Depletion of Ogallala Aquifer
by stephanie burkett
Ogallala Aquifer
The Ogallala Aquifer is an underground bed of water that farmers use . Farmers use the water for growing crops and raising cattle because of droughts and not enough rain. The farmers drill down, pump water and irrigate their crops.
Overuse
In western Kansas the Ogallala Aquifer is drying up because of drought and overuse. Farmers are using too much of the aquifer. The aquifer is recharged too slowly to keep up the water that the farmers take out. More water will be needed as the population grows.
Effects of Droughts
If we use too much water, it will be a desert. The amount of crops grown and the water used will peak in the year 2040. The Great Plains may convert back to dry land. It takes hundred of thousand of years for the aquifer to recharge.
Saving the Aquifer
There are many ways to save the aquifer. Using crops rotation and drought resistant crops will help not use as much water. Farmers in western Kansas agreed to conserve water by reducing their usage by 20 percent
drip irrigation conserves water