Ground Water and Land Subsidence – A Pending Crisis?
Californians have seen a striking image: a person standing next to a telephone pole with signs labeled with years, showing the ground level at different times.
The signs on the pole read: "1962" at the top, "1970" several feet lower, and further down, "2015", followed by signs for "2019", "2021", and finally "2025" at the bottom.
Each sign represents the ground level for that year, illustrating the significant impact of subsidence on the valley due to excessive water pumping without replenishment.
The iconic photo shows how severely subsidence is affecting the valley.
This image highlights the urgent need to address the issue of land subsidence caused by groundwater depletion.
Author's summary: Californians face a crisis due to land subsidence.