WSP04044

• File Number: 8210.140.20
• Description: Colorado River Basin Organizations and Entities - Colorado River Basin States Forum - California
• State: CA
• Basin: Western Slope
• Date: 11/1/1962
• Author: Resources Agency of
• Title: Water Number One Resource of the Number One State
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

G rond Water

In California, vast quantities of ground water
collect in natural subsurface pockets called ground
water basins. The natural storage of water in these
basins has been a prime factor in the economic
growth of California. Today, as the great reser-
voirs rise to store the surface waters of our State,
plans are being made to develop the tremendous
stotage capacity of our ground water basins. Such
development will permit the storage of additional
local surface waters which otherwise would waste
from the area and will prol'ide for the regulation
of imported waters.

Recent legislation (Calif. Stats. 1961, Ch. 1] 31)
has encouraged the reclamation of waste water for
ground water replenishment by permitting injec-
tion of such water into subterranean water-bearing
srrata. Control of such reeharge in the interest of
public health is assured by provisions of the meas-
ure requiring approval by the regional warer pol-
lution eontrol board, and making such activities
subject to regulations of the State Board of Public
Health.

The California Water Plan, adopted by the Leg-
islature in 1959, recognized that ground water re-
sources are equal in importance to surface water
resources in meeting future water needs of the
Stare. In furtherance of this plan, the Legislature,
in 1961, enacted the Porter-Dolwig Ground \Vater
Basin Protection Law and thus laid the foundation
for acrion toward solution of ground water prob-
lems. This law direcrs the Department of \Vater
Resources to invesrigate, plan, and design urgently
needed projecrs to protect the ground warer basins
of rhe State from damage. Departmental activities
under rhis law have included study of the prob-
lems of sea water intrusion, adverse salt balance
and rhe eITect of sanitary disposal areas on ground
water quality.

RECENTLY PIJBLlSHED
GR0I1ND W!TER STI1DlES

. Bulletin No. 66-5B: Quality of Ground Water
in California, 1958. November 1960.

. Bulletin No. 66-59: Quality of Ground Water
in Colifornia, 1959. July 1961.

. Bulletin No. 77-59: Ground Water Condi-
tions, Central and Northern California.
February 1962.

. Bulletin No. 91-1: Data on Wells in West
Part of Middle Mojave Valley Area, San
Bernardino County. June 1960.

. Bulletin No. 91-2: Data on Water Wells
and Springs in Yucca Valley, Twentynine
Palms Area, San Bernardino and Riverside
Counties. June 1960.

. Bulletin No. 91-3: Data on Water Wells in
Eastern Part of Middle Mojave Valley
Area, San Bernardino County. August
1960.

. Bulletin No. 91-4: Data on Water Wells in
Willow Springs, Gloster, and Chaffee
Areas, Kern County. September 1960.

. Bulletin No. 91-5: Data on Water Wells in
Dale Valley Area, San Bernardino and
Riverside Counties. March 1961.

. Bulletin No. 104: Planned Utilization of
Ground Water Basins of the Coastal Plain
of Los Angeles County. April 1962.
Appendix A, Ground Water Geology. June
1961.

Appendix B, Safe Yield Determinations.
April 1962.

As a result of a program to manage the quality
of ground water resources the department, in 1962,
completed an investigation into the development
of statewide minimum srandards for well construc-
tion. The State Department of Public Health as-
sisted in this investigation. The standards will be
published late in 1962 in the preliminary edition of
Bulletin No. 74.

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