There is a Sinking City Problem in the U.S.! What About Michigan?

You may not have paid attention to a recent report about cities sinking around the U.S. But, there is a big problem and it needs to be addressed.

I can't answer to this problem affecting Grand Rapids and West Michigan, but Detroit for sure is sinking.

We all are wondering, what's going on, and do we really need to be concerned?

One word, YES, we need to be concerned. But, not for quite a long time.

It is so subtle that it's not going to be obvious when you leave your house. But it's happening in Detroit and dozens of the largest cities in America the Detroit Free Press website, Freep.com says.

The sinking problem is technically called "land subsidence — ground sinking," and it's happening in New York, Chicago, Denver, Columbus, Houston, among others.

It's complicated as to what is actually happening. Around the country, Houston, Dallas and the like, it is because of ground water extraction and oil drilling. As you take it out, the land sinks a bit.

But Detroit's reason dates back 10,000 years, the last ice age. The glaciers helped to form our Great Lakes as they slowly moved, and the land around them rose. But that was way back then, so now we're finding the land is rebounding and lowering, or sinking.

That is a simplistic explanation, but over time it will create a problem. Foundations will crack, roads and bridges will develop more problems, etc.

    👇 BELOW: DOES MICHIGAN REALLY HAVE A GRAND CANYON? 👇

Will this happen soon? Not exactly. Freep.com says:

 "Detroit for example, is sinking about 1.52 millimeters per year. How much is that? It's about the thickness of a standard credit card." 

So, that is pretty darned tiny, but over the years, if not adjusted for, could create major problems.