Groundwater is the source of up to 60% of water supply in California. The state suffers from poor groundwater management, which has led to severe drops in groundwater levels, dry wells, gradual sinking of land in some locations, ecosystem die-outs and reduced stream flows. Inefficient data collection by local and state agencies about groundwater use is one of the factors contributing to this situation.

Researchers at Stanford’s Water in the West program and the Gould Center for Conflict Resolution at the Stanford Law School have released a survey of groundwater professionals highlighting the need for standardized data monitoring. The report titled “From the Ground Down: Understanding the Groundwater Data Collection, Adequacy and Sharing Practices of Local Groundwater Management Agencies in California” recommends ways to successfully implement the historic groundwater legislation in the state and overcome systemic obstacles.

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Co-author Janet Martinez, director of the Gould Center, said that achieving SGMA’s goal of sustainably managed groundwater basins will require building a shared understanding of groundwater conditions across a diverse range of interested parties. The survey provides critical insights on the data management efforts needed to accomplish this.