How to Rescue a Sinking Water Table

Permaculture Instructor Andrew Millison explains the different types of aquifers and the overall strategy for recharging depleted water tables.

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[jaymacpherson]

Excellent description of the concept which is presented in the latter half of the video. Regarding the first half of the video, I wish to emphasize that terminology for aquifers refers to gross characteristics. The various categories are not absolute as some of this video content implies. I have added some clarifications as follow…
1:10 Springs can originate from unconfined and confined aquifers.
1:35 Unconfined aquifers do not have to follow the topography of the land, tho they often do.
1:45 Unconfined aquifers are not necessarily connected to streams, rivers, and wetlands. They may have no streams, rivers or wetlands above or adjacent to them.
2:05 Confined aquifers do not necessarily have “rock” below and above them. Confinement may be due to low permeability materials, such as clay.
3:00 When water flows naturally out of a well above ground, it is called “flowing artesian.” Artesian simply refers to water level that rises after first encountered below grade, which is also the defining characteristic for a confined condition.
4:29 Rain and snow runoff will infiltrate. The issue is what proportion infiltrates versus that which runs off, and is the groundwater withdrawal larger than that which infiltrates?

[culbinator]

You're an absolute legend Andrew. Your visuals, combined with your accurate and concise explanations, are a cherished resource for this generation, and many generations to come as we heal the planet, and in turn heal ourselves.

[thaythinhdaydien]

You are the best presenter I have ever seen before

[patrickreider]

Your knowledge is invaluable. Thank you so much for putting all of this information out here for free, I learn so much from your videos

[perepeloka]

Спасибо! Какой вы замечательный. Очень доступно рассказываете 👍👍👍❤️

[waylonk]

This is a wonderful solution to a very common issue around the world. Thinking it over has made me wonder whether the solution is feasible only in places that were once naturally growing with Hat, Belt and Shoes. Would it be possible (and ethical) to implement a solution like this in a naturally deserted area such as Arizona? I wouldn't be the first to point out that plants need water to develop this system in the first place. Perhaps the possible and ethical solution is to use only plant species which are local, using them to restore the land to the most natural extent they can.

[absurdragon]

4:20 "bare, naked soil" (gestures to the suggestive hills)

[wazza]

This is permaculture on an industrial scale.
It seems contradictory (at least is did to me) but Trees help with soil moisture retention by slowing down runoff and improving water penetration.
Farmers are also finding benefits of keeping livestock from accessing river beds and letting natural vegetation grow back.
Restricting water flow in creeks, streams and rivers and letting it soak back into the land is another benefit to farmers
All of which is covered in this Vid
This should be a focus for governments world wide

[laletemanolete]

Im a teacher on enviromental science and I am designing some of my PowerPoints inspired by your beautiful videos. Saludos desde México

[rdchinn]

This is pretty close to my field of specialization, and while it's obviously much more technically nuanced than one can cover in a 9-minute YouTube video, there's absolutely no doubt that you make the very best diagrams I've ever seen on the subject matter of your discussions. Great diagrams convey complex topics easily, and easy comprehension promotes public advocacy. You're doing much more here than just educating and drawing pretty pictures. Your work is phenomenal, and you're making a difference.

[Alex_Plante]

Amazing video!. I am a civil engineer, and I have never seen such a clear explanation of aquifers.

[colindevane]

Using your vids with my classes, absolutely love your inspiring work, thank you!

[Huachuma]

Between my ADHD and my shortened attention span due to social media, I rarely watch videos through, but I have been watching your videos for some time and almost always watch from start to finish. Thorough, educational, easy to understand. Thank you for your clarity and illustrations, the work you're doing is so important for education of the masses.

[tamasdombi]

In a time when we are bombarded with so much bad news I really appreciate the positive (solution oriented-ness) of your videos!

[namAehT]

There is a short National Geographic documentary on YouTube titled "50 Years Ago, This Was a Wasteland" that exemplifies these points to a tee. The man planted native prairie grasses with deep roots on the baren hillsides and in a few years springs were popping up all over his preserve. Once water started flowing, the rest of the ecosystem quickly established itself and self-stabilized.

[marsmars]

your videos are such a gift... so satisfying, easy to understand, deeply inspiring.

[TheRedneckjim]

I currently live in Prescott, AZ. I never knew we get our water from the big chino wash area. very interesting, I wonder how the more housing development in the area and pressure on aqua fir will effect the headwaters of the Verde river.

[joshuagerlach]

I’ve been working on this for 3 years now with just a shovel & pickaxe swales with pond liners on the low end it’s starting to work, wild ferns, mosses, frogs, lizards
Are all coming back the trees are looking healthy

[arthurnanni]

Great job colleague!
I visited a good experience on South Australia. The Aldinga ecovillage, has a system to retain run-off and stimulate the infiltration of waters to a karst hydrogeological system.
In Brazil we are researching some small farms who are called "water planters". They make little digs (dry boxes) overpassing the B soil horizon to access the C horizon (more permeable) and recharge phreatic waters aiming to keep springs working on the dry season.

[jeremycrochtiere]

Placing responsibility for plastic bag waste ignores the major role industry played over the past 50 years regarding this excessive waste.