Trends in Groundwater Conditions in the Ogallala Aquifer

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Trends in Groundwater Conditions in the Ogallala
Aquifer

• Patrick Frasier

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The Ogallala

• Covers parts of eight states, from South Dakota
  to Texas
• Covers 174,000 square miles (450,658 sq km).
• France is 674,843 sq km
• Depth to Bottom of Aquifer range from 200-500 ft
  in Texas

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Why is the Ogallala Important?

• Aquifer represent 65 percent of all the irrigated
  acreage in the nation (Jensen, 2004).
• Possible that the aquifer may dry up in as little
  as 25 years (BBC, 2007)

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The Ogallala and Agriculture
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The Ogallala

• 22,182 wells
• 1 well/1.62 sq miles
• Average well depth 278 feet

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Location, Location, Location
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B
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Location, Location, Location
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Location, Location, Location
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The Ogallala
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The Ogallala
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The Ogallala
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The Ogallala
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The Ogallala and Cities
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The Ogallala and Cities

• Results indicate that aquifer depletion is
  primarily due to irrigation of crops and not to
  domestic use

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• Distances between wells is 30 miles

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Reasons for Decline

• Unfavorable geology
• Unfavorable climate
• Overpumping

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Conclusions

• By 2010, water levels will drop to 278 feet below
  the surface the average well depth

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Conclusions

• By 2226, water levels will drop to 278 feet below
  the surface the average well depth

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Conclusions

• Effects not the same for everyone
• It depends on your location, how deep your well
  is, and how much money you have.
• 100/foot to drill a well

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Possible Solutions

• Improvements in irrigation technology
• Farmers take CE 385D to learn how to solve
  optimization models using GAMS

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Youre Welcome

• Sources
• North Plains Water Division.http//www.npwd.org/ne
  w_page_2.htm
• Jensen, Ric. 2004. http//twri.tamu.edu/news/2004/
  08/01/ogallala-aquifer/
• BBC News. http//news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/wo
  rld/03/world_forum/water/html/ogallala_aquifer.stm