Home > Anything Else, Natural Disasters > Underground Water in Northern California Mysteriously Disappearing, Seismic Activity May Be Affecting Wells

Underground Water in Northern California Mysteriously Disappearing, Seismic Activity May Be Affecting Wells


“Something strange is happening underground in eastern Shasta County and it is draining water wells and maybe even causing sinkholes and subsiding pavement. A retired marine geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, Stephen Wolf reveals that after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, water well levels in the area of the quake fell significantly. The drop in the water table in eastern Shasta County is the most dramatic that residents have seen in the past 10 to 15 years. Shasta County is located in the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The county occupies the northern reaches of the Sacramento Valley, with portions extending into the southern reaches of the Cascade Range.

Last October, 131 earthquakes hit the Lassen Peak area. Most were less than 2.0 in magnitude. But since then the water table has fallen significantly. Seismic activity may be affecting wells. The seismic activity further fractures the rocky, volcanic soil, allowing the water to flow deeper into the Earth. Officials at the USGS said they are hesitant to draw a correlation between the quakes and the drop in the water level in Cassel (it sits at an elevation of 3,176 feet (968 m))…

The seismic activity also may be related to other soil problems in the area, including a sinkhole that developed March 14 in the side of a holding pond Pacific Gas and Electric Co. uses in a Hat Creek Hydroelectric project in the Cassel area. A sinkhole 1 meter (3 feet) wide and 1,5 meter (4 feet) deep developed at Hat 1 Forebay this month, so they drained the pond. PG&E hired a soil scientist to investigate the cause of the sinkhole, but they have reached no conclusions.” Read more.

  1. 04/17/2012 at 11:39 PM

    I’ll keep an eye on it for you.

    Like

  2. Willard's avatar
    Willard
    04/18/2012 at 12:06 AM

    Kurt – we have tons where I live could send you some ???

    Like

  3. Willard's avatar
    Willard
    04/18/2012 at 12:48 AM

    Seriously kurt and not trying to create fear but being an old oil field guy and understanding a bit of geology I think this may be an sign for Ca to prepare for an earth quake – I hope I am wrong but all of us knowing the west coast siesmic issues – water tables only fall due to drought or formation fractures ??

    Like

  1. No trackbacks yet.

The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of MidnightWatcher's Blogspot. Although differences of opinion are welcomed, please refrain from personal attacks and inappropriate language. This blog reserves the right to edit or delete any comments that fail to do so.