Santa Clara valley aquifer

The geology of the Santa Clara valley aquifer consists of a complex stratigraphy of permeable and impermeable units.

In the early parts of the 20th century, the Santa Clara Valley was a vegetable and fruit growing region.

Ground water was pumped heavily, leading to the Santa Clara valley being the first region recognized to be affected by land subsidence in the 1940s.

The alluvial boundary which surrounds the valley allows for water to permeate through the ground which then flows horizontally into the confined region of the aquifer.

[6] Well core data indicate that the Santa Clara Valley Aquifer consists of between four and six different water-bearing units.

[5] Decades of ground water depletion due to urban development and agriculture resulted in substantial land subsidence.

[6] Percolation ponds were built in the margins of the Santa Clara Valley to help increase the rate of recharge with rainfall runoff.