Capturing Stormwater to Recharge Groundwater in the Los Angeles Basin

The Los Angeles Basin has unique water needs and challenges compared to the rest of California. The area encompasses 2,040 square miles and supports 9.6 million people throughout the majority of Los Angeles County. The basin uses approximately 1.6 million acre-feet annually, with two-thirds of its water supplies imported from northern California via the State Water Project and the rest comprised of groundwater and recycled water supplies. The recent US Bureau of Reclamation study, Los Angeles Basin Summary Report, examines the effects of climate change on the Basin’s water supply and the options available to mitigate the impacts. The study found that imported water supplies are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change.