How big is Anza-Borrego Desert State Park?

More than 600,000 acres, or roughly 1,000 square miles. It is the largest state park in California and the third largest in the United States, spanning parts of San Diego, Riverside and Imperial counties.

How much does it cost to enter Anza-Borrego?

Day use is $10 per vehicle, collected at the Visitor Center, developed campgrounds and several popular trailheads including The Slot and Hellhole Canyon. The park has no entrance gates and much of it can be accessed without a fee.

When is wildflower season at Anza-Borrego?

Annual wildflowers can appear from January through mid-April, with peak bloom most often between late February and early April. Timing varies year to year based on rainfall and temperature.

Is Anza-Borrego a Dark Sky Park?

Yes. The park was designated an International Dark Sky Park in 2018 at Silver tier. Borrego Springs, the town at its center, has been an International Dark Sky Community since 2009, the first in California.

Do I need four-wheel drive at Anza-Borrego?

Not for the paved roads, the Visitor Center or the main campgrounds. The vast majority of the park's roughly 500 miles of dirt roads do require a high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicle.

Is Anza-Borrego Desert State Park open at night?

Yes, the park is open 24 hours a day, year-round. The Visitor Center is open daily 9am to 5pm October through May, and weekends and holidays only June through September.

Shandel Sutherland • May 6, 2024

Water Management in Borrego Springs: The Role of the Watermaster

The Role of the Borrego Watermaster in Groundwater Management

Understanding water management in Borrego Springs includes considering the role of the Borrego Watermaster. Established through a court-supervised adjudication, the Borrego Watermaster oversees the management of groundwater in accordance with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) and a court-ordered Judgment.

The Borrego Springs Groundwater Subbasin

The Borrego Springs Groundwater Subbasin spans approximately 98 square miles across Borrego Valley and is bordered by bedrock formations, faults, and significant geological features. The subbasin lies within San Diego County's jurisdiction and is surrounded by California State-owned land. It primarily consists of agriculture, residential, and recreational land uses, with water and sewer services provided by the Borrego Water District (BWD).

Who is the Borrego Watermaster?

The Borrego Watermaster is a committee of representatives from the sectors affected by the Judgment, including agriculture, recreation, the Borrego Water District, and the community. The Watermaster's primary role is to implement a groundwater management plan to ensure that groundwater pumping is reduced to sustainable levels by 2040. The Watermaster supervises groundwater levels and quality, enforces water allocations, and collaborates with the BWD on water management.

The Role of the Watermaster

The Watermaster's responsibilities include:

Overseeing the reduction of groundwater pumping to achieve sustainability.

Monitoring groundwater levels and water quality to manage the basin effectively.

Enforcing water rights and allocations as per the court-ordered Judgment.

Challenges and Ongoing Projects

The Watermaster faces challenges due to the historical over-pumping of groundwater, which led to significant drops in groundwater levels. To address this, the Watermaster is involved in several projects, including:

Expanding the Groundwater Monitoring Program to improve data collection.

Redetermining the Sustainable Yield to update estimates for water management.

Restoring Fallowed Lands to ensure unused agricultural land is rehabilitated.

The Technical Advisory Committee

A Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) advises the Watermaster on technical matters related to groundwater management. The TAC makes recommendations based on the best available data to ensure sustainable management of the Borrego Springs Groundwater Subbasin. The TAC's duties include analyzing water budgets, identifying undesirable results, and improving water budget assumptions to enable better adaptive management.

Staying Informed

To follow the Watermaster's progress in managing Borrego's water resources, visit their official website here for the latest updates, meeting agendas, and data on water management activities.

Groundwater Monitoring Plan for the Borrego Springs Subbasin

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS BORREGO SPRINGS WATERMASTER

Learn More About Borrego Springs

Restoring The Salton Sea: Progress, Promise, And Pressure

By NBC Palm Springs • September 25, 2026

There are so many tales of the Salton Sea, it's hard to know what's really the truth.

Shop the Rack, Support the Community: Frugal Coyote Launches Nonprofit of the Month

By Anna Abatzoglou Executive Director, Borrego Valley Endowment Fund • September 24, 2026

Frugal Coyote is giving shoppers a new way to support Borrego Springs with its Nonprofit of the Month program.

Equitable Building Decarbonization Program

By California Energy Commission • September 23, 2026

The goals of the Equitable Building Decarbonization Program are to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in homes and advance energy equity. The Direct Install Program provides decarbonization retrofits to low- and moderate-income households. The Statewide Incentive Program incentivizes the increased adoption of low-carbon technologies. In addition to reducing GHG emissions, the Equitable Building Decarbonization Program will strive to encourage resiliency to extreme heat, improve indoor air quality, improve energy affordability, provide electric grid support, and increase payment of prevailing wage to the implementing workforce. Programs include: EBD Statewide Direct Install Program The Equitable Building Decarbonization Statewide Direct Install Program provides and installs energy-efficient upgrades to low-income households. EBD Tribal Direct Install Program The program will serve residential buildings owned or managed by a California Native American tribes, tribal organizations, or tribal members. EBD Statewide Incentive Program Loan loss reserve and interest rate buy downs to reduce the cost of loans for home energy retrofits that improve efficiency and reduce GHG emissions. Learn More: www.energy.ca.gov Contact: Equitable Building Decarbonization Program equitablebuildingdecarb@energy.ca.gov