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Measuring Land Subsidence in California

Collecting Data Above and Below Ground

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Delta-Mendota Canal

Evaluation of Groundwater Conditions and Land Subsidence

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Land Subsidence in California

Land subsidence is a gradual settling or sudden sinking of the Earth's surface due to subsurface movement of earth materials. The main cause of subsidence in California is groundwater pumping. The effects of subsidence include damage to buildings and infrastructure, increased flood risk in low-lying areas, and lasting damage to groundwater aquifers and aquatic ecosystems.

Areas of Subsidence

Map of California with areas of subsidence shaded by cause

Explore an interactive USGS map to learn more about areas in California affected by subsidence.

Explore Subsidence

Drought Indicators

Screenshot of the interactive Central Valley drought indicators map

Drought indicators in the Central Valley include declining groundwater levels and associated land subsidence as measured and estimated via multiple techniques.

Explore Drought Data

Measuring Land Subsidence

A geodetic bench mark from the Central Valley in California

Land-surface elevations, and elevation changes, are measured with a variety of land- and space-based scientific techniques.

See the Methods

Publications

Documentation for the Skeletal Storage, Compaction, and Subsidence (CSUB) Package of MODFLOW 6

This report describes the skeletal storage, compaction and subsidence (CSUB) package of MODFLOW 6. The CSUB package simulates the vertical compaction of compressible sediments and land subsidence. The package simulates groundwater storage changes and elastic compaction in coarse-grained aquifer sediments. The CSUB package also simulates groundwater storage changes and elastic and inelastic compact
Authors
Joseph D. Hughes, Stanley A. Leake, Devin L. Galloway, Jeremy T. White
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Land Subsidence in California

Detection and measurement of land-surface deformation, Pajaro Valley, Santa Cruz and Monterey counties, California, 2015–18

Land-surface deformation (subsidence) caused by groundwater withdrawal is identified as an undesirable result in the Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency’s Basin Management Plan and California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. In Pajaro Valley, groundwater provides nearly 90 percent of the total water supply. To aid the development of sustainable groundwater management criteria, the U.S.
Authors
Justin T. Brandt, Marisa M. Earll, Michelle Sneed, Wesley R. Henson
By
Water Resources Mission Area, California Water Science Center, Land Subsidence in California

Measuring and interpreting multilayer aquifer-system compactions for a sustainable groundwater-system development

Ever decreasing water resources and climate change have driven the increasing use of groundwater causing land subsidence in many countries. Geodetic sensors such as InSAR, GPS and leveling can detect surface deformation but cannot measure subsurface deformation. A single‐well, single‐depth extensometer can be used to measure subsurface deformation, but it cannot delineate the depths of major compa
Authors
Wei-Chia Hung, Cheinway Hwang, Michelle Sneed, Yi-An Chen, Chi-Hua Chu, Shao-Hung Lin
By
Water Resources Mission Area, California Water Science Center, Land Subsidence in California
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Science

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Lake Oroville showing extremely low water under the Enterprise Bridge during 2021 drought.

Drought in California

The USGS closely monitors the occurence and effects of drought through data collection and research. USGS science supports water managers in preparing for possible future drought by providing information about long-term hydrologic, climatic, and environmental changes. These studies support successful planning and science-based decision-making by water managers who must address complex issues and...
By
California Water Science Center, Land Subsidence in California
link

Drought in California

The USGS closely monitors the occurence and effects of drought through data collection and research. USGS science supports water managers in preparing for possible future drought by providing information about long-term hydrologic, climatic, and environmental changes. These studies support successful planning and science-based decision-making by water managers who must address complex issues and...
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continuous GPS mounted on a tripod, located in a field, with a solar panel in the background

Continuous Global Positioning System (CGPS) Stations

Measurements of elevations, aquifer-system compaction, and water levels are used to improve our understanding of the processes responsible for land-surface elevation changes. Elevation or elevation-change measurements are fundamental to monitoring land subsidence, and have been measured by using continuous GPS (CGPS) measurements and campaign global positioning system (GPS) surveying.
By
California Water Science Center, Land Subsidence in California
link

Continuous Global Positioning System (CGPS) Stations

Measurements of elevations, aquifer-system compaction, and water levels are used to improve our understanding of the processes responsible for land-surface elevation changes. Elevation or elevation-change measurements are fundamental to monitoring land subsidence, and have been measured by using continuous GPS (CGPS) measurements and campaign global positioning system (GPS) surveying.
Learn More
link
Black & white photo of two USGS scientists conducting spirit leveling in the field

Spirit Leveling

Elevation or elevation-change measurements are fundamental to monitoring land subsidence, and have been measured by using interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR), continuous GPS (CGPS) measurements, campaign global positioning system (GPS) surveying, and spirit-leveling surveying. The most precise measurements tend to be made using spirit-leveling surveys and extensometers. Spirit...
By
California Water Science Center, Land Subsidence in California
link

Spirit Leveling

Elevation or elevation-change measurements are fundamental to monitoring land subsidence, and have been measured by using interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR), continuous GPS (CGPS) measurements, campaign global positioning system (GPS) surveying, and spirit-leveling surveying. The most precise measurements tend to be made using spirit-leveling surveys and extensometers. Spirit...
Learn More
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