California wants to store floodwaters underground. It's harder than it sounds
Even during epic floods, California is trying to prepare for the next drought by capturing water from this year's epic winter storms.
For much of the last few decades, when the sky didn't produce enough water for his cows and crops, Dino Giacomazzi — like most farmers in California's southern Central Valley — pumped it from the earth. Underground aquifers, vast bank accounts of stored water, were drained.
Now, after a historically wet winter, Giacomazzi and the state of California want to put some of that water back.
"It is a no-brainer, win-win, multi-benefit opportunity," said Giacomazzi, standing on his Central Valley farm, which depends on groundwater to grow almonds, lettuce and tomatoes for pizza sauce.
More water stored underground means fewer flooded farms, and more water available to
