Central Valley Groundwater Hydrology Sinkage EarthCache

This cache has been archived.

Troutpro: A recent finder let me know that there are new fences and signs up at GZ, likely from a new landowner. I’ve decided to archive this cache since I live across the country now and can no longer readily check on it myself. Thanks to all who visited!

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Hidden : 1/8/2011
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: other (other)

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Geocache Description:

Water is the basis of life as we know it but how do we get it in the arid Central Valley?

The answer is that what is not kept in and obtained from the reservoirs is flowing beneath our feet as groundwater. Groundwater is just what it sounds like, water that travels through the ground like a river. This water is tapped into for use on the surface as irrigation and drinking water.

How well water flow through the ground depends on the bedrock's consistancy. If the bedrock is made up of large rocks that have large spaces between them the water can travel faster because there is more room. If the rock is made up of sand or small grained rocks the water takes more time to ravel because there is less room.

When too much groundwater is removed from an area that area may start to slowly sink. This sinking is caused because the removal of the water causes the rocks below to calaspe in on itself and the ground above to shift down. This can become bad enough that it is visible from the surface.

There used to be a benchmark at this location that listed the elevation here as being 120.34 feet.

To get credit for this earthcache email me the answers to the following questions:
1. GC code and name of this cache.
2. The number of people in your group.
3. According to your GPS, what is the elevation here? (Hold it next to the ground)
4. Does this show that there has been enough groundwater removal here to lower the altitude?
5. Are there any nearby signs that groundwater extraction is continuing?

Additional Hints (No hints available.)



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