The episode explores California's escalating groundwater crisis, where decades of unchecked pumping have led to sinking land and dry wells, prompting a historic shift in water management. With the 2014 Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, farmers must now drastically reduce pumping, fo
Sign up to read the full summary
Free AI-powered recaps of every episode, delivered to your inbox.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
Guest
Dan Charles
narrative on Short Wave
Mentions
Books, people, and resources mentioned in this episode.
People
Companies
Research & Papers
Topics
Listen to This Episode
More from Short Wave
The supertree shielding coastlines and storing carbon
Is it getting windier?
Could air pollution make your memory worse?
The problem with modern avocados — and the ancient solution
Is setting your trash on fire a good idea?
The world is running out of helium — again
Related episodes
From other shows on similar topics.
Extreme Water Shortages in the West, and Hegseth’s Pentagon Purge
The Headlines
NPR News: 05-05-2026 3AM EDT
NPR News Now
What we'll eat on a warmer planet
TED Radio Hour
What's in the long-awaited farmer relief package
Marketplace
Trump is rolling back climate solutions. What can cities and states do?
Up First from NPR
America could be headed for a future of ghost towns
Apple News Today
Get summaries like this every morning.
Free AI-powered recaps of Short Wave and your other favorite podcasts, delivered to your inbox.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.