Pilot study expands use of flows framework to groundwater management

SCCWRP and the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) have launched a pilot study to test-drive how a statewide scientific framework that was originally developed to help managers determine the environmental flow needs of California streams can also help shape more sustainable groundwater management practices statewide.

The study, which kicked off in March, will apply the California Environmental Flows Framework (CEFF) to multiple streams across Northern California to determine how much of the stream’s wet-weather flows can be diverted to support groundwater recharge, while still protecting the ecological benefits provided by the flows.

Under the Flood-Managed Aquifer Recharge (Flood-MAR) program, DWR currently diverts only about 20% of these wet-weather flows for groundwater recharge. The CEFF analysis will provide a scientific basis for DWR to determine if these diversion volumes can be increased.

If wet-weather diversions can be increased, it could reduce the need to divert stream flows during dry weather – a potential benefit given that demand for dry-weather flows tends to be especially high across drought-prone California.