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California aquifers draining land's water storage capacity

A study says that overpumping of aquifers in California's San Joaquin Valley is causing subsidence, or soil compaction, resulting in the reduction of the land's capacity to hold water.

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Credit: Christina B. Castro

Overpumping aquifers in California's San Joaquin Valley is causing subsidence, or soil compaction, resulting in the reduction of the land's capacity to hold water, according to a recent study. The study shows California lost natural water storage capacity equal to that of a medium-sized reservoir during a drought from 2007 to 2010. (Circle of Blue)

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