Letters to the Editor: Subsidence isn’t just an environmental crisis, and it can be slowed

To the editor: This text (“Central Valley homeowners are watching property values sink with the land,” Aug. 13) makes clear subsidence is not only an environmental disaster. Many years of unreliable floor water left San Joaquin Valley farmers no alternative however to pump groundwater — with extreme penalties. Sinking land, cracked infrastructure and diminished capability to the California Aqueduct that delivers water to thousands and thousands in Southern California.

The excellent news: Subsidence may be slowed — and doubtlessly reversed.

Since 2023, Westlands’ farmers recharged over 470,000 acre-feet of groundwater, restoring water ranges by 200 toes in some areas. Injection wells have lifted land by half a foot. In a single necessary location, subsidence stopped utterly.

These positive aspects strengthen water provides and help Valley farms that produce a lot of the nation’s fruits, nuts and greens, however Westlands can not do it alone. California ought to advance Proposition 4 investments to revive aquifers, safeguard the California Aqueduct and safe the meals and water thousands and thousands rely upon.

Allison Febbo, Fresno
The author is common supervisor of the Westlands Water District.