Ogallala aquifer levels
See the full map. Overview. Regional groundwater availability studies enable information about groundwater to be integrated and consistent, so that this resource can be analyzed and understood on an aquifer–wide scale. These studies provide decision–makers with a better understanding of the status and trends in the Nation's groundwater ...30 jul 2015 ... If and when it gets to that point – a 2013 study forecasted that the High Plains Aquifer would be 69 percent depleted by 2060 – the options for ...Map of water-level changes in the High Plains Ogallala aquifer in parts of Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming, since before the first wells were drilled in the 1850s through 2015. Data from the United States Geological Survey. Credit: USGS data in the National Climate Assessment
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Groundwater levels have appreciably declined over the Ogallala region of the aquifer since the onset of substantial irrigation development (1940s to 1950s in most areas). The water levels have dropped so much in some areas of the Ogallala region that less than 40% of the original saturated thickness is left (fig. 4).In our view, what the Ogallala Aquifer region really needs is policy change. A lot can be done at the federal level, but the first principle should be to "do no harm." Whenever federal agencies have tried to regulate groundwater , the backlash has been swift and intense, with farm states' congressional representatives repudiating federal ...High Plains Water District reports average -0.71 foot drop in Ogallala Aquifer levels in 2022. Across its 16-county district, the HPWD said that it measured an average saturated thickness change ...Industrially, sandstone is used as a raw material for manufacturing and in construction. Naturally, sandstone functions as an aquifer and as a reservoir for oil and gas. Sandstone is composed of rock or organic material and sand-sized miner...Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core. Abstract. The Ogallala aquifer, that part of the High Plains aquifer in Oklahoma, is part of a regional aquifer system that underlies parts …Because of this, the aquifer has a very slow recharge rate. Where water levels drop, the price of water goes up. The recharge rate of the Ogallala aquifer is an estimated 22-25 mm per year. At the rate we are going, we will completely deplete this natural resource.Water levels in the Ogallala Aquifer continue to plummet as farm irrigation swallows an average of more than 2 billion gallons of groundwater per day statewide. But after decades of mostly ...Of these, the Ogallala aquifer underlies most of western Kansas and consists mainly of the Ogallala Formation, a geologic unit that formed from sediment eroded off the uplifting Rocky Mountains. The southwest Kansas portion of the Ogallala has suffered the greatest losses since groundwater levels started dropping in the 1950s.Water levels in the Ogallala Aquifer continue to plummet as farm irrigation swallows an average of more than 2 billion gallons of groundwater per day statewide. But after decades of mostly ...Jun 20, 2023 · On the heels of Texas’ worst drought in a decade, a report from the High Plains Underground Water Conservation District shows water levels in the Ogallala Aquifer, also known as the High Plains ... Since about 1950, the amount of water in the Aquifer has dropped by nine percent. Depletion of water levels is only increasing with two percent lost between 2001 and 2009. Because of over pumping the Aquifer, many areas of the High Plains have literally run out of water. The Texas Panhandle has seen the largest drop in Aquifer levels. The depth to the water table of the Ogallala Aquifer varies from actual surface discharge to over 150 meters (500 feet). Generally, the aquifer is found from 15 to 90 meters (50 to 300 feet) below the land surface. The …The Ogallala aquifer groundwater levels in much of western Kansas started dropping in the 1950s as pumping increased, according to the Kansas Geological Survey (File Photo / Max McCoy). An agency charged with conserving groundwater in arid western Kansas plans to truck thousands of gallons of water from the Missouri River nearly 400 …Apr 9, 2022 · Wilson said 80-90% of the water used in the Ogallala aquifer region goes to irrigation. That averages out to about 2.5 billion gallons a day, pumped up and sprayed on crops. It can’t go on like ... Use our interactive atlas to view water levels, saturated thickness, and more. This atlas has been created to serve as the primary gateway to the most recent graphical data available for the High Plains aquifer in Kansas. The subterranean reservoirs of the sprawling Ogallala Aquifer make life possible here — from powering the multibillion-dollar agricultural economy to filling up cups at the kitchen sink ...Apr 4, 2023 · Water levels in the Ogallala Aquifer continue to plummet as farm irrigation swallows an average of more than 2 billion gallons of groundwater per day statewide. But after decades of mostly inaction from Kansas leaders, the state’s approach to water conservation might finally be starting to shift. the Ogallala level decline and water is beinJan 10, 2023 · The subterranean reservoirs of the sprawling Ogalla The Ogallala Aquifer irrigates almost 30 percent of US croplands. This over-pumping has caused groundwater levels in the Ogallala to drop over 8 feet, with some counties in Texas seeing a drop of more than 15 feet in groundwater levels. Demands for agricultural products and sparse groundwater replenishment (in the form of rain) have led to a ...In the Ogallala aquifer region, low levels of precipitation, coupled with high evaporative demand, leads to lower soil organic matter levels compared to those typical for soils in the Midwest U.S. Rainfed agricultural production typically leads to less plant biomass compared to irrigated production. In low soil organic matter situations, the ... Oct 10, 2023 · In most areas, new water isn’t taking the plac The High Plains aquifer, which includes the well-known Ogallala aquifer, is the most important water source for much of western and central Kansas (fig. 1), supplying 70% to 80% of the water used by Kansans each day. Water from the High Plains aquifer supports the region's cities, industry, and much of its agriculture. Mar 13, 2023 · Most of the wells monitored in t
Figure 6 illustrates some of these time-scale points. Recharge in the Ogallala aquifer of western Kansas, for example, is slight, and it may take many years for precipitation at the earth's surface to reach a deep aquifer. Figure 6--Ground water moves, though slowly. Movement from the surface to a point of discharge may take years, decades, or ...May 1, 2020 · The Ogallala Aquifer is one of the world’s largest fresh groundwater resources. It underlies 175,000 square miles in eight states. Starting as hundreds of feet of silt, clay, and gravel eroded from the Rocky Mountains and laid down by streams millions of years ago, rainfall during this time produced an underground lake the size of Lake Huron. In most areas, new water isn’t taking the place of what’s pumped out of the Ogallala. Between 1950 and 2013, the water levels dropped over 250 feet in an Ogallala well near Lubbock, Texas. The aquifer has seen more moderate declines elsewhere, but it’s causing problems for cities, well owners and irrigators alike.Jan 18, 2023 · Water levels have dropped more than 100 feet since 1950 in parts of these states, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. ... the Ogallala Aquifer is the backbone of agriculture in the Great ...
By Richard Banks. First, to recharge an aquifer, one needs surplus water. Western Kansas, which was once considered part of the “Great American Desert” and where, accordingly, the aquifer’s decline is most severe, …The purposes of this study are to analyze the groundwater quality of the Ogallala Aquifer and evaluate the hydrological characteristics in the southern High …The subterranean reservoirs of the sprawling Ogallala Aquifer make life possible here — from powering the multibillion-dollar agricultural economy to filling up cups at the kitchen sink ...…
Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs. 18 nov 2019 ... Between 2014 to 2019, the water levels in th. Possible cause: Water levels in the Ogallala Aquifer continue to plummet as farm irrigation swallo.
Because of this, the aquifer has a very slow recharge rate. Where water levels drop, the price of water goes up. The recharge rate of the Ogallala aquifer is an estimated 22-25 mm per year. At the rate we are going, we will completely deplete this natural resource.Farmers are making up for the lack of rainfall by pumping groundwater up from the Ogallala Aquifer, but this is a stopgap measure that won’t last. A report from the High Plains Underground Water Conservation District shows that water levels have been dropping every year.
The Ogallala Aquifer is being both depleted and polluted. Irrigation withdraws much groundwater, yet little of it is replaced by recharge. Since large-scale irrigation began in the 1940s, water levels have declined more than 30 meters (100 feet) in parts of Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.The purposes of this study are to analyze the groundwater quality of the Ogallala Aquifer and evaluate the hydrological characteristics in the southern High …
Ogallala Aquifer. Coordinates: 36°59′26 The Ogallala Aquifer is a massive store of groundwater that quenches the thirst of people, crops and livestock throughout the Great Plains. The aquifer extends, roughly, from Midland, Texas, through the Texas Panhandle and all the way to South Dakota. In fact, it’s the aquifer that makes the current way of life on the Plains possible.In some parts of Wallace County, aquifer levels fell 7 feet in just the past year. That’s 7 feet closer to running dry. Statewide water levels fell by an average of nearly 2 feet this year ... Irrigation also consumes the largest shaThe rapid increase of ground-water withdrawal has caused concern o On the heels of Texas’ worst drought in a decade, a report from the High Plains Underground Water Conservation District shows water levels in the Ogallala Aquifer, also known as the High Plains ...2011- 2013 Drought Impact to Ogallala Aquifer Levels. Historical water table levels of the Ogallala aquifer fluctuate by region and by rainfall amounts. Periods of faster declines are exacerbated by drought … The BizBuySell Insight Report for 2021 revea Annually, the average precipitation that recharges the aquifer is 21.59 millimeters on average (in terms of how much actually reaches the groundwater to recharge it), according to the US Geological Survey. With more and more of the water being used to irrigate farmlands, water levels in the Ogallala Aquifer have dropped in recent decades. The High Plains Aquifer Atlas, compiled by the Kansas Geological SurveAccording to the USGS– water-level changes in the High Plains aquifHistorical water table levels of the Ogalla Changes in Ogallala water levels from before the aquifer was tapped in the early 20th century to 2015. Gray indicates no significant change. Water levels have risen in some areas, especially ... Of these, the Ogallala aquifer underlies mo Jul 27, 2020 · In effect, the Ogallala Aquifer is—like oil and gas—a nonrenewable resource because current pumping levels exceed the very slow recharge rate. If precipitation is consistent, aquifers can recharge slowly as rainfall and stream seepage seep into any ground not covered by asphalt. [81] For example, the Ogallala Aquifer in the Great Plains is the largest aquifer in the U.S., providing water to eight states, and supports one the most extensively irrigated areas for corn and soybeans. In most areas, new water isn’t taking the place of what’s p[Nov 11, 2020 · The Ogallala-High Plains Aquifer is oIn most areas, new water isn't taking the place of what's p The Ogallala Aquifer is buried deep throughout the High Plains. 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 ...The High Plains Water-Level Monitoring Study (HPWLMS) is the USGS's response to a directive from Congress to report on water-level changes in the High Plains [Ogallala] aquifer ( figure 1 ). Figure 1. Location map showing the boundary of the High Plains aquifer, major cities and roads, and altitude of land surface.