California’s 2020 drought may have permanently damaged a key underground aquifer

California’s ongoing drought has inflicted lasting harm on its underground water reserves. The over-extraction of groundwater has resulted in aquifer compaction, diminishing the earth’s capacity to store water. In certain areas of Sacramento Valley, land subsidence has exceeded half a meter. This irreversible damage casts a shadow over future agricultural water security, serving as a cautionary tale for drought-prone areas worldwide regarding their groundwater resilience.