Aquifer-System Compaction Creates Fissure and Reduce Storage

Subsidence

    Gambling in the Desert

A subsidence or more commonly referred to as a subsidence bowl is the sinking or lowering in level or elevation in land or ground levels.

A subsidence in the elevation of the ground can be determined by comparing the original levels of the land to the now existent, or more simply to elevations from the same area to see how they differ.

Impacts of Subsidence

Not all of the impacts from subsidence in the Las Vegas Valley have been realized, however there are two common results from it.

1. Sinkholes- the release or collapsing of ground level after a long period of erosion from and underground water source and water coming in from fissures.

2. Fissures- The splitting of the earths surface. Most commonly occurring from earth quakes and the process of subsidence.

DEFINITIONS:1. Fissure-  A narrow opening produced by cleavage or separation of parts. 2. Incipient- Beginning to exist or appear; in an initial stage:

$$$                 Cost of Damages:             $$$In Nevada alone the problem of subsidence is predicted to total up to about 14 million dollars TOTAL in damages.

                                Reduced Storage Capacity

Description:Volume of groundwater originated from the unchangeable compaction of the aquifer system (Water of compaction inside earths surface) is approximately equal to reduced storage capacity of aquifer system and represents a one-time quantity of water mined from the aquifer system.

Why is it a Concern? This is a concern especially for fast growing cities in the desert, such as Las Vegas, that must rely in part on local ground water sources. Producing water from compaction represents mining ground water from the aquifer. The reduced storage implies that even if water levels recover completely, any future draw-downs (decline in the amounts of water below the earth's surface) will progress more rapidly.

How much of it has been Reduced? About 187,000 acres-feet has been reduced

How much water was lost due to Compaction?Estimated 61 billions gallons of water (187,000 acres-feet) enough water to supply almost 10,000 households in Las Vegas for nearly 20 years.

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