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Effects of Surface-Water Use on Domestic Groundwater Availability and Quality During Drought in the Sierra Nevada Foothills, California

Fact Sheet 2019-3077
Prepared in cooperation with the California State Water Resources Control Board
By: , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20193077

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Background

Approximately 2 million California residents rely on privately owned domestic wells for drinking water. During the California drought of 2012−16 groundwater levels declined in many parts of the state and wells were deepened in response. Most of the wells deepened during this time were domestic wells that were drilled into fractured bedrock throughout the Sierra Nevada foothills region of northern California. To understand the impacts of extreme drought on groundwater supply availability and quality in this setting, the United States Geological Survey completed a geochemical survey of domestic wells throughout the Yuba and Bear River watersheds during 2015–16 as part of the State Water Board’s Groundwater Ambient Monitoring and Assessment Program Priority Basin Project (GAMA-PBP). This fact sheet highlights key findings from the GAMA-PBP assessment.

Suggested Citation

Levy, Z.F., Fram, M.S., and Taylor, K.A., 2020, Effects of surface-water use on domestic groundwater availability and quality during drought in the Sierra Nevada foothills, California: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2019–3077, 4 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20193077.

ISSN: 2327-6932 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Key Points
  • Background
  • A Vulnerable Population
  • Fingerprinting Sources and Seasonality of Recharge
  • Impacts of Surface-Water Recharge on Groundwater Quality
  • Implications for Integrated Water Resources Management
  • References Cited
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Effects of surface-water use on domestic groundwater availability and quality during drought in the Sierra Nevada foothills, California
Series title Fact Sheet
Series number 2019-3077
DOI 10.3133/fs20193077
Year Published 2019
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) California Water Science Center
Description 4 p.
Country United States
State California
Other Geospatial Sierra Nevada foothills
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details