Off the “Water Grid”: Weathering the Drought on the Central Coast.

With limited opportunities to import water, the Central Coast region of California relies on ground water to meet nearly 80% of urban and agricultural needs.   As populations continue to grow and agricultural production expands to meet national demands, this region of California is challenged to sustain water supplies during an extended drought.  Over-pumping has caused ground water levels to drop to historically low levels, and may potentially accelerate the intrusion of seawater into aquifers near the coast.  Developing local solutions to enhance ground water recharge, recycle water, and implement conservation practices will help the Central Coast cope with long and short-term deficits in water supplies.