Depth to ground water. This animation illustrates the depth to ground water, a vitally important water-management criterion used to prevent liquefaction and land subsidence. Because the basin is bounded by two major faults, the San Andreas on the north and the San Jacinto on the south, liquefaction during a major earthquake is a constant concern (Ziony, 1985).

Simulated depth to water (map) and gaged stream inflow and outflow (graph).