USGS: Overpumping of Valley ground water causing massive sinkhole
BY J.N. SBRANTI
The Modesto Bee November 21, 2013 Updated 13 hours ago
Rick Hoelzel, manager of water resources for Kings River Conservation District, checks a remote telemetry system for a monitoring well. A dry winter forced farmers in Westlands Water District to run their wells far more last summer than they usually would. The underground water table dropped a staggering 48 feet in Westlands. Now, following a second dry winter, Westlands farmers will pump even more water, probably enough to fill 80% of Millerton Lake. Growers on millions of San Joaquin Valley acres in the nationÕs most productive farming belt face a cruel summer, too. Farm leaders say jobs will be lost, small-town economies and businesses will be harmed. And the ValleyÕs biggest reservoir Ñ the underground Ñ will be further drawn down, forcing many through the expense of redrilling wells and more electricity for pumping.
MARK CROSSE/THE FRESNO BEE
http://www.fresnobee.com/2013/11/21/...ey-ground.html
