Response recorded at an in-person workshop in February 2025
Tue, 02/04/2025 - 12:00am
Groundwater overdraft can lead to continual lowering of the water table which threatens economic viability of the Valley in a variety of ways, including:
- access to groundwater will be come more costly, as water users will need to drill deeper for well water
- increased demand on limited supply of surface water will cause rise in costs across region (utilities, businesses, agriculture)
- loss of agriculture due to above costs
- degradation of wildlife habitat and loss of recreational / intrinsic / cultural values associated
It also effects the "livability" of our rural communities. Many private wells in the western portion of Calaveras County have gone dry in recent years.
While the District is active in groundwater recharge when supplies are available, reduction of groundwater resources can lead to an over dependence on surface water and lead to adverse affects on the overall ecosystem.
- access to groundwater will be come more costly, as water users will need to drill deeper for well water
- increased demand on limited supply of surface water will cause rise in costs across region (utilities, businesses, agriculture)
- loss of agriculture due to above costs
- degradation of wildlife habitat and loss of recreational / intrinsic / cultural values associated