 dry wells were reported in 2020. 

Elaine Moore, Chowchilla resident and farmer:

"We've had to drill a well on our property, but this is the first time the boys have had problems with their well. So I just think it's because the dry it's been so dry this last year, we didn't get much rain, we didn't get much snowpack. And it looks like it's going to be the same thing this winter. So it's touch and go. We will probably have to drill another well."

Well drillers are in high demand, in some cases doubling the depth of new wells to reach dependable water aquifers. 

Ethan Bowles, Drew and Hefner Well Drilling:

"For the past about four years, it's been almost non-stop phone calls just due to the water table dropping constantly. That's something that's we can't fix it right now. It's something you can't change. So just nonstop phone calls and all you can do is answer the phone and try to be there for them."

Without a dramatic shift in moisture patterns over California, water usage statewide will need to be reduced to support both 39 million residents and the state’s huge agricultural sector. While California produces over 11 percent of America’s commodities, agriculture is only 1.5 percent of  California’s economy. 

Andrew Ayres, water researcher, Public Policy Institute of California:  "Looking at the American West in the face of climate change, we're going to have very serious groundwater management issues that have been brewing for decades really come to the fore right now. I mean, it's happening right now."

For Market to Market, I’m Peter Tubbs