That groundwater lost from the San Joaquin Valley was enough for every California household for 10 years.
California's San Joaquin Valley has lost 60 million acre-feet of groundwater since 1961, according to a new federal study. An acre-foot of water is enough to serve two average California households for a year.
This is among the findings in a massive study of groundwater in California's Central Valley by the U.S. Geological Survey. It helps shed light on the mysteries and dangers of California's groundwater consumption, which is mostly unregulated.
According to the study, groundwater pumping continues to cause the valley floor to sink, a problem known as subsidence. This threatens the stability of surface structures such as the California Aqueduct, which delivers drinking water to more than 20 million people.
Feds document shrinking San Joaquin Valley aquifer: Aquifer levels drop 400 feet since 1961
