Current Hydrologic Conditions and Precipitation Data
The following links provide access to data on current conditions in the north state and statewide.
Local Groundwater Conditions
Groundwater levels tend to fluctuate seasonally, and over the long-term, in response to local groundwater use and precipitation trends. Understanding the magnitude of groundwater fluctuation and current conditions is important when identifying whether groundwater levels in your well may drop below the level of the pump.
Groundwater is complicated because local geology is complicated. The depth of the well and where it is screened influences the groundwater levels observed in the well. Monitoring well data cannot for sure indicate whether you will have a problem with your well or not. Nevertheless, this data provides valuable information for gauging risk and baseline data to identify general trends and magnitude of changes observed in different parts of the county.
Explore groundwater levels in your neighborhood
Visit the Water Data Library to identify monitoring wells near you that can give you an indication of recent groundwater levels (depth to water) in your area. The mapping tool is fairly user friendly. Also, countywide groundwater conditions are summarized in the Annual Groundwater Status Report.
Additional monitoring for the drought
Due to the current drought conditions, more frequent groundwater monitoring is occurring in Butte County on a monthly basis throughout the irrigation season. The Department will post summaries of current data for wells in Butte County as it becomes available from the Water Data Library.
Groundwater maps show water level changes and well density
In addition, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) Northern Region in Red Bluff puts together a number of useful maps that show how spring groundwater levels have changed from year to year:
DWR also created maps that indicate the density of wells per square mile with statistics on average, minimum, and maximum well depth. These provide an idea of how your well’s depth might compare to wells around you and how intense the groundwater use is in your area as indicated by well density. There are two maps, one for Domestic Wells and another for Large Production Wells.
For assistance with interpreting the groundwater level information, contact Christina Buck, Water Resources Scientist at 530.538.6265.