MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES FOR THE OGALLALA AQUIFER

Due to groundwater mining, aquifer levels in the Ogallala region of the High Plains have steadily declined over the last several decades. Current groundwater extraction rates are unsustainable and continuation of current pumping rates will have serious implications for the viability of the Region’s economy. This has created several aquifer management challenges as policy makers and stakeholders consider ways to extend the life of the aquifer to maintain the economic viability for future generations.

This ongoing project has the objective to assess the potential impacts on stakeholders in the Region from implementing alternative water conservation strategies. With funding from the Ogallala Aquifer Project, researchers from Kansas and Texas, with oversight from regional water managers, farmers, and state policy makers, have come together to address the management issues. The team developed economic optimization models to estimate changes in the aquifer conditions, irrigated acreage, net farm income, and regional economic impacts over a 60 year planning horizon for a variety of conservation strategies. Each conservation strategy was then evaluated relative to the baseline or do-nothing scenario.

Several implications can be derived from the results of this study. First, some form of long term water use restriction (percentage reduction per year or permanent conversion of irrigated acreage to nonirrigated production) is necessary in order to achieve any meaningful water savings. Second, accelerated adoption of irrigation technology without restrictions will not save water and, in fact, could increase water use lowering water availability in the future. However, using this strategy in combination with a water use restriction policy can help negate the negative impacts to producer income and the regional economy. Finally, temporary conversion of irrigated cropland to dryland has little impact on long term water savings.