2023 www.cjonline.com. Hendricks said hes already seeing some farmers voluntarily reduce the number of acres theyre irrigating in an effort to prolong their section of the aquifers life and expects that trend to continue. This map shows changes in Ogallala water levels from the period before the aquifer was tapped to 2015. You can follow him on Twitter@davidcondos. The Ogallala Aquifer is buried deep throughout the High Plains. Contact your local service center to start your application. At Grist, we dont believe in paywalls. Groundwater pumped from the Ogallala aquifer (the principal formation of the High Plains aquifer system) has transformed the region from a Dustbowl to an agricultural powerhouse. 2018 In April, 200+ water management leaders from all 8Ogallala states attended the Ogallala Aquifer Summit in Garden City, Kansas. Thats roughly the same percentage of farmers who responded that they were concerned about depletion today. Common technical assistance includes: resource assessment, practice design and resource monitoring. It was good for business. Ogallala-High Plains Aquifer - Kansas Department of Agriculture Every April, people turn out in droves to help it, How bad was the 2022 drought? In other places, that future is now.. Aquifers May Be Latest Casualty of Drought - Scientific American Hes confident his family can keep the business going in a sustainable manner, even if the drought amps back up. Extensive pumping has led to significant depletion of the Ogallala aquifer and declining water quality in certain areas. Wilson with the groundwater survey said hes seeing farmers mindsets start to slowly shift, too. As water levels decline, withdrawals from the aquifer will also decline as physical availability and economics dictate. For these 7 Kansas communities, it was the driest on record, Kansas wheat farmers face a tougher future as climate change ramps up dry, hot, windy weather. The culture is shifting toward a culture of conservation now, Sanderson said. The whole value of the aquifer is in using it.. To get started on applying for financial assistance, well work with you: Once complete, well work with you on the application, or CPA 1200. Official websites use .gov Diffendal, Jr., University of Nebraska. In all, the Ogallala Aquifer provides70-80%of water used by Kansans each day. Ogallala Aquifer | Texas Water Development Board Statewide, the amount of water pumped from underground and sprayed onto crops averages out to more than 2 billion gallons per day. Since 2021,. Considering that . In fact, the Kansas Geological Survey estimates that this districts portion of the aquifer gets used up at nine times the rate that its replenished by precipitation. The High Plains Underground Water Conservation District publishes information on groundwater availability regularly, and most of its audience is connected with agriculture in some way. 1962 NM Interstate Stream Commission completed construction of Ute Dam and Reservoir. The Ogallala aquifer is the primary source of water used for agricultural and municipal purposes in the Texas Panhandle. Access local services provided by the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Rural Development agencies. Congress expanded work requirements for food assistance during the debt ceiling negotiations, a move that would normally happen in the Farm Bill. Area-weighted, average changes for the period of 2013-2015 were estimated to be 1.2inches of decline in New Mexico, 2.4inches of decline in Colorado, 14.4inches of decline in Kansas, 15.6inches of decline in Oklahoma, 18inches of decline in Texas, and no decline in northern states of Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming. Theres a trade-off there.. For both individual farmers and the region as a whole, its a complicated question. In recent years, Simpsons family has started incorporating regenerative agriculture techniques at Atl Do Farms, such as growing various crops year-round, that help the soil hold the water when it does rain. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Some areas of the aquifer, you have a lot of water because of the Rocky Mountains, or you dont have very much because youre up on the banks of the river instead of the middle of it, Barnes explained. Formation of the Ogallala Aquifer Before the Aquifer formed, the land now known as the Great Plains looked nothing like it does now. The declines in the western side of the state arent going to suddenly affect water flow in the Kansas River for people in Kansas City, Wilson said. Some observers blame this. A previously published report by Baldys and others (2014) discusses the results from the 2012-13 sampling event. Water thats finally dripping into the Ogallalas depths today, for instance, may have fallen as a raindrop a decade ago. The Ogallala Aquifer (oh-guh-LAH-lah) is a shallow water table aquifer surrounded by sand, silt, clay, and gravel located beneath the Great Plains in the United States. Aquifer water levels across western and central Kansas dropped by more than a foot on average this past year. The Hidden Underground Lake in the Center of the U.S. Threatening - MSN Informing people outside of agriculture, such as business and real estate developers, hasnt been an easy task. If the water keeps running out, some of the regions farms and towns could vanish within a generation or two. But the viability of western Kansas is going to have an impact on the economy of Kansas, and thats gonna affect everybody.. More than 30% of U.S. crops and livestock are produced in this region, significantly impacting domestic and international food supplies. Leveraging private and public resources and stakeholders will amplify the good work of Nebraska farmers as they adopt and scale up their soil health practices. That means property values will drop as acres that once had irrigation lose access to water. Helps state and tribal governments improve public access to private lands for recreation. WALLACE COUNTY, Kansas The Ogallala Aquifer has a visibility problem. In some parts of western Kansas, the aquifer has alreadydepleted so muchthat its basically unusable for irrigation. The Ogallala Aquifer: When will the wells run dry? What then? Learn about webinars, training opportunities and local events related to NRCS programs and services. If they dont do that, the state could step in and decide water conservation plans for them. Further, 90% responded that groundwater is important because it provides tap water for communities, and nearly 80% said because it helps the profitability of farming. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. Others have been forced to adapt as their wells run dry. The High Plains aquifer, also known as the Ogallala aquifer, underlies about 112 million acres, or 175,000 square miles, in parts of eight states, including: Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming. Home - Ogallala Water David Condos is High Plains Public Radio's western Kansas reporter. That's where the devils in the details.. Simpsons family grows corn, a crop known for needing a lot of water to grow, and runs the Atl Do Farms Corn Maze, an annual attraction near Shallowater, just 12 miles outside of Lubbock, that brings in visitors from around the state. United States, The Ogallala aquifer is the primary source of water for agricultural and municipal purposes in the Texas Panhandle. 2017 USGS reported on water level declines across the Ogallala region from pre-development (~1950) to 2015. Irrigated farming pays the bills. How much water can the Ogallala aquifer hold? with potential to conserve water and sustain agricultural productivity in the Ogallala region. But it would force those districts to crack down harder. The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill) includes provisions that address the unique circumstances and concerns of socially disadvantaged, beginning, limited resource, and veteran farmers and ranchers ("historically underserved producers"). Natural Resources Conservation Service offers technical and financial assistance to help farmers, ranchers and forest landowners. It appearsunlikelythat even a slimmed down version of that bill will be passed this year. Conserving our natural resources is a vital part of creating and maintaining healthy ecosystems on our nations lands. Hes one of the Kansas Geological Survey crew members who fan out across western and central Kansas every year to check hundreds of water wells that tap into the Ogallala. Aerial view of pivot circles in the Texas Panhandle. Wilson said 80-90% of the water used in the Ogallala aquifer region goes to irrigation. Most of western and central Kansas remains insevere, extreme or exceptionaldrought. Farm Bill special provisions provide incentives and address unique circumstances of historically underserved producers. So farmers turn to pumping more water from below to irrigate their fields and make up for how dry it is on the surface. Depth to groundwater measurements and water-quality samples were collected from 32 monitoring wells in the North Plains Groundwater Conservation District management area within the northern part of the Texas Panhandle as part of two synoptic sampling efforts, one during 2012-13 and the other during 2019-20. And thus far, finding consensus on broader statewide solutions has been difficult. Some parts of the Ogallala Aquifer are now dry, and the water table has declined more than 300 feet in other areas. At the time the Rocky Mountains were tectonically active, and raising up above the surrounding . April 13, 2023 Publish this story Last summer, Imperial farmer Dirk Haarberg made the hard decision to let some of his milo crop die. Do you farm or ranch and want to make improvements to the land that you own or lease? We are not yet there, Aguilar said. Sign up for The Brief, The Texas Tribunes daily newsletter. Instagram, Follow us on Secure .gov websites use HTTPS The Kansas News Service is a collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public Radio focused on health, the social determinants of health and their connection to public policy. An official website of the United States government. But according to the Fourth National Climate Assessment (NCA4), producers are extracting water faster than it is being replenished, which means that parts of the Ogallala Aquifer should be considered a nonrenewable resource. While the aquifer drying up might impact western Kansas farmers most directly, the prosperity or decline of the multibillion-dollar agricultural economy that depends on that water will have ripple effects across the state. To help, the House also passed a second bill that would include millions of dollars for a variety of water-related projects, such as restoring reservoirs and updating small town treatment plants. The water flowing underneath is as good as gold for farmers in the region, serving as a lifeline in years when the drought and Texas . And what would be the cost of not reducing water use in the future? Hendricks said. We designed our water policy to make this happen. NRCS provides landowners with free technical assistance, or advice, for their land. Seeing that made me realize this can be done.. For over 80 years, weve helped Americas farmers, ranchers, and landowners conserve our nations resources through our voluntary programs and science-based solutions. But those billions are drying up at an accelerating rate. 40% of US feedlot beef cattle were being fattened on the 6principal Ogallala states. Haunting Photos Show Life During the 1930s Dust Bowl - Business Insider In the first full year of the pandemic, both states saw drops in reading and math proficiency. The water in the Ogallala aquifer is worth billions to western Kansas , "Success for our project means demonstrating innovative approaches to adaptive managementand fostering increased civic engagement by producers and communities across the Ogallalaaquifer region. A booming interest in groundwater conservation in Kansas- why now? This practice helps producers reduce input costs, maximize yields, and efficiently manage nutrients. In most of western Kansas, less than one inch of water seeps underground to recharge the aquifer each year. You can follow him on Twitter@davidcondos. The declines were especially dire in southwest Kansas, where average water levels fell by 2.17 feet last year. Were here today so that we dont become what the Colorado River Valley or Central California looks like, said Minnix, who is also a western Kansas farmer. Thats the biggest single-year decrease since 2015, according to the Kansas Geological Surveys annual report. Many areas of the United States are experiencing groundwater depletion. Groundwater-quality samples were collected for analysis of dissolved solids, major ions, nutrients, and trace elements. The Ogallala Aquifer serves farming communities in multiple . And what would be the cost of not reducing water use in the future? Hendricks said. But even though this extraordinarily dry year highlights the aquifers dire straits, Wilson said, people whove been paying attention to the long saga of depletion in western Kansas wont be surprised. Sociologist Matt Sanderson, who worked on the survey, says that gap hasnt changed much since the last survey of its kind in 1984. Estimates show that if pumping trends continue, more than two-thirds of the water under Kansas will be gone within 40 years. It will require a shift in the broader systems that give western Kansas farmers incentives to grow thirsty crops like corn in this dry region to serve a nation clamoring for cheap beef and ethanol gasoline the systems that have built Kansas agriculture into a multibillion-dollar enterprise. More than 1,300 wells were measured earlier this year, including ones from the smaller Edwards-Trinity Aquifer, all of which show varying degrees of decline. The 2018 Farm Bill was enacted on December 20, 2018. Irrigation also consumes the largest share of the aquifers water by far. But in order to make it there, this part of western Kansas would need to cut water use by one-third. Nationwide collaborative process working to maintain and improve the management, productivity, and health of privately owned grazing land. NIFA Impacts: Saving the Ogallala Aquifer, Supporting Farmers This level of coordinated groundwater-level monitoring is unique among major, multi-state regional aquifers in the country., 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive Listen 4:44 David Condos / Kansas News Service Farmer Brian Bauck stands with his combine after finishing up his corn harvest in Wichita County, which recently implemented widespread irrigation. DOI: 10.1111/gwat.12350, 1980s Low energy precision application (LEPA) systems developed by Dr. Bill Lyle with the Texas A&M Research and Extension Center at Lubbock, Texas, 2005 United States adopts first Renewable Fuel Standard, requiring the use of biofuels and driving the price of corn to record highs, 2009 Congress authorized major Federal funding for the Ute Pipeline Project, officially known as the Eastern New Mexico Rural Water System (ENMRWS), in the Omnibus Public Land Management Act. He feeds the steel tape down a pipe where it snakes hundreds of feet until it strikes water. While the aquifer drying up might impact western Kansas farmers most directly, the prosperity or decline of the multibillion-dollar agricultural economy that depends on that water will have ripple effects across the state. Its a tall order. Data from Haacker et al. Brings together partners and producers to protect wetlands. Out here in West Texas, the one thing that theyre so dependent on to grow crops is water, said Melanie Barnes, a senior research associate in geosciences for Texas Tech University. The report presents water-level change data in the aquifer for two separate periods: from 1950 the time prior to significant groundwater irrigation development to 2015, and from 2013 to 2015. It could only get worse. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy, Follow us on That includes a majority of the irrigation farmers surveyed. It gives them a good, healthy sleep at the end of the day, Aguilar said. A 2023 High Plains Underground Water Conservation District report showed that the Ogallala Aquifer's levels have continued to drop over the past five years, according to the levels of 1,338 . That averages out to about2.5 billion gallonsa day, pumped up and sprayed on crops. Farmers are depleting the Ogallala Aquifer because the government pays People are realizing they can still be economically viable and use less water.. But those accelerating depletion rates didnt come as a surprise to Brownie Wilson, the surveys water data manager. The declines in the western side of the state arent going to suddenly affect water flow in the Kansas River for people in Kansas City, Wilson said. Water Science School HOME Groundwater topics Groundwater Decline and Depletion The Ogallala Aquifer is the largest aquifer in the United States and is a major aquifer of Texas underlying much of the High Plains region. It is estimated that about 40% of the groundwater used for agricultural purposes in the United States comes from this aquifer, according to a 2014 study . But those billions are drying up at an accelerating rate. Stay updated on the latest news and stories from NRCS and other USDA topics. Its vital reporting made entirely possible by loyal readers like you. Instagram, Follow us on But now were dealing with those ramifications today.. He points to successful voluntary water conservation efforts led by farmers, such as the states first Local Enhanced Management Area, or LEMA, in northwest Kansas and a similar program recently approved in west-central Kansas. The Ogallala aquifer, also known as the High Plains aquifer, is the primary source of water for many communities throughout the High Plains region. To fill out an AD 1026, which ensures a conservation plan is in place before lands with highly erodible soils are farmed. But those accelerating depletion rates didnt come as a surprise to Brownie Wilson, the surveys water data manager. A recent study from Kansas State University says the aquifer under western Kansas increases land values by nearly$4 billion. Water-Quality and Depth to Water for Groundwater Wells Primarily reduce the quantity of water removed from the aquifer, enhance water quality by mitigating water quality impacts from agricultural production practices, and. It has dropped more than 30 meters (100 feet) Identify 3 things people are doing to protect the Ogallala aquifer: The family decided to experiment last year, using cover crops to put various nutrients back into the soil. An official tax ID (Social Security number or an employer ID), A property deed or lease agreement to show you have control of the property; and. He said sometimes its easy to forget that shutting down irrigation from the aquifer would gut land values just like depletion would. The Ogallala Aquifer Flashcards | Quizlet Its important for everyone to promote awareness of this, said Jason Coleman, manager for the HPWD. Why did this bill succeed when others have failed? For some of those folks, it hasnt rained since May, Wilson said. That decision was made 40-50 years ago by people who are no longer with us or moved on. The solution to the aquifer is simple: you put more water into it or you quit taking so much out, Wilson said. And it starts now.. Because most of the groundwater in the Texas Panhandle is withdrawn from the Ogallala aquifer, information on the quality of groundwater in the Ogallala aquifer in this part of Texas is useful for resource characterization. 1505 Ferguson Lane Or the threat of even more state involvement as water becomes increasingly scarce in the future. We permitted all these wells, knowingly, Wilson said. Texas farmers worry one of the state's most precious water resources is running dry. 'This is do or die': Western Kansas farmers push to save the Ogallala Ogallala Aquifer - Wikipedia But understanding the problem, he said, isnt the hard part. Everybody's gonna feel the pinch if it ever goes away.. For nearly half of irrigation systems, he said, conserving could start with just making sure they have the right amount of water pressure both too much or too little pressure can hurt efficiency. We can stop irrigating and stop depleting the aquifer, but then you've lost all the value of the aquifer also, Hendricks said. But recent action shows small steps in a new direction. YouTube. ", MOD$$AT: our integrated crop-econ-hydro-climate model, Cover Cropping in the Semiarid Southern High Plains, Drought Planning &Management for Forage, Range, and Livestock. And while the aquifer is losing that foot of water, its barely being refilled. For some of those folks, it hasnt rained since May, Wilson said. The Ogallala Aquifer Initiative is a multistate effort designed to reduce the quantity of water removed from the aquifer and to reduce contamination of the water in the aquifer. NRCS has employees in counties across America that help local communities every day. The soil just turns into a brick.. Most of western and central Kansas remains in severe, extreme or exceptional drought. Many western Kansas farmers have cut back on how much they irrigate their crops voluntarily. The water loss between 2000 and 2008 represents about 25 percent of the total loss of 1,000 cubic kilometers that has taken place in the 108-year span. Here's How. The state is maintaining much higher groundwater volume than many states to the south, according to UNL water experts . Just imagine how much water that would take. Depleting the Ogallala Aquifer | EarthDate KGS Pub. Inf. Circ. 18--The High Plains Aquifer - University of Kansas You have a structural problem.. Based in Hays, he covers issues that shape rural communities across the Great Plains from water and climate change to agriculture and immigration. Helps landowners restore, enhance, and protect forestland resources on private and tribal lands and aids the recovery of endangered and threatened species. The approach became known as the states policy of planned depletion gradually emptying the aquifer to support farming. With only a finite amount of water to be shared throughout the U.S. High Plains region Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Wyoming and South Dakota the Ogallala running dry could have devastating consequences nationwide. Jim Minnix a Republican from Scott County, right in the middle of Ogallala country, and chair of the House water committee summed up the urgent situation during one of the bills hearings. Generally, the aquifer is found from 15 to 90 meters (50 to 300 feet) below the land surface. A lock () or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Irrigation for crops. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Statewide water levels fell by an average of nearly two feet this year the third-largest decline since the 1990s as extreme drought pushed farmers to irrigate crops more than usual. The Kansas Water Authority voted for the first time last December that the state should stop draining the aquifer for agriculture. Careful management of the Ogallala aquifer resource today and for the long-term is critical to communities of this region. And thus far, finding consensus on broader statewide solutions has been difficult. The water issues from the upper part of the Broadwater Formation (Pliocene) just below the contact with the sands of the Nebraska Sand Hills, all parts of the High Plains Aquifer in Nebraska. Yet climate-change projections show that dry summers in . As the nations second-largest reservoir recedes, a once-drowned ecosystem emerges. (2015). It falls east of the Rocky Mountains in the southern part of the Great Plains. Over 2days, the group shared their expertise and perspectives on effective management practices and support systems (local, state and Federal policies, incentive and educational programs, markets, etc.) Western Kansas is a water-challenged place that gets about half as much precipitation as eastern Kansas in an average year. 1898 - Ogallala Aquifer named by geologist N.H. Darton after the formation outcrop near the town of Ogallala, NE. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This story was originally published by The Texas Tribune. Kansas Geological Survey / This map from the Kansas Geological Survey shows how much the aquifer declined in the past year, based on provisional data. USDA Service Centers are locations where you can connect with Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, or Rural Development employees for your business needs. This is do or die: Western Kansas farmers push to save the Ogallala Aquifer before its too late, This is the first time the Kansas Water Authority has voted to save what's left of the Ogallala, Here's how this year's drought has battered the Midwest and what it might mean for next year, This city in Kansas really conserves its water, but that still might not be enough to survive, How Kansas could lose billions in land values as its underground water runs dry, Pasture and hay are low in much of the Midwest leading to tough decisions for farmers, Fort Hays University wants to teach businesses how to help employees going through abuse, Black nurses face racist discrimination that can push them out of the profession, Many Missourians are confused about the legality of birth control and other contraception, This Kansas City river is in trouble. With the Ogallala Aquifer Drying Up, Kansas Ponders Limits - FlatlandKC Irrigation for crops. Each Ogallala states groundwater administration has developed on aslightly different timeline and with slightly different objectives. The whole value of the aquifer is in using it.. But most of the time, were not ready for a big rain because were thinking about how to make one crop work really well.. The solution to the aquifer is simple: you put more water into it or you quit taking so much out, Wilson said. Groundwater Decline and Depletion | U.S. Geological Survey - USGS.gov Amid water woes, solar is booming in the California desert. Applications for NRCS conservation programs are ranked and funded at key times throughout the year. It is one of the world's largest aquifers and covers approximately 225,000 square miles, encompassing nearly 112 million acres in eight states which include Colorado, South . Drought hits the Midwest, threatening crops and the worlds food supply, How Arizona stands between tribes and their water. More than 80% of farmers in the new survey agreed that groundwater should be conserved so that future generations can enjoy the same benefits of life they have had. Disclosure: Texas Tech University has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors.

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