Where has all the fresh water gone?

[jimbuff314]

@Kedikat

Also.
When aquifers are drained, the land often subsides. Will that destroy the aquifer for all time? Can a compacted layer be refilled, or will the water that used to go into it, find new paths?

This is talking about CA’s Central Valley.

Subsidence will make it harder to replenish the aquifers once the rains come. That’s because subsidence effectively compacts the soil, making it harder to store water underground.

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/news/state/california/water-and-drought/article31527953.html#storylink=cpy

This is probably applicable on an aquifer-by-aquifer basis, given each aquifer’s geology. I haven’t seen any claims that parts of Kansas and Nebraska are sinking, despite the water in the Ogallala Aquifer being drawn out for decades.