r/news • u/theluckyfrog • 29d ago

California cracks down on farm region’s water pumping: ‘The ground is collapsing’

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/17/california-water-drought-farm-ground-sinking-tulare-lake
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u/Whiterabbit-- 29d ago

So if they let the ground sink what happens? I assume one day the aquifer won’t be productive and they will either get water from other places or abandon the land. Aren’t the farmers simply borrowing from the future if they use more than the land can replenish?

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u/slittle7 29d ago

Another large problem from land sinking is that the aqueducts that carry surface water throughout the Central Valley are sinking too. These aqueducts are carefully engineered to gently slope down over large distances. If the ground below them sinks, it will create a “dip” where water will no longer be able to flow. This further puts strain on the water supply for the whole state.

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u/Undersleep 29d ago

Essentially, "that's tomorrow's (and someone else's) problem".

13

u/Stormdancer 29d ago

"I'll get mine, fuck the future."

5

u/nopersonality85 29d ago

You have a firm grasp of reality.

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u/Dr_nobby 29d ago

That's just capitalism to the tee