Land Subsidence Monitoring

For over 20 years, remote sensing data have been used to develop regional hydrological and geomechanical models that include the effects of land subsidence. These  studies use InSAR and lidar along with ground-based subsidence monitoring with the Plate Boundary Observatory Global Positioning System network and other geodetic data to quantify land subsidence caused by groundwater extraction. Water conflicts over consumptive use have been further exacerbated by the recent drought and expanded demand from growing agricultural uses and urban growth. The data have been critical in many previous studies, most recently in the Cuyama Valley of central California. These analyses and comparisons with geodetic data from remotely sensed observations are critical to our assessment of consumptive use and reduction of conflict needed to protect water and food security.