Current status ofintegrated management plans in Nebraskas Natural Resource Districts (2018). For both individual farmers and the region as a whole, its a complicated question. 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. You only need a farm tract number if youre interested in financial assistance. Texas aquifer is running dry, jeopardizing agriculture industry | The We permitted all these wells, knowingly, Wilson said. And for 82 percent of the people who live within the aquifers boundaries, it supplies their drinking water too. The State Technical Committee advises the State Conservationist on technical guidelines necessary to implement the conservation provisions of the Farm Bill. The challenges faced by Ogallala aquifer region producers are not confined by state lines. Helps state and tribal governments improve public access to private lands for recreation. The state is maintaining much higher groundwater volume than many states to the south, according to UNL water experts . For them to be able to say, OK, what would be the costs of reducing water use today? 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. 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. An official website of the United States government. 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 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). 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. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. 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. His work reaches audiences across Kansas through the Kansas News Service, a statewide collaboration of public radio stations. It falls east of the Rocky Mountains in the southern part of the Great Plains. Ogallala Aquifer Initiative - Colorado | Natural Resources Conservation In some parts of Wallace County, aquifer levels fell seven feet in just the past year. *NRCS accepts applications on an ongoing basis*. Informing people outside of agriculture, such as business and real estate developers, hasnt been an easy task. So Kansas leaders have long been wary of limiting irrigation. Theres a trade-off there.. Its water supports $35 billion in crop production each year. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy, Follow us on Hopefully as farmers, we just pay attention to what our environment is telling us, Simpson said. A previously published report by Baldys and others (2014) discusses the results from the 2012-13 sampling event. If Kansas wants to avoid the fate of states farther west, he said, something needs to change. Learn about webinars, training opportunities and local events related to NRCS programs and services. Facebook, Follow us on People talk about this as a crisis. Or the threat of even more state involvement as water becomes increasingly scarce in the future. NCA 2018 In Kansas, "Day Zero" - the day wells run dry - has arrived for about 30% of the aquifer. Congress expanded work requirements for food assistance during the debt ceiling negotiations, a move that would normally happen in the Farm Bill. Because of the declining aquifer levels, the mindset in the plains has become more focused on conservation. Kansas Geological Survey / This map from the Kansas Geological Survey shows how much the aquifer declined in the past year, based on provisional data. At Grist, we dont believe in paywalls. The Ogallala may hold as much water as Lake Huron, but we cant see it. Texas farmers worry one of the state's most precious water resources is running dry. The site is secure. Ogallala-High Plains Aquifer - Kansas Department of Agriculture document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); A nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future. Scientists have foundthat climate change has pushed average temperatures higher in Texas, making heat waves and droughts worse. ", 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. Water Level Declines in the High Plains Aquifer: Predevelopment to Resource Senescence 54 (2): 231-242. But those sections of the bill were removed during committee discussions, leaving some legislators frustrated with how the agriculture industrys influence continues to thwart water conservation measures. NIFA Impacts: Saving the Ogallala Aquifer, Supporting Farmers People undergoing domestic abuse are more likely to lose their jobs. On the heels of Texas worst drought in a decade, areportfrom the High Plains Underground Water Conservation District shows water levels in the Ogallala Aquifer, also known as the High Plains Aquifer, have dropped consistently in the region over the last five years. But figuring out some way to slow the aquifers depletion, Wilson said, isnt just a critical issue for western Kansas. Instagram, Follow us on Conservation and organics go hand-in-hand, and NRCS offers tools for organic farmers to improve their operations. This milestone was ~45years in the making, 2013 Kansas farmers set up a10-square-mile conservation zone called the Sheridan-6 Local Enhanced Management Area. Thats seven feet closer to running dry. Common technical assistance includes: resource assessment, practice design and resource monitoring. Ogallala Aquifer - depth, important, system, source - Water Encyclopedia 1999-2023 Grist Magazine, Inc. All rights reserved. Thats roughly the same percentage of farmers who responded that they were concerned about depletion today. And that has consequences that are coming into focus. 2017-2018 Southern High Plains region entered aperiod of persistent drought beginning in the fall of 2017, seriously impacting winter wheat and other crops including spring plantings. Without rainfall in the Texas High Plains, the chances the aquifer can recharge are low. Western Kansas is a water-challenged place that gets abouthalf as much precipitationas eastern Kansas in an average year. April 13, 2023 Publish this story Last summer, Imperial farmer Dirk Haarberg made the hard decision to let some of his milo crop die. Estimates show that if pumping trends continue,more than two-thirdsof the water under Kansas will be gone within 40 years. Seeing that made me realize this can be done.. They planted sorghum-sudangrass, a substitute that looks like corn but doesnt need as much water and can survive the drought. A lock () or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. 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. This level of coordinated groundwater-level monitoring is unique among major, multi-state regional aquifers in the country., 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive David White / Throughout this "Parched" series of stories, reporter David Condos explores how water and a lack of it shapes life in western Kansas. My dad and I kept talking about how, year after year, our corn is getting shorter, Simpson recalled. Find more information on how to apply for NRCS conservation programs. Based in Hays, he covers issues that shape rural communities across the Great Plains from water and climate change to agriculture and immigration. That could mean the aquifers around for another 50 or 100 years, he said, depending on how soon more irrigators get on board. Individual states and their smaller, political subdivisions are great laboratories for that kind of experimentation. Twitter, Follow us on Read the latest conservation success stories that show how NRCS and farmers and ranchers work together to improve agricultural operations while helping the environment. In all, the Ogallala Aquifer provides70-80%of water used by Kansans each day. promote recharge to the Ogallala Aquifer through playa wetland conservation. With around 10% of its ancient water already produced, some . Here's how this year's drought has battered the Midwest and what it might mean for next year This is the first time the Kansas Water Authority has voted to save what's left of the Ogallala Some farmers, Aguilar said, likely start irrigating earlier than they need to in the spring or keep watering longer than needed in the fall. Find contact information for your state office location and employees. KGS Pub. Inf. Circ. 18--The High Plains Aquifer - University of Kansas Irrigation also consumes the largest share of the aquifers water by far. Texas farmers are worried one of the state's most precious water resources is running dry. More than 30% of U.S. crops and livestock are produced in this region, significantly impacting domestic and international food supplies. When you're talking about groundwater declines, theres only two ways to fix it, Wilson said. HAYS In increasingly dry western Kansas, underground water makes everything possible. Many western Kansas farmers have cut back on how much they irrigate their crops voluntarily. And the rainfall that does trickle down to the depths can take years to do so because it has to work its way through hundreds of feet of rock. So what does all that disappearing water mean in dollars and cents? US Geological Survey hydrologist Virginia McGuire, who monitors the Ogallala Aquifer, told Yale Environment 360 that water levels in some areas were less than half the size they were 100 years ago . 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. Its not a guessing game anymore.. Stock water for cattle. In 2015, total recoverable water in storage in the aquifer was about 2.91 billion acre-feet, which is an overall decline of about 273.2 million acre-feet, or 9 percent, since predevelopment. The USGS study used water-level measurements from 3,164 wells for predevelopment to 2015 and 7,524 wells for the 2013 to 2015 study period. 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. Shortly before that, the state of Kansas made similar changes. But preserving the aquifer is a tricky balance in these parts. Aquifer water levels across western and central Kansas dropped by more than a foot on average this past year. But we are headed there if we don't make any changes.. The heat and the wind had proven too much, Haarberg said, and he needed to save water for his other cornfields. Brings together partners and producers to protect wetlands. Its a tall order. 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 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. The Ogallala Aquifer is buried deep throughout the High Plains. Black maternal mortality in Kansas now exceeds neighboring states, new research finds, and the state saw one of the greatest increases in mortality for Indigenous mothers. And, problematically, that means we cant see it disappear. But more than half of farmers 58% said they didnt feel personally responsible for depletion. You can follow him on Twitter@davidcondos. (LEMA), where farmers agreed to a20 percent reduction in irrigation for five years. That's where the devils in the details.. Ogallala Aquifer dropped 12+ inches in 2021 - Cattle Range While scientific understanding of the connectivity of surface and groundwater systems lagged in relation to development of the resource, in general, the aquifer has been managed in most areas with an understanding that it is alimited resource. Amid water woes, solar is booming in the California desert. In the Ogallala region, the bill could fund everything from cost-sharing programs that help landowners install more playa lakes that encourage aquifer recharge to grants that help farmers buy new water-saving technology, including irrigation systems that customize the spray rate based on how much water a certain patch of soil needs. As part of our commitment to sustainability, in 2021 Grist moved its office headquarters to the Bullitt Center in Seattles vibrant Capitol Hill neighborhood. At Grist, we dont believe in paywalls. Sample results for selected constituents were compared to drinking-water standards and between the two synoptic sampling times in an interpretative report. Its easy to see when drought, farm irrigation and city taps drain the great reservoirs of the Southwest. Water. How much water can the Ogallala aquifer hold? 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. National Climate Assessment: Great Plains' Ogallala Aquifer drying out In the next 10, 20, 30 years of our lifetime, the biggest impact we can have is to use less water out of that aquifer, Wilson said. But the viability of western Kansas is going to have an impact on the economy of Kansas, and thats gonna affect everybody.. If the water keeps running out, some of the region's farms and towns could vanish within a generation or two. 1), supplying 70% to 80% of the water used by Kansans each day. 1898 - Ogallala Aquifer named by geologist N.H. Darton after the formation outcrop near the town of Ogallala, NE. The Ogallala Aquifer: When will the wells run dry? What then? It found wide-ranging support among groups that dont always agree, from the Kansas Farm Bureau and Kansas Livestock Association to the Nature Conservancy. This county has already lost more than 80% of the water in its corner of the aquifer the highest percentage loss in the state. Irrigation for crops. Photo: A. Kremen, 1967-1977 Irrigators in CO and KS create irrigation management districts on the High Plains to protect the interests of irrigators, 1972 NE is divided into Natural Resource Districts, creating alocalized level of government tasked with preserving groundwater resources. Changes in water levels are not uniform throughout the . Looking for a career that can make a difference? The goal, he said, should be to stabilize the aquifers levels over the next 20 years and then see where things stand. In the way the groundwater is being pumped in the Ogallala aquifer, as a hydrogeologist I afraid the life of the aquifer . Farmers depend on the Ogallala Aquifer for both corn farming and livestock production. Ogallala Timeline - Ogallala Water In the 1930s, people had begun to realize the potential of the vast water supply that lay beneath them. The Ogallala Aquifer, also known as the High Plains Aquifer, is a vast yet shallow underground water table aquifer located beneath the Great Plains in the United States. That decision was made 40-50 years ago by people who are no longer with us or moved on. The culture is shifting toward a culture of conservation now, Sanderson said. But Sanderson is starting to believe that long-held perspectives about water might finally be changing. On top of that, several towns near here recently wrapped up their driest year since humans started keeping records. Helps private and tribal landowners protect, restore, and enhance wetlands degraded by agricultural uses. Here's How. But only a tiny fraction of this regions meager rainfall ends up refilling the aquifer. Accelerates conservation benefits through targeted efforts for water quality, water quantity and wildlife. Access local services provided by the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Rural Development agencies. A recent study by the board found that water levels declined a median total of 4.8 feet between 2010 and 2011, nearly three times higher than the median decline of 2009 to 2010. The USGS, at the request of the U.S. Congress and in cooperation with numerous state, local, and federal entities, has published reports on water-level changes in the High Plains aquifer since 1988 in response to substantial water-level declines in large areas of the aquifer. For them to be able to say, OK, what would be the costs of reducing water use today? Recentlegislationproposed in the Kansas House would have created a new cabinet-level department overseeing the states water issues and forced aquifer management districts in western and central Kansas to place stricter limits on water usage to curb the depletion rate. And if the decline of the aquifer isnt drastically slowed, Hendricks said, western Kansas land will collectively lose $34 million in value each year by 2050. But the solutions to get there, that's the challenging part. Drought hits the Midwest, threatening crops and the worlds food supply, How Arizona stands between tribes and their water. This has caused concern for the future of agriculture in the High Plains. Ogallala Aquifer | Texas Water Development Board But most of the time, were not ready for a big rain because were thinking about how to make one crop work really well.. Aquifer water levels across western and central Kansas dropped by more than a foot on average this past year. One of the largest freshwater accumulations in the world, this underappreciated aquifer provides 30% of the groundwater used for irrigation in the United States. Some parts of the Ogallala Aquifer are now dry, and the water table has declined more than 300 feet in other areas. What we need are advances in the human dimension of conservation policies and market frameworks that create space for innovative, voluntary, collective action. Nearly all (94%) of the water used in Wallace Countys regional groundwater management district, GMD 1, goes to irrigate crops. It appears unlikely that even a slimmed down version of that bill will be passed this year. In the next 10, 20, 30 years of our lifetime, the biggest impact we can have is to use less water out of that aquifer, Wilson said. Formation of the Ogallala Aquifer Before the Aquifer formed, the land now known as the Great Plains looked nothing like it does now. Our interdisciplinary team is engaged in research, outreach and cooperative partnerships with adiverse set of stakeholders, working to support current and future generations of producers in the region, Dave Brauer, USDA-Agricultural Research Service, John Tracy, Texas Water Resources Institute. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. July 3 was Earths hottest day on record until July 4. Stay updated on the latest news and stories from NRCS and other USDA topics. During 201213, the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation wi, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive Reston, VA 20192, Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center Austin, TX Office, Depth to water and water quality in groundwater wells in the Ogallala aquifer within the North Plains Groundwater Conservation District, Texas Panhandle, 201920, and comparison to 201213 conditions, Water-Quality and Depth to Water for Groundwater Wells Primarily Completed in the Ogallala Aquifer within the North Plains Groundwater Conservation District, Texas Panhandle, 201213 and 201920. Can Phoenix grow without groundwater? You have a structural problem.. Although the average saturated thickness is about 60 meters (200 feet), it exceeds 300 meters (1,000 feet) in west-central Nebraska and is only one-tenth that in much of western Texas.
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