Record Low Water Level for the Ogallala Aquifer
By: Rachel Spangenthal
Updated: July 11, 2012
"Agriculture relies solely on ground water," said Jim Conkwright.
For the 16 counties that make up the High Plains Water District, those producers rely on the Ogallala Aquifer.
"The life source of the farming industry," said Conkwright.
But the drought of 2011 has lowered the Ogallala's water level.
"Normally we lose around a foot or a little over, a year, in decline."
Jim Conkwright, the General Manager for the High Plains Water District said that number has more than tripled for 2011.
"We used about 2 and a half feet, a little over."
The District studied 1280 privately owned wells in 16 different counties from December 2011 to March 2012. Conkwright said 2011's loss is the biggest decline in 25 years.
"Very abnormal but we've had an abnormal year, we had drought of record," said Conkwright.
The Ogallala Aquifer begins in southern Nebraska and ends here in the Texas panhandle. The aquifer's depth thinning as it moves south. It's these characteristics that put the South Plains in a difficult situation when it comes to the future of the aquifer's water supply.
"We're more vulnerable to issues coming out of a major drought like 2011 because we have less saturated thickness to start with."
So until we receive enough rainfall, Conkwright said it's a reminder to all of us to conserve water.
"Conservation is the quickest and the cheapest way to have water resources, to save what we can, do the best we can in saving it."
For the 16 counties that make up the High Plains Water District, those producers rely on the Ogallala Aquifer.
"The life source of the farming industry," said Conkwright.
But the drought of 2011 has lowered the Ogallala's water level.
"Normally we lose around a foot or a little over, a year, in decline."
Jim Conkwright, the General Manager for the High Plains Water District said that number has more than tripled for 2011.
"We used about 2 and a half feet, a little over."
The District studied 1280 privately owned wells in 16 different counties from December 2011 to March 2012. Conkwright said 2011's loss is the biggest decline in 25 years.
"Very abnormal but we've had an abnormal year, we had drought of record," said Conkwright.
The Ogallala Aquifer begins in southern Nebraska and ends here in the Texas panhandle. The aquifer's depth thinning as it moves south. It's these characteristics that put the South Plains in a difficult situation when it comes to the future of the aquifer's water supply.
"We're more vulnerable to issues coming out of a major drought like 2011 because we have less saturated thickness to start with."
So until we receive enough rainfall, Conkwright said it's a reminder to all of us to conserve water.
"Conservation is the quickest and the cheapest way to have water resources, to save what we can, do the best we can in saving it."
