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Historical Overdraft of the Borrego Aquifer
Key Takeaways
Borrego’s aquifer has been severely overdrafted for decades, as farming and recreation demand far exceeded natural recharge since the mid-1900s.
Over 500,000 acre-feet of water have been lost, causing sharp groundwater declines and deeper, less sustainable well drilling.
Agriculture is the main water user, followed by golf courses and residential demand.
Borrego now faces one of California’s strictest mandates, requiring a 75% cut in groundwater use by 2040.
Local agencies and nonprofits developed a sustainability plan, adopted new technologies, and promote conservation.
The Borrego Water Exchange, launched by Lane Sharman, allows voluntary water right transfers to support sustainability goals.
Borrego’s future depends on ongoing innovation, enforcement, and community action to avoid lasting ecological and economic harm.
The Borrego aquifer, located in Borrego Valley in northeast San Diego County, California, has faced decades of water overdraft. Overdraft occurs when extraction of groundwater exceeds natural recharge, resulting in a persistent decline in groundwater levels.
1. Origin and Duration
Duration: From 1945 to 2005, the cumulative depletion of groundwater from the aquifer system exceeded 500,000 to 550,000 acre-feet. Throughout this period, groundwater pumping far exceeded natural recharge, leading to water level declines of up to 140 feet in some areas over 55 years. By the late 1980s, the annual overdraft rate had more than doubled, and in recent decades, net pumping has outpaced recharge by a factor of four, with about 20,000 acre-feet pumped out annually versus only 5,600 acre-feet naturally replenished each year.
Recent Rates:
- 1980–1989: overdraft ~4,200 acre-feet/year
- 1989–2000: overdraft ~9,100 acre-feet/year
- 1998–2005: overdraft ~14,300 acre-feet/year
2. Causes of Overdraft
- Agriculture: Historically, 70–80% of the groundwater extracted from the Borrego aquifer has served agriculture—primarily citrus and palm farms.
- Golf Courses: Recreational use, especially for golf courses, consumes a further substantial share.
- Population Growth and Tourism: As Borrego Springs became a resort and retirement destination, residential and commercial use also increased.
3. Aquifer Protection Efforts
Key Organizations and Regulatory Framework
Borrego Water District (BWD)
- Established in 1962, BWD is the primary public agency responsible for water delivery and management.
- Adopted a Groundwater Management Plan (GMP) in 2002, aiming to stabilize overdraft, implement conservation, and facilitate water rights buyouts and demand reduction.
- Engaged in innovative projects such as replacing all manual water meters with advanced leak-detection systems under a $6.1 million state grant, aiming to reduce unnecessary water loss.
Groundwater Sustainability Planning
- In response to California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) was developed through intensive community collaboration and state funding. This plan requires Borrego to reduce water use by 75% over a 20-year period, targeting a sustainable pumping level of 5,700 acre-feet/year by 2040—one of the strictest reductions in the state.
- The aquifer is now managed by a Watermaster Board, which oversees—and legally enforces—compliance with pumping reductions.
Borrego Valley Stewardship Council and Other Non-profits
- The Borrego Valley Stewardship Council and groups like the Anza-Borrego Foundation support integrated planning linking land and water use, education, and funding for buyouts of agricultural land to reduce withdrawals.
Borrego Water Exchange and Lane Sharman
Borrego Water Exchange
- Its innovation lies in incentivizing water conservation: participants who voluntarily reduce use can sell their conserved water allocations (credits) to others who need them.
- The exchange operates under a 4:1 mitigation ratio, supporting efficient water transfer and retirement of water-intensive land uses.
This market-based approach enables a balance between economic activity and urgent conservation needs, becoming a template for water management in other overdrafted basins.
Lane Sharman’s Role
- Lane Sharman is a mathematician, entrepreneur, and advocate for sustainable water and energy management.
- He has been a driving force in creating the Borrego Water Exchange and consulting on advanced water management strategies, such as atmospheric water generation and distributed water resource systems.
- Sharman’s efforts focus on combining technology, policy, and market mechanisms to meet Borrego’s water crisis with creativity and rigor—strengthening both ecological resilience and local economic opportunity.
4. Overview Table: Key Events in Borrego Aquifer Management
| Period (Years) | Key Developments | Overdraft/Depletion |
|---|---|---|
| 1945–1980 | Initial development, first overdraft signs | 200,000+ acre-feet depleted |
| 1980–2000 | Agricultural expansion; major overdraft | Overdraft doubled; 300,000+ acre-feet lost |
| 2000–2016 | Rates accelerate, state classifies critical | Pumping quadruples recharge |
| Post-2016 | GSP adopted, exchange launched, cutbacks | 75% reduction required by 2040 |
Conclusion
The Borrego aquifer has faced a severe and lengthy overdraft crisis, driven by unsustainable agricultural and recreational use over decades. In recent years, a coalition of agencies, non-profits, and visionary individuals—especially Lane Sharman through his founding of the Borrego Water Exchange—have pioneered integrated management and market-based conservation solutions. The future of Borrego Springs depends on their continued diligence in enforcing, incentivizing, and innovating toward a sustainable water future.
Q&A
What is the Borrego aquifer and where is it located?
The Borrego aquifer is the sole groundwater source for Borrego Valley in northeast San Diego County, California, supporting local agriculture, recreation, and residential needs.
When did the overdraft of the Borrego aquifer begin, and what caused it?
Significant overdrafting began after World War II due to rapid expansion of agriculture, golf courses, and municipal development, leading to groundwater pumping that consistently exceeded natural recharge.
How severe is the overdraft problem in Borrego Valley?
The aquifer has experienced a cumulative decline of over 500,000 acre-feet between 1945 and 2005, with net pumping in recent decades exceeding recharge by a factor of four. Some wells have dried up or now access lower-quality water at much greater depths.
What are the main uses of groundwater from the Borrego aquifer?
Historically, 70–80% of the aquifer’s water supports agriculture—mainly citrus and palm farms—with additional significant use for recreational facilities like golf courses, tourism, and the local population.
What agencies and planning mechanisms are in place to address the overdraft?
The Borrego Water District and the Watermaster Board oversee local water management. A Groundwater Sustainability Plan, created in response to state law, mandates deep and enforceable cutbacks in water use aiming to achieve sustainable levels by 2040.
What is the Borrego Water Exchange and how does it work?
The Borrego Water Exchange, founded by Lane Sharman, is California’s first independent water rights exchange. It allows users who conserve water to sell their credited reductions to others, operating under a 4:1 mitigation ratio, and helps retire water-intensive land uses.
Who is Lane Sharman and what role has he played?
Lane Sharman is an entrepreneur and advocate for sustainable resource management who pioneered the Borrego Water Exchange, integrating market solutions and technology to help address the aquifer’s crisis.