ABSTRACT
The Oxnard Plain is a 142.5 square km area located along the Pacific Coast in Central California. Since the late 1800’s the area has proven to be an abundant agricultural area with deep tertiary deposits of alluvium which make the area rich in groundwater resources. Early wells drilled through the overlying clay cap resulted in artesian pressures sufficient to raise water to the second floor of residences as well as support agriculture. By the 1940’s the groundwater levels has progressively lowered, fluctuating in response to tidal changes. By early 1950’s seawater moved into near-coastal wells and for the next 35 years continued to move further inland making hundreds of wells useless. Accordingly, United Water initiated a 3 Phase Program to restore the groundwater basins. As a result, overdraft appears to have been eliminated in the upper aquifer and seawater intrusion reversed.
