How a patchwork of rules to protect America’s water is falling short

Groundwater is one of America’s most precious resources. The water that fills wells and is naturally stored in underground aquifers allowed great cities to emerge and turned the country into an agricultural powerhouse.

But groundwater management relies on a patchwork of state and local regulations that are so lax and outdated that oversight is virtually nonexistent in many places, according to a New York Times investigation.

The federal government does not regulate groundwater extraction, so as part of a research project, my colleagues asked officials in all fifty states detailed questions about how they tracked and regulated groundwater use.

“We found that groundwater protection is very inconsistent across the country,” Delger Erdenesanaa, one of the Times reporters involved in the project, told me. “Even within individual states, groundwater regulations can be very fragmented or messy. This means that states do not have a good understanding of how many wells they have or how much water people are pumping from aquifers.”

The tangle of regulations has fueled an industry of lawyers and consultants who help major water users follow the rules — and also abuse them. “People are looking for places where they can exploit groundwater,” Reba Epler, an attorney who handles water rights cases in Wyoming and New Mexico, told my colleagues.

You can read the Times investigation into groundwater monitoring here.

Groundwater depletion has more serious consequences in an era of climate change. Heat, drought and erratic rainfall make rivers and streams less reliable as a water source, while groundwater regulation in the United States is “Swiss cheese,” Dave Owen, a professor at UC Law San Francisco, told my colleagues.

California has made more efforts to protect groundwater than most other states. In 2014, state lawmakers passed a milestone Groundwater Management Act that gives local agencies the power to limit the use of endangered aquifers. But the state is still working to implement these rules.

In California, in an average year, roughly 40 percent of the state’s water supply comes from groundwater. In a dry year this can rise to over 60 percent.

“Agriculture as we know it in California would not exist without the use of groundwater,” says Chris Scheuring, a water attorney with the California Farm Bureau and a family farmer himself. Groundwater has helped much of the American West become “wonderfully productive,” he said, because the region is an arid landscape where farmers cannot rely solely on rainfall and surface water.

Scheuring told my colleagues that rainwater and surface water were like a checking account, and groundwater was like a savings account. Normally you want to use your checking account and not dip into savings. But now that the climate is changing, people – especially farmers – are increasingly dipping into our collective savings.

Where we travel to

Today’s tip comes from Jorge Moreno, spokesman for the California State Parks Department: Jorge recommends a visit Sonoma Historic State Park this fall:

“Located in downtown Sonoma, this park offers an enriching experience for history buffs and casual hikers. Within walking distance you will discover three different locations. Start at the historic military barracks, a crucial player in shaping the state’s history. Then visit Mission San Francisco Solano, which features art and unique historical stories. Conclude with a stroll through the home of General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, where manicured gardens and autumn vines exude historic charm.”

Tell us about your favorite places to visit in California. Email your suggestions to CAtoday@nytimes.com. We will share more in future editions of the newsletter.

Tell us

I think about the way Californians celebrate Thanksgiving. At the beach? With sourdough filling?

Email your Golden State Thanksgiving traditions to CAtoday@nytimes.com. Please include your full name and the city where you live.

And before you go: good news

Communities across California are coming together this week and throughout the weekend to celebrate Veterans Day on November 11, honoring those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.

The holiday – first called Armistice Day because the armistice that ended the First World War was signed on November 11, 1918 – falls on Saturday this year. But Californians from northern parts of the Bay Area to San Diego have already started celebrating.

San Jose residents kicked off their festivities this weekend with an event hosted by the Santa Clara County Veterans Services Agency, which drew hundreds of people, including multi-generational veterans. In the Bay Area, a packed agenda A host of community gatherings are planned in the coming days, including a gala in San Francisco on Thursday, followed by a Veterans Day parade in Petaluma and live music and dancing in Rohnert Park on Saturday. About San Diego CountyParades, ceremonies and a film screening are planned throughout the weekend.

Thank you for reading. I’ll come back tomorrow. — Soumya

PS Here it is today’s mini crossword.

Maia Coleman and Briana Scalia contributed to California Today. You can reach the team via CAtoday@nytimes.com.

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