Oil and gas production is big business in California, contributing to nine percent of its GDP, and the state’s politics are heavily influenced by this industry. Fracking in California is documented in 10 counties, most overlapping the Monterey Shale. There are a dozen fracking operations in the Santa Barbara Channel and more than 200 throughout California’s waters.

In 2015, Gov. Jerry Brown continued to support Big Oil, including by rejecting a petition signed by more than 150 environmental groups calling for a moratorium on fracking across the state. Meanwhile, Assemblyman Mike Gatto has proposed a bill that could require a warning label for any crops irrigated with fracking wastewater.

Did You Know?

In 2015, the state shut down twelve fracking wastewater storage wells in the Central Valley due to fears of water contamination, but thousands more are in close proximity to fresh water and will be allowed to remain in operation until 2017. Earthjustice is fighting to halt this illegal wastewater injection immediately. Earthjustice is also seeking to block a federal plan to open up more than a million acres of public land and mineral rights in central California to drilling and fracking.

Last Updated: September 29, 2015

For More Information:

• Photo Feature: The California Drought: Who Gets The Water And Who's Hung Out To Dry?
• Teleconference (audio and transcript): Using Municipal Zoning to Limit or Ban Fracking in California Communities
• unEARTHED: California Produce Growing Strong on Oil Water
• unEARTHED: Wastewater In'frack'tion in California's Drought Plagued Central Valley