From the Maven’s Notebook

By Jesse Vad, SJV Water

New research from scientists at Stanford University shows that the San Joaquin Valley is sinking faster than ever due to excessive groundwater pumping. Even though aquifers are plummeting and the ground is sinking, the situation is never static. Since the historic wet year of 2023, some localities have seen significant rebounds in groundwater levels, though not enough to permanently change the trajectory, experts warn. Researchers brought together separate existing subsidence datasets from 2006 to 2022 to paint a more reliable picture of conditions in the valley. (more)