California fast-tracks groundwater recharge permits to maximise stormwater capture in wet season

California has taken a further step to strengthen its water resilience strategy by accelerating the authorization of stormwater capture and groundwater recharge projects ahead of the current wet season. The State Water Resources Control Board has approved nine temporary groundwater recharge permits, allowing local agencies to store significant volumes of excess surface water underground during wet periods.

Approved just before a new round of winter storms reached the state, the permits authorize the recharge of nearly 43,000 acre-feet of water across several major watersheds. This volume is roughly equivalent to the annual domestic supply of more than 128,000 households. The permits include two short-term authorizations valid for 180 days and seven permits covering five consecutive wet seasons, marking the largest number of longer-term permits issued in a single season since this option was introduced in 2020.

Projects are located within the Sacramento, San Joaquin, Shasta and Scott River watersheds, and are led by water districts and groundwater sustainability agencies. Two additional five-year permits granted in 2023 remain active, further expanding recharge capacity statewide.

“As California’s climate changes and grows more extreme, every storm is a critical opportunity to capture water and replenish our aquifers before the next drought,” said board Chair E. Joaquin Esquivel. “I’m glad to see more of our partners taking advantage of our expedited process and 5-year permits, because building groundwater reserves helps communities maintain drinking water supplies when conditions turn dry.”

The five-year permits are designed to provide regulatory certainty, enabling agencies to plan and operate larger recharge projects without seeking annual approvals. The Scott Valley Irrigation District, for example, transitioned from repeated short-term permits to a longer authorization in December 2025, allowing the diversion of up to 5,400 acre-feet this season.

The board’s streamlined permitting process has reduced approval times to around four months, compared to up to a year previously, while maintaining safeguards to protect water quality and existing water rights. All permits remain subject to public review and comment, reinforcing transparency as California expands its approach to managed aquifer recharge.