Wednesday March 29, 2023
Napa Valley Register —
Napa County has work to do to get Napa Valley wine country groundwater supplies in balance for the long haul.
Groundwater pumping in 2021-22 was 18,790 acre-feet, according to a new report. It was the third consecutive year that pumping exceeded the Napa Valley sub-basin’s sustainable yield of 15,000 acre-feet, coinciding with a three-year drought.
Taking a longer view, the seven-year annual pumping amount of 18,023 acre-feet also tops the sustainable yield.
This doesn’t mean the Napa Valley sub-basin will be sucked dry anytime soon. But experts say even this year’s rain bonanza won’t be a cure-all and that changes are needed. The county is aiming to reduce groundwater usage.