The Kansas Water Authority voted for the first time last December that the state should stop draining the aquifer for agriculture. Amid water woes, solar is booming in the California desert. 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. 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. Offers competitive grants to support wetland mitigation banks for ag producers. The Ogallala aquifer, also known as the High Plains aquifer, is the primary source of water for many communities throughout the High Plains region. About 4 quadrillion liters How much has the water table dropped since people began pumping water from the aquifer? 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. It appearsunlikelythat even a slimmed down version of that bill will be passed this year. Learn about the conservation needs and latest updates in your state, and access needed resources. 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. This multi-state, groundwater-level monitoring study tracks water-level changes in wells screened in the High Plains aquifer and located in all eight states that overlie the aquifer. Thats roughly the same percentage of farmers who responded that they were concerned about depletion today. 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. Applications for most programs are accepted on a continuous basis, but theyre considered for funding in different ranking periods. A recent study from Kansas State University says the aquifer under western Kansas increases land values by nearly$4 billion. It found wide-ranging support among groups that dont always agree, from the Kansas Farm Bureau and Kansas Livestock Association to the Nature Conservancy. Farmers depend on the Ogallala Aquifer for both corn farming and livestock production. Ogallala Aquifer - depth, important, system, source - Water Encyclopedia Based in Hays, he covers issues that shape rural communities across the Great Plains from water and climate change to agriculture and immigration. NRCS applies sound engineering tools and principles to plan, design, and implement conservation practices and systems through delegated approval authority. For them to be able to say, OK, what would be the costs of reducing water use today? Your conservation planner will help you determine if financial assistance is right for you. But farmers are pulling water out of the Ogallala faster than rain and snow can recharge it. 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 . Helps state and tribal governments improve public access to private lands for recreation. The Ogallala Aquifer serves farming communities in multiple . Looking for a career that can make a difference? Before sharing sensitive information, make sure youre on a federal government site. Conservation and organics go hand-in-hand, and NRCS offers tools for organic farmers to improve their operations. Depleting the Ogallala Aquifer | EarthDate Data from Haacker et al. Hes confident his family can keep the business going in a sustainable manner, even if the drought amps back up. Based in Hays, he covers issues that shape rural communities across the Great Plains from water and climate change to agriculture and immigration. 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. We are not yet there, Aguilar said. 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. The biggest decrease was in Parmer County, which sits on the New Mexico border in between Lubbock and Amarillo, where there was a decline of 1.30 feet in the water levels. *NRCS accepts applications on an ongoing basis*. And what would be the cost of not reducing water use in the future? Hendricks said. Only if the price is right. Even the snowfall from recent blizzards couldnt make up the precipitation deficit. 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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. But those billions are drying up at an accelerating rate. And with the warm temperatures continuing at night and offering less relief its harder to get the bountiful crops of cotton, grapes and corn the region is known for. Provides assistance to agricultural producers to address natural resource concerns. You need to have some understanding of the water resources.. He points to successful voluntary water conservation efforts led by farmers, such as the states firstLocal Enhanced Management Area, or LEMA, in northwest Kansasand a similar programrecently approvedin west-central Kansas. 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Circ. 18--The High Plains Aquifer - University of Kansas This information was adapted (from material written by the Ogallala Water team anddesign elements created by Emily Pantoja/Colorado Water Institute)initially published in the Nov/Dec 2017 Ogallala aquifer focused issue of Colorado Water. Assists communities recovering from natural disasters. Typically, the local FSA office is located in the same building as the local NRCS office. 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. And what would be the cost of not reducing water use in the future? Hendricks said. Well discuss your vision for your land. Contact your local service center to start your application. Instead, we rely on our readers topitch in what they can so that we can continue bringing you our solution-based climate news. The Ogallala Aquifer is buried deep throughout the High Plains. That could mean the aquifers around for another 50 or 100 years, he said, depending on how soon more irrigators get on board. This has caused concern for the future of agriculture in the High Plains. The Ogallala may hold as much water as Lake Huron, but we cant see it. In touch with the world at home on the High Plains. Some parts of the Ogallala Aquifer are now dry, and the water table has declined more than 300 feet in other areas. To fill out an AD 1026, which ensures a conservation plan is in place before lands with highly erodible soils are farmed. And a new K-State survey of more than 1,000 farmers across the Ogallala region shows a massive disconnect between how many of them believe depletion is a problem and how many believe they are personally responsible for it. Sharing research results on crop selection and rotation, irrigation management strategies, soil health and more. One of the largest freshwater accumulations in the world, this underappreciated aquifer provides 30% of the groundwater used for irrigation in the United States. The Sentinel Landscapes Partnership is a coalition of federal agencies, state and local governments, and nongovernmental organizations that work with private landowners. In that survey nearly four decades ago, 84% of farmers polled said aquifer depletion was a serious or very serious problem. The Ogallala aquifer is contained in the Tertiary-age Ogallala Formation in the Texas Panhandle and is the primary water-bearing hydrogeologic unit of the High Plains aquifer system. His work reaches audiences across Kansas through the Kansas News Service, a statewide collaboration of public radio stations. 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. In the 1930s, people had begun to realize the potential of the vast water supply that lay beneath them. Were having to overwater it, and the Ogallala is depleting to such an extent that the quality is becoming poor and making the soil more unhealthy. The Ogallala Water Coordinated Agriculture Project: optimizing water use for ag and rural communities. Rural economies and communities depend on it. 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. 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