{"id":1960,"date":"2025-04-30T14:22:18","date_gmt":"2025-04-30T19:22:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/?p=1960"},"modified":"2025-04-30T14:30:33","modified_gmt":"2025-04-30T19:30:33","slug":"great-plains-crisis-ogallala-aquifer-depletion-threatens-kansas-farmers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/2025\/04\/30\/great-plains-crisis-ogallala-aquifer-depletion-threatens-kansas-farmers\/","title":{"rendered":"Ogallala Aquifer Depletion Threatens Kansas Farmers"},"content":{"rendered":"

(Photo by: Lance Cheung\/Flickr)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Between the Rocky Mountains and under the Great Plains, an invisible crisis has been developing. Since the start of the 20th century, farmers in Kansas, Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Wyoming, South Dakota, and Nebraska have relied on the Ogallala Aquifer for irrigation. But from the onset, overuse and mismanagement has set the stage for a disaster that would not only upend the livelihoods of farmers in these states, but the entire United States agricultural sector.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Ogallala Aquifer, the largest source of groundwater in the United States, was first discovered in 1898. The aquifer covers 174,000 miles in eight states and has a total capacity of <\/span>three trillion gallons<\/span><\/a> of water. The aquifer serves as a vital resource for thousands of farmers, with a total of <\/span>2.3 million people<\/span><\/a> supported by the groundwater. The aquifer was first tapped for high-intensity irrigation in 1909, spurring a long history of an abuse of this natural resource.<\/span><\/p>\n

From 1909 to 2008, the aquifer has supplied over 89 trillion gallons of water to farmers and the general public. The <\/span>University of Chicago<\/span><\/a> reports that \u201cMuch of this water used for farming is actually wasted\u2026 According to the USGS, 23,000 acres of cropland were irrigated\u2026 in 2015, using about 43.3 billion gallons of water per day \u2014 and wasting half of that [9].\u201d Farmers drive a good amount of this decline, with a total of 98% of water from the aquifer being used for agricultural purposes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although farmers are largely responsible for the depletion of the groundwater, this is an unintentional impact of <\/span>federal<\/span><\/a> policy that actively encourages them too. Federal subsidies for agriculture encourage greater crop production, which results in a strain on the groundwater supply. This creates a cycle encouraging overproduction that causes substantial damage to the ecosystem that provides farmers with their livelihood. Farmers are also faced with low market prices for their crops, encouraging the leasing of land and further usage of groundwater. Government policies have directly caused this looming crisis, with a potentially disastrous impact for Kansas should the wells run dry.<\/span><\/p>\n

For Kansas, <\/span>30% of wells have been completely depleted<\/span><\/a>, with that number expected to reach 70% by 2070. This places substantial strain on communities in Western Kansas in particular, with many of them already suffering from water shortages and farm closures. A large-scale drought in the region would only exacerbate the current issues facing these communities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Should the aquifer fully deplete, the United States would be facing one of the most disastrous agricultural disasters since the Dust Bowl. The Ogallala Aquifer provides vital irrigation that, if halted, would wipe out <\/span>30% of U.S. food production alongside $35 billion dollars in the agricultural sector<\/span><\/a>. K-State\u2019s Seek Research Magazine interviews Garden City farmer Tom Willis, who provides a personal angle on this issue saying that \u201cpeople conceptually get it that the aquifer is declining, but I don’t think they understand that when the aquifer is gone, the feed yards are gone, the farms are gone, the implement dealers are gone, the stores are gone.\u201d Willis perfectly sums up the issue; if the aquifer disappears, so do the livelihoods of millions of people.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The rapid depletion of the aquifer is only made worse due to the nature of how they refill. The Ogallala relies on rain and snow to replenish itself which is an incredibly lengthy process given the aquifer\u2019s size. The <\/span>United States Department of Agriculture<\/span><\/a> reports that for the Ogallala to fill completely, it would take roughly 6,000 years.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

With disaster looming on the horizon and the potential for nature to resolve this issue a non-factor, what can federal actors do to resolve this crisis? Although many call for the cutting of subsidies, this would only further damage the farming community and not address the usage of water that underpins this issue. Instead, the expansion of programs like the <\/span>USDA’s Conservation Reserve Program<\/span><\/a> would help replenish groundwater without much disruption of agricultural production. The program pays farmers to let water-scarce lands lie uncultivated for ten years, allowing for water to enter the aquifer without disrupting a farmer\u2019s livelihood. Additionally, revamping federal farm credits would help resolve the issue. <\/span>The Conversation<\/span><\/a> writes that \u201cGenerous terms promote borrowing for irrigation equipment; to pay that debt, borrowers farm more land. Offering lower rates for equipment that reduces water use\u2026 could nudge farmers toward conservation.\u201d Finally, changing tax codes to provide credits and incentives to save groundwater could prove vital in encouraging conservation practices among farmers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Depletion of the Ogallala Aquifer threatens thousands of farmers, access to water for 2.3 million people in the Great Plains, and a disaster that would upend the entire U.S. agricultural sector. Federal revaluation of current policies, alongside the implementation of conservation programs that account for both the land and those living off of it, are vital to resolve this impending crisis. Although none of us will live to see the replenishment of the Ogallala Aquifer, it\u2019s necessary to resolve this disaster now so that generations to come will have access to this vital natural resource.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Between the Rocky Mountains and under the Great Plains, an invisible crisis has been developing. Since the start of the 20th century, farmers in Kansas, Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Wyoming, South Dakota, and Nebraska have relied on the Ogallala Aquifer for irrigation. But from the onset, overuse and mismanagement has set the stage for a disaster that would not only upend the livelihoods of farmers in these states, but the entire United States agricultural sector.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":1984,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advgb_blocks_editor_width":"","advgb_blocks_columns_visual_guide":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[276],"ppma_author":[203],"class_list":["post-1960","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-studentvoice","tag-ogallala-aquifer"],"author_meta":{"display_name":"Saul Epstein","author_link":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/author\/sepstein\/"},"featured_img":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/files\/2025\/04\/51526379834_ed87a95751_o.jpg","coauthors":[{"link":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/author\/daniel-larson\/","display_name":"Daniel Larson"}],"tax_additional":{"categories":{"linked":["Student Voice<\/a>"],"unlinked":["Student Voice<\/span>"]},"tags":{"linked":["Ogallala Aquifer<\/a>"],"unlinked":["Ogallala Aquifer<\/span>"]}},"comment_count":"0","relative_dates":{"created":"Posted 1 year ago","modified":"Updated 1 year ago"},"absolute_dates":{"created":"Posted on April 30, 2025","modified":"Updated on April 30, 2025"},"absolute_dates_time":{"created":"Posted on April 30, 2025 2:22 pm","modified":"Updated on April 30, 2025 2:30 pm"},"featured_img_caption":"Ranch owners Frank and Jackie Mills utilized the U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service NRCS Windbreak Restoration Conservation Practice 550 to remove dead and dying trees from an existing windbreak, a.k.a. shelterbelt, and adding two new rows of Junipers on their land in Crawford, NE, in the Great Plains region of the United States, on July 23, 2021. \n\nTheir windbreak has a tall center row that was originally planted with elm and cedar trees from the 1950s. This row was filled in with cotoneaster (Cotoneaster integerrima) shrubs. To either side are rows of rocky mountain juniper. The two rows facing the farm fields were planted in 2006 and stand approximately 15 feet tall. On the home and farm buildings side are the two rows of juniper that were planted a few years ago as two-year-old juniper saplings. Between the rows is cover grass. The grass includes drought-tolerant smooth brome (bromus inermus) and the lighter bluegrass (dino phinopyrum intermedium) which provides additional weed suppression. The bluegrass is a very aggressive grass that works well to suppress unwanted plants, especially when converting cropland into a windbreak. \n\n24-7 the windbreaks help reduce the wind and snow that if not for them, would erode the soil, and winter snowdrifts would accumulate in greater quantities on and around the Mills' home, barns, and immediate fields. \nJackie recalls that her father started constructing windbreaks in the 1950s. He used wood that her sisters had to haul from the yard to the windbreak construction line. Eventually, trees grew to replace the windbreak fence. After the windbreak was installed, you did not notice the wind and snow, when we were in the corral and stables calving, she said, there is such a difference between not having trees and having trees. We are very appreciative of NRCS getting us the assistance. We would not have these trees if it were not for the NRCS assistance program.\n\nGrowing up, Frank's father worked for 20 years for what was called the Soil Conservation Service in Northeast South Dakota. One of his responsibilities was to help others set up windbreaks. According to Frank, his favorite windbreak plants are the Rocky Mountain Junipers which he says grow great in this area and do a great job at diffusing the wind. The added benefit is that he enjoys seeing wildlife, livestock, and sometimes wild turkey foraging on the juniper berries. \n\nA few years ago, Frank saw that several trees were reaching the end of their expected life span. He contacted the U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service NRCS who was able to cost-share the removal of dead and dying trees. The next year, a fabric mulch was installed along with the new saplings. He says it works great. When asked if his farming and ranching neighbors should do this, he gives an enthusiastic - I recommend it - highly. I think it is a great program - I really do. He adds, because of programs like this, there are more people who do this.\n\nThe history of the farm begins with Jackie's father Lawrence Raven, who started as a laborer picking corn for the farm owner. Then, one day he asked if he wanted to buy it. Saying yes in 1937, was the start of Martha and Lawrence Raven as producers. Right away Lawrence committed much of the business to the Hereford cattle operation. \nWhen they passed, she and her sisters continued the operation. Later, Frank and she bought a portion of the land and started implementing their conservation plan and practices to make life better for them and the land. \n\nResource Conservationist Bryan Kahl from the Chadron field office enjoys helping producers with their conservation plan and to be more productive on the land. He began working for USDA 20 years ago and 15-years ago Kahl was assigned to the Chadron office. The Mills' windbreak restoration was one of his first assignments in the area.\nWhile visiting with them, he shows the 15-year-old fabric mulch is still intact and suppressing the growth of weeds and recommends that every several years, the fabric mulch openings should be widened to prevents tree girdling. \nKahl enjoys the geographic diversity of the region with the nearby USDA Forest Service FS Pine Ridge National Recreation Area and forests of the region. Most of the region is rangeland. Consequently, grazing system management which includes water development, cross fencing, and promoting rotational grazing is the mainstay of work. \n\nFor the full story, go to the album description at flic.kr\/s\/aHsmWMyoSE\n\nIn general, windbreak\/shelterbelt renovation involves widening, partial replanting, removing, and replacing selected trees and shrubs to improve an existing windbreak or shelterbelt. A period of years may also be needed for proper renovation. For more information about Windbreak Restoration Practice Code 650 please go to nrcs.usda.gov\/wps\/portal\/nrcs\/detail\/national\/technical\/nra\/?cid=nrcs144p2_027201\nUSDA Photo Media by Lance Cheung.","series_order":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"authors":[{"term_id":203,"user_id":0,"is_guest":1,"slug":"daniel-larson","display_name":"Daniel Larson","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&r=g","author_category":"","first_name":"","last_name":"","user_url":"","job_title":"","description":""}],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/files\/2025\/04\/51526379834_ed87a95751_o.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1960","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1960"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1960\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1986,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1960\/revisions\/1986"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1984"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1960"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1960"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1960"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.jccc.edu\/messenger\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=1960"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}