The Context
The world's freshwater is an increasingly scarce resource, only comprising a mere 3 % of all the water on Earth. This small percentage can be further broken down into frozen water, surface water, and ground water. Freshwater plays a critical role for human civilization and people have often relied on surface water when available and groundwater in the more arid regions of the world.
The Ogallala Aquifer is one of the largest aquifers in the world and began irrigating American's land in the 1950's. Since then, an incredible system of wells and pipelines now utilize this groundwater for producing almost a third of the United State's agriculture produce and for millions of people in 8 states (South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas).
As population and production have increased, we have been calling upon these ancient waters beyond their capacity to recharge. This website is dedicated to comprehensively exploring this issue from the water science of the aquifer to the groups at risk and the strategies of mitigation.
The Ogallala Aquifer is one of the largest aquifers in the world and began irrigating American's land in the 1950's. Since then, an incredible system of wells and pipelines now utilize this groundwater for producing almost a third of the United State's agriculture produce and for millions of people in 8 states (South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas).
As population and production have increased, we have been calling upon these ancient waters beyond their capacity to recharge. This website is dedicated to comprehensively exploring this issue from the water science of the aquifer to the groups at risk and the strategies of mitigation.