Some farming towns in California’s Central Valley have sunk by more than 11 feet in recent years because of groundwater pumping, the extraction of water from underground aquifers using wells and electric pumps for drinking, farming and industry. … New research from UCLA and Caltech has outlined a way to detect when temporary land subsidence becomes permanent and irreversible. The research, published this week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, uses satellite imagery to identify the “abrupt transition to irreversible damage.” Researchers hope this will give decision makers new tools to keep an eye on water resources. 

Other groundwater news:

• The Business Journal (Fresno, Calif.): First water flows to Biola groundwater recharge project west of Fresno
• SJV Water (Bakersfield, Calif.): Groundwater agencies argue against new proposed state fees
• SJV Water (Bakersfield, Calif.): Tulare County water board seats up for grabs, deadline is Aug. 7
• Courthouse News: California drought caused irreversible ground sinking in Sacramento Valley