groundwater
Newsletter
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Nevada encourages farmers to sell water rights to address groundwater depletion
Nevada's driest areas are testing a new program where farmers sell their water rights to reduce groundwater overuse and protect future agricultural prospects.
In short:
- Nevada's pilot program, funded with $25 million in federal aid, aims to purchase water rights from farmers to prevent aquifer depletion.
- The program received significant interest, with offers exceeding available funds, primarily from Diamond Valley farmers.
- Some farmers see selling water rights as a necessary adjustment, while others, especially older ones nearing retirement, find it a beneficial financial decision.
Key quote:
“We knew a lot of people moved to Nevada to farm, but we didn’t really think that many people would be successful or use their full allocations. They didn’t have the scientific understanding we do today.”
— Jeff Fontaine, the executive director of the Central Nevada Regional Water Authority
Why this matters:
Reducing groundwater use is vital for the sustainability of farming in Nevada's dry regions. Without these measures, over-pumping could lead to severe water shortages, threatening the future of agriculture and local communities.
Related EHN coverage:
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California faces its first state intervention on groundwater use
California officials are poised to take unprecedented action against excessive groundwater pumping in Kings County, potentially imposing state control to combat the agricultural practices that threaten local water sustainability.
In short:
- California may soon implement state control over groundwater in Kings County due to excessive pumping by agricultural interests.
- This move could mark the first time the state enforces the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, aiming to protect local water supplies and prevent land subsidence.
- Major agricultural players in the region, influencing local groundwater policies, may face significant financial penalties.
Key quote:
"The stakes are extremely high, and the risk is extremely high."
— Jasmine Rivera, community development specialist at Self-Help Enterprises
Why this matters:
California's relationship with groundwater is a complex dance between necessity and sustainability.
Related: In California, salt taints soil, threatening food security.
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Photo by Antonio Gabola on Unsplash
Environmentalists see Nevada Supreme Court ruling bringing state's water management 'into the 21st century'
The court ruled that the state can restrict new groundwater pumping if it will impact other users and wildlife, a decision environmentalists are calling a major win in updating the state’s water law.
Image by Omid Khorashadizadeh from Pixabay
Where groundwater levels are falling, and rising, worldwide
Data from more than 1,000 aquifers reveal widespread decline, but improvement in some places shows the trend can be reversed.
Newsletter
In California, farmers test a method to sink more water into underground stores
A novel program reimburses landowners for replenishing groundwater, in a bid to add regularity to the state’s boom and bust water system.
Newsletter
As groundwater levels fall in the U.S., powerful players block change
Here are some of the people fighting efforts to conserve a vital resource that’s disappearing across the United States.
Image by Joseph Fulgham from Pixabay
A tangle of rules to protect America’s water is falling short
The Times asked all 50 states how they police the use of valuable groundwater. Their answers reveal why the country is draining and damaging its aquifers so rapidly.
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