Record storms refilled LA reservoirs, but deep groundwater recovered just 25%

In 2023, record-setting storms brought a much-needed boost to Los Angeles’s reservoirs and shallow groundwater levels. Yet, deeper aquifers, specifically those lying beneath fifty meters, showed only a slight recovery post-wet season, with just twenty-five percent of lost groundwater replenished. This highlights a crucial disparity; improvements in surface water do not mirror the health of underground reservoirs, a consequence of prolonged drought and aggressive water extraction.