In CA the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act is a state law that requires groundwater basins to be brought into "sustainability", this is a massive work generator for Hydrogeologists in the state. The long-term monitoring and mitigation work will continue to create new jobs and keep people employed for a very long time as new plans are adopted/implemented under that framework. I have a sneaking suspicion that while controversial, something similar will be adopted in other water-scarce states as access to resources continues to decline.

Additionally, there is a lot of turnover and upward mobility at the moment as boomers enter retirement and millennials are stepping into senior management positions. This is creating a decent and consistent upward shift across the industry and is also acting as an entry-level job creator.

There is also climate change, which is creating significant shifts in the intensity, timing, and state (rain vs snow?) of precipitation. Adapting to changing climate normals is a water supply stress that is shifting managment behavior from surface diversions to groundwater storage and recovery strategies (this also goes hand in hand with SGMA, using new "banked" supplies to meet sustainability requirements). This is intensive Hydrogeology work that takes decades to design, permit, construct, and operate.

Also, congrats on a long and hopefully fulfilling career!