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Welcome to California Water Intelligence
This dashboard visualizes publicly available California water data from NOAA, CDEC, and CA DWR — data that is often scattered across agencies or presented in hard-to-use formats
Intended for informational and research purposes only — not a substitute for official agency reports
The dashboard is actively being improved with new data sources, tabs, and more actionable insights over time
While Klimate Consulting does its best to review, verify, and ensure accuracy, errors and mistakes may occur and we are not responsible for them. If you spot an issue, have feedback, or want to learn more, contact us, or email us at [email protected]
Below 70%70–90%90–100%100–110%110–130%Above 130%No station index
Source: NOAA PSL + CDEC station indexes (8SI, 5SI, 6SI), monthly record through Sep 2026 · complete water year vs the 1991–2020 water-year mean · colour = % of normal · regions: DWR i03 Hydrologic Regions; only the three regions with a station index are coloured · click a region for its full record on the Supply tab
Groundwater, 10-yr change
12 deeper · 93 within ±5 ft · 61 shallower
More than 25 ft deeper5–25 ft deeperWithin ±5 ft5–25 ft shallowerMore than 25 ft shallowerNo usable 10-yr change
Source: DWR periodic groundwater level measurements · 10-year change in spring (Mar to May) depth to water, median over wells measured in both springs (5+ paired wells; start years 2010–2018, end years 2021–2026) · deeper = water table has fallen · 80% of windows start in 2016, at the end of the 2012–16 drought, so some recovery is a rebound from drought lows · 166 of 515 Bulletin 118 subbasins have a usable change; median -2.0 ft · click a subbasin for its history on the Storage tab
Snowpack
April 1, 2026 · statewide 18% of April 1 avg
No snow1–25%25–50%50–100%100–150%Above 150%No April 1 average or no reading
Source: CDEC / California Cooperative Snow Surveys · points = the 113 snow sensors in CDEC's North, Central and South regions, colour = snow water equivalent (sensor 82, daily) as % of the station's April 1 average (CDEC PAGE6) · labels = CDEC's regional % of April 1 average (Daily Statewide Summary of Snow Water Content; stations reporting: North 33 · Central 54 · South 25) · WY 2026 statewide peak: 61% of April 1 average on 24 Feb 2026 (73% of normal for that date) · April 1, 2026 ranks 2nd lowest of 24 April 1 summaries since 2003 (1 April 2002 excluded: CDEC archive gap) · the map switches to daily values in December, once the new snow season is reporting · click a sensor for its CDEC page
Historical trends 1895–present
Drought conditions
% of California in severe drought (D2+)
This chart tracks the percentage of California's land area classified as severe drought (D2+) over time. The trend line reveals that drought severity has increased significantly since the late 20th century, with post-1990 droughts covering more of the state and lasting longer than the pre-1960 baseline.
The annual rate at which severe drought coverage is changing. A positive value means droughts are covering more of California each year. The p-value indicates statistical confidence—values below 0.05 mean the trend is unlikely due to random chance.
Trend
+0.073%
per year (p=0.0078)
The average percentage of California experiencing severe drought (D2 or worse) during the historical baseline period before 1960.
Pre-1960
8.1%
D2+ baseline
The average percentage of California experiencing severe drought (D2 or worse) since 1990. Comparing this to the pre-1960 average reveals how drought conditions have changed in the modern era.
Post-1990
14.3%
D2+ modern
The percentage increase in severe drought coverage comparing the post-1990 period to the pre-1960 baseline. This shows how much more of California now experiences severe drought compared to the historical norm.
Change
+77%
severity increase
Wet conditions
% of California very wet (W2+)
This chart tracks the percentage of California classified as very wet (W2+). Unlike drought, wet conditions have not changed significantly over the past 130 years. While individual wet years can be dramatic, the long-term trend is essentially flat, meaning California's wet extremes are not keeping pace with its worsening droughts.
The annual rate at which very wet conditions coverage is changing. A positive value means wet conditions are covering more of California each year. The p-value indicates statistical confidence—values above 0.05 mean the trend may be due to random variation.
Trend
+0.029%
per year (p=0.4085)
The average percentage of California experiencing very wet conditions (W2 or wetter) during the historical baseline period before 1960.
Pre-1960
8.5%
W2+ baseline
The average percentage of California experiencing very wet conditions (W2 or wetter) since 1990. Comparing this to the pre-1960 average shows whether wet periods have changed in the modern era.
Post-1990
10.7%
W2+ modern
The percentage change in very wet conditions comparing the post-1990 period to the pre-1960 baseline. Unlike drought, this change is not statistically significant, meaning wet conditions have remained relatively stable.
Change
+27%
not significant
Key findings from 130 years of data
Drought severity: getting much worse
+82% increase in severe drought. Highly significant (p=0.0047).
Drought frequency: no change
Droughts occur at the same frequency. The problem is severity, not frequency.
Wet conditions: modest increase
+27% increase, but not statistically significant (p=0.406).
Asymmetric intensification
Droughts intensifying 2.6× faster than wet periods.
Regional precipitation WY 2026 (Oct 2025–Sep 2026), final · vs the 1991–2020 normal
Northern Sierra (8SI)
data since 1920
Cumulative precipitation for the Northern Sierra 8-Station Index. This is the primary indicator for California's water supply.
WY total
51.5"
through Sep 2026
Precipitation as a percentage of the 1991–2020 normal: the mean of complete water years 1991–2020 in the merged NOAA PSL + CDEC record, through the same month. The Status-tab map uses the same figure.
% of normal
97%
-1.6" vs normal of 53.2"
San Joaquin (5SI)
data since 1913
Cumulative precipitation for the San Joaquin 5-Station Index (Central Sierra).
WY total
35.4"
through Sep 2026
Precipitation as a percentage of the 1991–2020 normal: the mean of complete water years 1991–2020 in the merged NOAA PSL + CDEC record, through the same month. The Status-tab map uses the same figure.
% of normal
88%
-4.6" vs normal of 40.0"
Tulare Basin (6SI)
data since 1923
Cumulative precipitation for the Tulare Basin 6-Station Index (Southern Sierra).
WY total
24.4"
through Sep 2026
Precipitation as a percentage of the 1991–2020 normal: the mean of complete water years 1991–2020 in the merged NOAA PSL + CDEC record, through the same month. The Status-tab map uses the same figure.
% of normal
86%
-3.8" vs normal of 28.3"
Water year 2026 progress Cumulative precipitation vs. historical range
Water year 2026 is complete. The solid line is the full year; dashed = 1991–2020 normal; shaded = range of all other complete water years. Analog years (past years with a similar start) return once WY 2027 has 2 months of data.
Northern Sierra (8SI)
San Joaquin (5SI)
Tulare Basin (6SI)
Water year outcome forecast Projected end-of-year precipitation based on how past years finished
No forecast right now. Water year 2026 has ended, so there is nothing left to project.
The forecast returns once WY 2027 has 2 months of data (early December).
Monthly precipitation, full record NOAA PSL Oct 1920 to Dec 2025 · CDEC since · through Sep 2026
Highest single-month total in the merged PSL + CDEC record for the selected region.
Wettest month
30.83 in
Dec 1955
Lowest single-month total. Many summer months record no precipitation at all, so the first such month is shown with a count of ties.
Driest month
0.00 in
Jul 1921 · first of 51 months at 0.00 in
Highest October to September total among complete water years (all 12 months present).
Wettest water year
94.9 in
WY 2017
Lowest October to September total among complete water years (all 12 months present).
Driest water year
17.1 in
WY 1924
Monthly inches with 12-month rolling total and normal
Linear trend on water-year totals, WY 1921–2026: +6.4 in per century, p = 0.217 (not statistically significant)
Sacramento River hydrologic region, home of the Northern Sierra (8SI). Click a region to select it.
How to read this chart. Each bar is one water year, October to September, complete years only. The dashed normal is the 1991–2020 mean water-year total, the same baseline behind every "percent of normal" figure on this page, so a bar above it was a wetter-than-normal year and a bar below it a drier one. The dotted linear trend is a least-squares line fitted through every complete water year on record; it shows whether totals have drifted up or down over the century, and its p-value says whether that drift can be told apart from year-to-year noise (p below 0.05 would count as statistically significant).
Source: NOAA PSL + CDEC · monthly inches · normal = 1991–2020 mean · missing months shown as gaps
Long-term trends 100+ years of data — is precipitation changing?
Northern Sierra (8SI)→
No significant trend
+6.4 in per century, p = 0.217 (not statistically significant) · WY 1921–2026
San Joaquin (5SI)→
No significant trend
+3.1 in per century, p = 0.426 (not statistically significant) · WY 1914–2026
Tulare Basin (6SI)→
No significant trend
−2.6 in per century, p = 0.477 (not statistically significant) · WY 1924–2026
Reservoir storage 17 major reservoirs · as of 2026-10-11
Drag, use arrow keys, or press play · end-of-month storage from CDEC
—
15,117 / 24,973 TAF
17 major reservoirs tracked
Status breakdown
Full (90%+)2
Good (70-90%)6
Moderate (50-70%)5
Low (30-50%)3
Critical (<30%)1
Major reservoir storage — selected date vs. capacity
Source: CDEC sensor 15 · TAF = thousand acre-feet · bar colour = fill level
Historical storage levels
Source: CDEC · daily · % of capacity · five largest shown by default — click a name to toggle
Groundwater Bulletin 118 subbasins · DWR periodic groundwater level measurements · through Oct 2026
Bulletin 118 basins and subbasins with at least one periodic groundwater level measurement in water year 2026 (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), out of the 515 units DWR delineates.
Basins measured
232 of 515
water year 2026
Distinct monitoring wells with at least one measurement in water year 2026, across all basins.
Wells measured
9,046
250,522 measurements in WY 2026
Median across basins of the 10-year change in spring (Mar to May) depth to water. Each basin's change is the median, over wells measured in both springs, of each well's own change, so wells joining or leaving the network do not move it. Only basins with at least 5 such paired wells count. Negative means the water table is shallower now (recovery); positive means deeper (decline).
Median 10-yr change
-2.0 ft
spring depth to water · 166 basins · negative = recovering
Share of SGMA High and Medium priority basins whose spring water table is deeper than about 10 years ago, among those with enough wells to compare (90 of 94).
High/Medium basins declining
36%
32 of 90 deeper than 10 yrs ago
Groundwater basins
Click a basin to plot it. Dark outline = critically overdrafted (21 basins). In change mode, colour = median change of wells measured in both springs (paired wells); grey = fewer than 5 paired wells or no recent spring measurements. Source: DWR Bulletin 118 (2018 update), SGMA 2019 Basin Prioritization.
Depth to water over time —
Show
Code
Hydrologic region
SGMA priority
Critically overdrafted
Wells on record
Measurements
Record
Latest measurement
Latest spring depth
Latest fall depth
10-yr change
20-yr change
Source: DWR periodic groundwater level measurements · spring = Mar to May, fall = Sep to Nov medians across wells · band = spring interquartile range · depth to water = ground surface minus water level (ft below ground surface); positive change = deeper (decline).
Coming soon to the Storage tab
Subsidence tracking InSAR
Land subsidence from overdraft
Data: CDEC (California Data Exchange Center) | Daily storage updates | Monthly history back to the 1940s (end-of-month storage, sensor 15) | Normals = 1991–2020 mean for each calendar month | 17 major reservoirs | Groundwater: DWR Periodic Groundwater Level Measurements (data.cnra.ca.gov), Bulletin 118 basin boundaries, SGMA 2019 Basin Prioritization
In developmentThis tab is still being built out. More information on groundwater sustainability agencies, their plans and water districts will be added over time.
Groundwater Sustainability Plans that DWR has approved, out of all 116 plan areas in DWR's GSP Areas layer. Approved plans move to "under periodic review" when their five-year evaluation is in progress.
Plans approved
70 of 116
under periodic review: 22
Plans DWR determined Inadequate (the basin can be referred to the State Water Board), Inadequate and under review after a resubmittal, or Incomplete (deficiencies the GSAs were asked to correct).
Plans inadequate or incomplete
24
8 inadequate · 12 inadequate, under review · 4 incomplete
Subbasins with a WY 2025 row in DWR's GSP Annual Report tables, out of every subbasin that has ever filed. Reports for a water year are due on 1 April of the following year.
Annual reports filed for WY 2025
101 of 102
1 missing · 0 GSAs flagged
Sum of the groundwater extraction the GSAs reported for WY 2025 across all reporting subbasins, and the sum of their reported change in groundwater storage for the same year. Self-reported; methods differ by basin.
Reported extraction, WY 2025
12.9 million AF
change in storage -1,546 thousand AF
Groundwater sustainability agencies
353 GSAs · colour by DWR's plan determination, by whether the WY 2025 annual report is on file, or by the subbasin's reported change in storage · click a GSA to open it
Selected agency
Annual report water budget — …
Source: DWR GSP Annual Report data · self-reported by the GSAs for the whole subbasin · WY 2017–2025
Agricultural extractionUrban extractionOther extractionSurface-water supplyChange in storage (right axis)
Plans needing attention
Inadequate or incomplete plans, and subbasins without a WY 2025 annual report · 76 GSAs · click a row to open
GSA
Subbasin
Priority
Plan status
Annual report
Change in storage
Water districts 2053 districts · 121,184 sq mi · DWR i03 Water Districts
Water districts
Colour by DWR region · hover for name and area
Water districts include irrigation districts, municipal utilities, community service districts, and other local agencies that manage water supply and distribution. The map keeps the 2053 boundaries that match an agency type or a priced agency on the Pricing tab.
GSP Annual Report data — water budgets the GSAs report to DWR each year for their subbasin: groundwater extraction by use sector, surface-water supply by source, total water use and change in groundwater storage. Self-reported; methods differ by basin.
Source:CNRA Open Data — GSP Annual Report Data (datastore tables)
GSP Areas — DWR's plan areas with the current determination for each Groundwater Sustainability Plan (Approved, Under Periodic Review, Incomplete, Inadequate), submittal and posting dates and the GSAs covered by each plan.
Source:DWR GIS — i03 Groundwater Sustainability Plan Areas
GSAs are the local agencies responsible for developing and implementing Groundwater Sustainability Plans under SGMA (Sustainable Groundwater Management Act). Boundaries, websites and plan links come from DWR's GSA layer; SGMA basin priority from the 2019 prioritization.
Data Sources: DWR GIS Services (gis.water.ca.gov) for water district boundaries | DWR i03 GSA and GSP Areas layers (gis.data.cnra.ca.gov) for GSA boundaries and plan determinations | DWR GSP Annual Report Data (data.cnra.ca.gov) for subbasin water budgets, WY 2017–2025 | SGMA 2019 basin prioritization for basin priority | Annual reports for a water year are due 1 April of the following year; a High or Medium priority subbasin with a plan but no WY 2025 row is flagged as missing
Water conveyance infrastructure 87,908 features | 72,000 km mapped
Key lift stations, capacity, and energy consumption data.
Diversions eWRIMS
Point of diversion locations, permitted volumes, and actual usage.
Condition assessment Research
Infrastructure age, maintenance needs, and modernization projects.
Data: DWR Water Conveyance GIS | Bureau of Reclamation CVP | CDFW CVPIA | NHD (National Hydrography Dataset) — canals & ditches
Regulation & Policy
Navigate California's complex water rights system and groundwater sustainability regulations.
Surface water rights eWRIMS
Appropriative and riparian rights, priority dates, and allocation status.
Groundwater sustainability plans SGMA Portal
GSP summaries, sustainability indicators, and implementation milestones.
Ag water management plans 90+ PDFs
District-level water use efficiency, conservation measures, and demand projections.
Policy tracking Research
Emerging regulations, curtailment orders, and legislative updates.
Water pricing
1780 agencies · 898 with a $/AF rate · 1620 mapped with pricing · 546 more boundaries shown (data coming soon)
What does it cost to buy water from a California irrigation or water district? Pick a customer class and a price metric below — the map, the price-distribution chart, and the table all update together. Click any district (or table row) to see its full rate breakdown, its source document, and where its price falls on the distribution. Rates are point-in-time and vary by water-year type; many agencies don't publish a single clean figure, so some show structure only or no published rate.
Customer class i
Price metric
County
Confidence
Search agency
Price distribution
How agencies in the current selection spread across the price range. Each bar is a price band; its height is how many agencies charge a rate in that band. Hover a bar for details; click any district to open its full pricing detail here.
Each agency's headline rate for the chosen class & metric, colored by the same price bands as the map. The axis is capped near the 98th percentile so a few outliers don't flatten the curve.
Click a district on the map (or a row in the table below) to see its full rate breakdown and source here.
Rate table
Agency
County
Class
$/AF
$/acre
Year
Conf.
Structure
Source
How to read this: Volumetric rates ($/AF) are the per-acre-foot charge for water delivered; fixed charges ($/acre) are standby/assessment charges levied on land regardless of use. Many agencies charge both. “Municipal & Industrial” (M&I) means water sold to cities, businesses, and industry; together with Residential it makes up urban water use. Residential and M&I rates are shown as approximate $/AF conversions for comparison only and are excluded from the agricultural ranking. Figures are point-in-time, vary by water-year type (dry vs. normal), and are not averaged across years — the effective year is shown wherever known. A low confidence chip or a missing year means the figure should be confirmed with the district before any decision.
Sources & method: Rates are compiled from heterogeneous public sources — district rate pages, Agricultural Water Management Plans, board minutes, budgets, Prop 218 notices, LAFCO Municipal Service Reviews, and the UC Merced 2025 study. Every mapped/listed figure links to its source. See the full water pricing methodology for details. Agencies with no published rate are kept in the table (greyed on the map) because the absence of public pricing is itself useful.
Premium dataset
Full access to the California water pricing dataset — every agency's rates, source documents, and the interactive map — is available by request.
To get access to the full pricing data, please email [email protected].
