I had no idea that local water districts were planning to fill up depleted aquifers in the Central Valley.

Seems like a good idea. I'm happy someone has a plan!

http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/UC-Davis-scientist-develop-a-clever-way-to-6596426.php

Clever!

Amid the worst drought in more than a century, all of that water lost? With an El Niño event expected to bring heavy rains this winter, isn't there an easy way to collect and store it?

Researchers from UC Davis and UC Cooperative Extension are testing a new method for capturing some of that underutilized water by diverting it from rivers into the network of canals running through Central Valley farmland. This irrigation system sits empty during the rainy months, and the scientists are looking at filling some canals with water and directing it onto suitable farmland where it can seep underground.

The method known as on-farm recharge could help capture some of the El Niño deluge and replenish California's diminishing groundwater supply.