Ogallala Aquifer
Ogallala Aquifer Facts
Recharge Rate:low - 0.0610.061 cm/year cm/year
high - 15.2415.24 cm/year cm/year
Recharge Zone Area: 450.657931 450.658 km²
173.999 mi² m2
Estimated Volume: 4008.84,008.8 km³ km3
Type:aquifer
Aquifer Description: unconfined
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The Ogallala aquifer is located in the High Plains region of the United States. It underlies 174,000 square miles, and portions of eight states: South Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Texas. The region’s semi-arid environment includes the former Dustbowl region of the Oklahoma and Texas panhandles, but the region has since developed a booming agricultural economy due to the prevalent use of groundwater irrigation. Since the advent of irrigation in this region, the water table of the Ogallala is slowly being drawn down in certain areas due to groundwater mining. The general trend of the aquifer is one of depletion, although some areas, such as Nebraska, have seen gains in recent years due to soil conditions allowing more recharge (McGuire et al, 2012). Though the aquifer can be viewed as a common pool resource, due to the transboundary nature of the aquifer, many different groundwater policies are in play over its extent (Wagener & Kreuter, 2004; McGuire, et al, 2003; OWRB, 1999). Agriculture in the region also has strong ties to other industries, such as energy and livestock, which further complicates regulation of groundwater use for irrigation (Opie, 2002).
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External Links
- USADA Agricultural Research Service Ogallala Aquifer Program Website — Official website for the OAP. Reports, maps, and news related to the OAP.
- ^ Edwin D. Gutentag, Frederick J. Heimes, Noel C. Krothe, Richard R. Luckey and John B. Weeks. Geohydrology of the High Plains aquifer in parts of Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming. (Geological Survey Professional Paper ; 1400-B). USGS 1984. Available online: http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/pp1400B
- ^ McGuire, Virginia L., et al. 2012. Saturated Thickness and Water in Storage in the High Plains Aquifer, 2009, and Water-Level Changes and Changes in Water in Storage in the High Plains Aquifer, 1980 to 1995, 1995 to 2000, 2000 to 2005, and 2005 to 2009. Scientific Investigations Report 2012–5177, USGS. Available online:pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2012/5177/sir12-5177.pdf
