The Vanishing Water: Ogallala Water Depletion

Where are we?

Located in the Mid-West United States, an expansive underground freshwater reservoir sits perfectly under the country's most productive agricultural lands. Spanning from South Dakota down to Texas. This water source is the main supply to the Breadbasket of America and we are seeing declining numbers in availability and replenishment.

• From wheat to cows to corn and cotton, the regional economy thrives on agriculture that is heavily supported by the irrigation of the Ogallala.
• In the early 1900s, farmers were spreading and dominating grasslands eventually converting vast areas of land into cropland. This meant that the natural structure of the Great Plains was greatly interrupted soon resulting in the Dust Bowl.
• It was reported in 2007 the Ogallala region's agricultural products are worth around $35 billion.
• The underground water source provides freshwater for drinking, bathing, irrigation, and industry. Although well outputs in Central and Southern parts are declining due to excessive pumping resulting in prolonged droughts parching the area.

• 1898 the unknown aquifer at the time had not been discovered until geologist N.H Darton had given the subsurface water body an identity, the Ogallala Aquifer.

• 1909 - First high-capacity irrigation well on the High Plains in Bailey County, TX.
• 1917 - WWI demands increased production of wheat, encouraging sod busting.
• 1920s - Weather and precipitation patterns during these years showed locals that further cultivation could occur and limited well development.
• 1930s - Reverse rotary and standard drilling methods replaced traditional cable-tool methods.
• 1930 - An onset of a decade-long drought had pushed Texas panhandle to expand and rapidly construct wells to offset the lack of water supply at the time.
• 1936 - Congress established Rural Electrification Administration leading to electrification across the Great Plains.
• 1949 - First statutory law to regulate groundwater in Oklahoma.
• 1954-57 - Severe drought began another period of intense well development
• 1960s - 170,000 irrigation wells were responsible for the transportation of water across 13 million acres from the High Plains aquifer reaching 8 states.

Technological advancements such as:

• Center Pivot irrigation systems
• Irrigation automation systems
• Subsurface drip irrigation
• Improved land use methods
• Use of less water-intensive crops

The Green Revolution occurred during the 1940-70s which was a period of increased crop productivity through a variety of methods such as high-yield varieties of seeds, irrigation, and an increased use of inorganic fertilizers and pesticides.

• WW2 during this time had required the increase of production of crops & food supply for domestic and international use.
• The Ogallala Aquifer region was heavily utilized, leading to a rapid depletion of freshwater resources. Farmland use was at peak demand which had started to present concern on the exhaustion of the underground aquifer.

 https://www.earthdate.org/episodes/depleting-the-ogallala-aquifer 

Like many cases in resource management and human development of civilization, there are necessities to be utilized such as water, crops, food and shelter. As communities expand and times change, innovation and demand also increases. In the case of the Ogallala Aquifer, we have gotten to a point of reliance and dependability on a water source that is in fact not infinite.

• Drilling wells and extraction of subsurface resources
• Uncontrolled regulation
• Alteration to landscapes
• Downfall of ecosystems
• Rapid expansion and development
• Increasing demand for supply
• Decreasing resources for the demand

Through events like decade-long droughts, changes in the hydrologic cycle, climate change and the Dust Bowl, we have endured the effects of our choices. The Dust Bowl was caused by the rapid expansion of croplands through out the Great Plains, interrupting the diverse and sensitive ecosystem of the prairies, grasses and structure of the soils. The economic impacts were felt as many farmers and communities struggled to survive through these times. We saw depletion of production on these lands which had lasting impact on the entire country. There is a possibility of this happening once again if management and individual practices are not carefully constructed and planned.

Our ecosystems have been affected just as much as humans have as a result of the vanishing Ogallala. Soils and grasses have been tilled and demolished to support the farmlands. Species such as prairie dogs, bison, gophers and diversity of insects have seen their habitats destroyed and fragmented into areas not typically utilized historically.

Practices such as no-till farming and efficient irrigation methods are only a couple of solutions to be implemented by everyone when it comes to precious water sources.

• Improved understanding of the impacts of different dryland and irrigation management strategies on crop productivity.
• Adoption of weather-based irrigation scheduling tools.
• Drought tolerant crop varieties have increased ability to cope with heat stress and drought conditions under climate change.

State and federal policy can also help guide regions on sustaining practices and quotas in regards to freshwater resources. Although there have been many districts and groups founded to oversee the conservation of groundwater, there is much to be learned through collaboration with other governments, research facilities, and tribes in order to find the most efficient way to navigate our use of water.

Ultimately it is up to us individuals to ensure we are being aware and considering our actions when relating to finite resources like freshwater.