Modoc County, CA Water Table Trend
Modoc County, CA: what the water table is actually doing
Modoc County's long-term well puts the trend at 5.3 ft per decade, declining faster than most declining counties, based on 105 measurements since 1965.
One well stands in for Modoc County's whole aquifer here, the honest simplification every page on this site carries.
What the well actually measured
The most recent reading put water 142.5 ft below land surface. Readings span 1965-12-02 to 2026-10-06, 105 measurements from USGS well USGS-414043121155501 (44.00n/06.00e-03p01m), part of the National Water Information System. The qualifying bar and the OLS fit behind this trend are documented in the methodology guide.
Where Modoc County ranks
Of the 1,449 US counties with a usable trend, Modoc County ranks 1313th from fastest-rising to fastest-declining, 1 is the fastest-rising water table measured, 1449 the fastest-declining. About 8,491 people live in Modoc County, California. See the fastest-moving counties guide for how Modoc County stacks up against the most extreme cases nationally.
What a declining table means for a well pump
Because Modoc County's water table is actually declining, not just a general worry, a well owner here should consider comparing home-warranty plans that cover well-pump failure before one happens.
A dropping table says nothing about water quality
Whether Modoc County's water table is rising or falling is independent of what's actually in the water. Depletion can concentrate naturally-occurring minerals, so it's worth checking directly with a water test rather than assuming a depth trend says anything about quality.