The Central Valley is sinking. Yes, the CENTRAL Valley
The floor of the Central Valley is sinking at a record pace as drought-gripped farmers pump out the groundwater beneath them, new satellite data show.
In some places the ground is dropping nearly 2 inches a month, according to measurements taken by the state and NASA. The sinking soil is dragging roads, bridges and other infrastructure with it, raising concern that state pumping restrictions scheduled to take effect in five years won’t arrive in time to head off costly damage and environmental ruin.
“I’m a fan of the new groundwater law. It’s long overdue,” said Peter Gleick, president of the Pacific Institute, a water research organization in Oakland. “But the overdraft of groundwater has to be brought under control faster than the regulation requires or we’re going to suffer billions of dollars worth of damages.”
Dried-up aquifers in parts of the state have already left some farms and communities without a water supply, Gleick noted. Sinking land is just the latest problem.
http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Central-Valley-sinking-fast-because-of-6453686.php
= new reply since forum marked as read
