Ecology Center Submits Comments on California’s 2020 Groundwater Update
The Medicine Lake Highlands and Caldera act as a natural catchment system capturing winter snows and spring rains that seep into its immense underlying volcanic aquifer and emerge 20 to 40 years later as the Fall River Springs, the largest spring system in California. These volcanic source waters end up in Shasta Lake Reservoir and account for as much as 20% of the Sacramento River flow.
On April 23, we submitted comments to the Department of Water Resources (DWR) on California’s 2020 Groundwater Update, a compendium of the state’s groundwater resources also known as Bulletin 118. Working with water policy consultant Marcus Griswold, here are some of the main points our comments cover:
- The Update’s narrow definition of what constitutes a groundwater basin fails to include recharge areas and volcanic aquifers, such as Mount Shasta and the Medicine Lake Volcano, that provide a large portion of California’s water supply.
- These volcanic aquifers are critical for Tribes and rural communities, fisheries, downstream users, agriculture and ecosystems that depend on them.
- Volcanic groundwater areas serve as critical climate buffers due to their large reservoir capacity and will need to be protected to adapt to future changes in climate.
- DWR needs to prioritize the protection of volcanic groundwater areas through federal-state-tribal partnerships.
For other points, please have a look at our 9-page comments, which can be found below. Medicine Lake Citizens for Quality Environment also participated in these comments. Two other organizations— W.A.T.E.R. (We Advocate Thorough Environmental Review) and the South Yuba River Citizens’ League—signed on in support of our position.