California flooding reveals an unexpected solution to endless droughts (inverse.com)
‘Unexpected’ is common journalistic stilt. Putting water in the ground isn’t unexpected, but its a political and legal challenge. Full reservoirs and dams serve a set of public services that include adjoining property values, electricity generation and recreation. Groundwater serves a somewhat more mundane set of public services, arguably of a higher priority, and requires more landowner cooperation. I have not the chops to say which option, to bank water in, provides better flood control or fire protection for the mosaic of geography in the state.
Groundwater monitoring station west of Fresno.
2022 Water Supply Strategy publication by CA Dept of Natural Resources
CA-Water-Supply-Strategy.pdf