|
Program Overview The program provides hydrologic data for developing, monitoring, regulating, managing, and evaluating the State's water resources. Data are stored both on the computer and as hard copy and are made available in various forms to users inside and outside the Department of Water Resources. The need for such data was early recognized. The first precipitation gages in California were established in 1849; the earliest State-operated stream gage was installed in 1878 by William Hammond Hall, first State Engineer; and measurements of groundwater levels were begun in the early 1900s. These efforts grew out of the recognition that accurate knowledge of the resource is essential--its quantity, movement, and quality and how its quality affects human and natural environments. Groundwater Levels The Southern District maintains a computer database with about 1.9 million groundwater level measurements taken in more than 23,000 wells by District personnel or personnel from other agencies. Some of these measurements date back to 1900. The District also has microfiche with statewide groundwater level measurements taken prior to about 1985. These data are orgainized by State Well Number. The Department of Water Resources makes groundwater level data available on line for much of California. Currently, selected groundwater level data are available for most counties in the Southern District. These data are provided by the Orange County Water District, Ventura County Public Works Agency, and U.S. Geological Survey. Groundwater Quality
Surface Water Quality There are more than 23,000 chemical analyses of samples collected at about 5,400 surface water sampling sites. Some samples were collected as early as 1908. These data are organized by station number or stream name. Chemical analyses for samples collected since May 1998 are available at the Department's Water Data Library. Reservoir Storage Storage data for August 1, 1999, September 1, 1999, October 1, 1999, November 1, 1999, December 1, 1999, January 1, 2000, February 1, 2000, March 1, 2000, April 1, 2000, May 1, 2000, June 1, 2000, July 1, 2000, August 1, 2000, September 1, 2000, October 1, 2000, November 1, 2000, December 1, 2000, January 1, 2001, February 1, 2001, March 1, 2001, April 1, 2001, May 1, 2001, June 1, 2001, July 1, 2001, August 1, 2001, September 1, 2001, October 1, 2001, November 1, 2001, December 1, 2001, January 1, 2002, February 1, 2002, March 1, 2002, April 1, 2002, May 1, 2002, June 1, 2002, July 1, 2002, August 1, 2002, September 1, 2002, October 1, 2002, November 1, 2002, December 1, 2002, January 1, 2003, February 1, 2003, March 1, 2003, April 1, 2003, May 1, 2003, June 1, 2003, July 1, 2003, August 1, 2003, September 1, 2003, October 1, 2003, November 1, 2003, December 1, 2003, January 1, 2004, February 1, 2004, March 1, 2004, April 1, 2004, May 1, 2004, June 1, 2004, July 1, 2004, August 1, 2004, September 1, 2004, October 1, 2004, November 1, 2004, December 1, 2004, January 1, 2005, and February 1, 2005 are available for selected lakes and reservoirs in the Southern District and the Colorado River. Adobe Acrobat Reader is needed to view these reports. Statewide current and historical storage data are available at the California Data Exchange Center. Colorado River Water
California is one of seven states and the Republic of Mexico that share water from the Colorado River. Allocation of the water from this vital resource is governed by a body of laws and agreements, which together are known as the Law of the River. For this, the Colorado River Basin is divided into Upper Basin States (Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico) and Lower Basin States (Nevada, Arizona, and California). Division point is Lee Ferry, Arizona. Within California, apportionment of its allocation is determined by an agreement that established priorities among users--agricultural agencies, Native American tribes, and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the water wholesaler through which residents of the coastal areas receive their water. Each of the seven states maintains a government agency to look after its interests in regard to its Colorado River allocation. The Colorado River Board of California supplies information on current conditions. How to obtain hydrologic data. If you are seeking groundwater levels or quality data, please provide Township, Range, and Section in your request. E-mail your data request to: waterdata@sd.water.ca.gov |
|
Copyright © 1998. California Department of Water Resources. All rights reserved. |
Groundwater quality data consisting primarily of inorganic mineral analyses are available for more than 18,000 wells.
There are about 88,000 analyses made by the Department and other agencies during 1900 to 1991.
These data are organized by State Well Number.
The Colorado River supplies the residents of the Southern District with approximately 53 percent of the water they use. Other major sources are local groundwater basins, the State Water Project, and the Mono-Owens area.