Ogallala Aquifer Depletion
Ogallala Aquifer
The Aquifer is a water bed underground that Farmers use. The Aquifer is used for growing crops and raising cattle. We don't have enough rain so we go into drought so we have to use the Aquifer. We drill down, and then we pump it up threw a well for crops. About ⅕ of the wheat, corn, cattle and cotton are grown in the United States from irrigation by the Ogallala Aquifer.
⅕ of the wheat, corn, cattle and cotton are grown in the United States by irrigation from the Ogallala Aquifer
Overuse of the Aquifer
In western Kansas the Ogallala Aquifer is drying up. Farmers are using too much water. The Aquifer is charging too slow. The aquifer is gaining one inch per year.The farmers are taking two feet per year. The population is growing and that means the demand for water is gaining.
Aquifer Overuse
Continuing to use water will make kansas a desert. the water will peak by 2040. If we run out of water kansas will turn into a desert. To it could take 100’s or 1000’s of years until we can use it again. The water will peak by 2040.
This digram shows the water depletion between 1980-1995 of the Ogallala aquifer
Saving the Aquifer
There are many different ways to save the Ogallala Aquifer. Some of the water saving techniques are crop rotation, drought resistant crops, and another one is for farmers to drop water usage by 20 percent.