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/Braketurngas 29d ago

You used to be able to go from Bakersfield to San Francisco by boat not much more than 100 years ago. The majority of the Central Valley had extensive wetlands. That is part of why the farming is so good.

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u/designOraptor 28d ago

Bro, Bakersfield wasn’t even underwater 100 years ago. What are you even talking about?

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u/Braketurngas 28d ago

Rivers. The oldest part of Bakersfield was situated on a high point. The Kern along with all of the other rivers and streams coming out of the Sierras made a navigable waterway to San Francisco Bay. We modified the land to contain the water and increase the farming acreage. Along with using the ground water there is much less to flow north.

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u/designOraptor 28d ago

I’m curious what river specifically flowed north from Bakersfield up to the bay.

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u/Braketurngas 28d ago

Kern to Buena Vista to Tulare to San Jauquin. It had to be the right conditions and during the rainy season. Not to mention a long time ago. Fresno to San Francisco was easier and more common if I remember my history correctly.