most of California's Central Valley has an aquifer beneath it, which is being drained mostly by agricultural uses, but I don't think any of that water is pumped over mountains. It was already there. the Colorado river--among much else--forms at least part of the border between California and Arizona. The Colorado runs out of water before it gets to where it used to drain into the Gulf of California, but it seems to end in different places depending on rainfall or lack thereof. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-colorado-river-runs-dry-61427169/
Excellent article and especially good videos. As the article points out, it has been decades since Colorado River water has reached the Gulf of California, or even makes it across the Mexican border.
The Colorado River water pumped over the mountains to Southern California into reservoirs is mostly for urban uses west of the mountain ranges. Some is used by relatively small farmers in areas west of the mountains but major agricultural interests north & east of LA receive their water from 1) local aquifers as in the Central Valley [which has experienced substantial land subsidence as the support of water has been withdrawn, or 2) the State Water Project, a system of canals and reservoirs bringing water south for distribution to, mostly, corporate agriculture. The State Water Project is dependent on runoff from rain and melting snow the Sierras. A bit oversimplified but it's a complex issue.
The Imperial Valley doesn't need pumps though they're dependent on the Colorado River as it is east of the mountains. A network of canals serve small towns and agriculture which is a huge part of the Imperial Valley economy even though some of their allotment is left in Lake Mead for use by San Diego County. That deal was made a decade or more ago wherein SD County paid to line the canals to deter loss of water into the soil. Water saved comes to SD Co. via LA's Metropolitan Water District (MWD).
As a resident of SD County, I'm pleased to report that our County Water Authority has greatly expanded access to local water resources over the past 2 decades, steadily reducing the quantity of water which must be purchased through and transferred through MWD.
Our water rates continue to increase but the resulting wastewater reclamation facilities (2 so far) are worth it as water from the river becomes less available to us. A third facility, to purify recycled water to potable standards for release eventually into reservoirs, is under construction.
Look at S Colorado and how California pumps some of that water over mountains to irrigate for vegetables and avocados (i think avocados are a fruit).
most of California's Central Valley has an aquifer beneath it, which is being drained mostly by agricultural uses, but I don't think any of that water is pumped over mountains. It was already there. the Colorado river--among much else--forms at least part of the border between California and Arizona. The Colorado runs out of water before it gets to where it used to drain into the Gulf of California, but it seems to end in different places depending on rainfall or lack thereof. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-colorado-river-runs-dry-61427169/
Excellent article and especially good videos. As the article points out, it has been decades since Colorado River water has reached the Gulf of California, or even makes it across the Mexican border.
The Colorado River water pumped over the mountains to Southern California into reservoirs is mostly for urban uses west of the mountain ranges. Some is used by relatively small farmers in areas west of the mountains but major agricultural interests north & east of LA receive their water from 1) local aquifers as in the Central Valley [which has experienced substantial land subsidence as the support of water has been withdrawn, or 2) the State Water Project, a system of canals and reservoirs bringing water south for distribution to, mostly, corporate agriculture. The State Water Project is dependent on runoff from rain and melting snow the Sierras. A bit oversimplified but it's a complex issue.
The Imperial Valley doesn't need pumps though they're dependent on the Colorado River as it is east of the mountains. A network of canals serve small towns and agriculture which is a huge part of the Imperial Valley economy even though some of their allotment is left in Lake Mead for use by San Diego County. That deal was made a decade or more ago wherein SD County paid to line the canals to deter loss of water into the soil. Water saved comes to SD Co. via LA's Metropolitan Water District (MWD).
As a resident of SD County, I'm pleased to report that our County Water Authority has greatly expanded access to local water resources over the past 2 decades, steadily reducing the quantity of water which must be purchased through and transferred through MWD.
I'm glad you're getting the water you need.
Our water rates continue to increase but the resulting wastewater reclamation facilities (2 so far) are worth it as water from the river becomes less available to us. A third facility, to purify recycled water to potable standards for release eventually into reservoirs, is under construction.
I thought you might find this article from the San Diego Union interesting. There seems to be some progress being made in the struggles over Colorado River water for southern California. https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/columnists/story/2023-12-13/michael-smolens-lots-of-snow-rain-and-federal-money-make-landmark-water-deal-a-reality