The Ogallala Aquifer: Examining the Processes of Depletion Resulting from Governmental and Economic Policies

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Presenter(s)

Isabel Radley, Gretchen Snyder, Sam Prusak, Camron Zerr, Jack Harte, Parker Halling, Matthew Fessman

Abstract or Description

The Ogallala Aquifer lies under the Great Plains, spanning eight states, and is being depleted at an unsustainable rate (Braxton 2009). The aquifer’s depletion dates from the mid to late 1800s, where exploitation of the Great Plains, predominantly for agricultural use, was encouraged through governmental incentives and policies (Indian Removal Act of 1830 and Homestead Act of 1962). Colonists' poor farming practices and drought, led to the 1930s’ Dust Bowl. Post WWII technology and the 1945 Water Appropriations Act, instilled a “use-it or lose-it” policy, leading to an explosion of large-scale farming by pumping water from the aquifer. Today, scientists agree, current policies put the aquifer in jeopardy of running out, but many farmers and policy makers continue to dismiss the issue (Chow et al. 2015). With the Ogallala Aquifer rapidly declining, many are looking to policy reform as a solution. Though good in theory, this poses many challenges, as states have legal standing over their water legislation. Our research examines how money acts as a significant influence in policy decisions, how the depletion of the aquifer is often viewed as a political or climate issue, and how technological advancements do not act as a solution but lead to more efficient aquifer depletion  (Sanderson et al. 2020). We also examine the role of Groundwater Management Districts to implement pumping restrictions through Local Enhanced Management Areas (LEMAs) in western Kansas.