San Joaquin Valley is sinking, but researchers say restoring water table may not reverse it

The San Joaquin Valley is the perfect place for farming — almost. While the region has plenty of sun and fertile soil, it lacks a key requisite for sustainable agriculture: abundant water.

Parts of the valley are nearly as dry as a desert, and for many farmers there is only one reliable way to irrigate their land: pump water from the ground. This strategy has helped turn arid scrubland into lush plantations of fruit trees and row crops.