StakeHolder Groups
Residential Users:
Residential users of the Ogallala aquifer represent a widespread and diverse demographic. These users have a number of interests at stake with association to the depletion of the Ogallala aquifer. Unfortunately, the interests and values of this stakeholder group can often be contradictory. Residential users of the Ogallala aquifer are concerned with the future availability of clean and reliable water for drinking and sanitation; the current and future economic stability and prosperity of the region; and the positive development of communites compatible with the High Plains of the future. Although this user group is very interested in conserving the aquifer, economic factors often inhibit the support of progressive actions towards conservation.
Residential users of the Ogallala aquifer represent a widespread and diverse demographic. These users have a number of interests at stake with association to the depletion of the Ogallala aquifer. Unfortunately, the interests and values of this stakeholder group can often be contradictory. Residential users of the Ogallala aquifer are concerned with the future availability of clean and reliable water for drinking and sanitation; the current and future economic stability and prosperity of the region; and the positive development of communites compatible with the High Plains of the future. Although this user group is very interested in conserving the aquifer, economic factors often inhibit the support of progressive actions towards conservation.
Agricultural Users
90 % of all irrigated Ogallala water is used in agricultural production. The biggest user is the cattle industry that uses 29% of the water just for cattle water consumption. Cattle feed is outsourced and local so even more water is needed for the local production in cattle feed such as corn. The people invested in this industry include cattle ranchers, feedlot operators, and processing plants that contribute to 28.9 billion dollars brought in annually. Out of area stakeholders are distributers responsible to shipping and selling this beef to retailers across the country and the globe. Grain fed beef from the area is highly sought after especially at some of the great steakhouses across the country. Agricultural stakeholders include corn, Soybean, sorghum, and cotton producers that include farmers, processers, and distributers in and out of the area. Crop production accounts for 71% of Ogallala water and consumers include the local cattle industry, ethanol production (550 million gallons produced annually in Kansas alone), human consumption (corn and soybean oil), and human use (cotton).
The livelihoods of these stakeholders are dependent on the Ogallala aquifer in supplying plentiful irrigation water to the area. Recent droughts and aquifer depletion could result in an economic collapse of agriculture affecting the lives of so many families. Since the beef industry is so valuable, if water shortages start to occur, the allocation of water will go to the ranchers first and the crop farmers will be first to lose their water rights. This Aquifer will one day become depleted but better management, water conservation, and scientific innovation in irrigation could extend the economic gains in the region for another 100 years.
90 % of all irrigated Ogallala water is used in agricultural production. The biggest user is the cattle industry that uses 29% of the water just for cattle water consumption. Cattle feed is outsourced and local so even more water is needed for the local production in cattle feed such as corn. The people invested in this industry include cattle ranchers, feedlot operators, and processing plants that contribute to 28.9 billion dollars brought in annually. Out of area stakeholders are distributers responsible to shipping and selling this beef to retailers across the country and the globe. Grain fed beef from the area is highly sought after especially at some of the great steakhouses across the country. Agricultural stakeholders include corn, Soybean, sorghum, and cotton producers that include farmers, processers, and distributers in and out of the area. Crop production accounts for 71% of Ogallala water and consumers include the local cattle industry, ethanol production (550 million gallons produced annually in Kansas alone), human consumption (corn and soybean oil), and human use (cotton).
The livelihoods of these stakeholders are dependent on the Ogallala aquifer in supplying plentiful irrigation water to the area. Recent droughts and aquifer depletion could result in an economic collapse of agriculture affecting the lives of so many families. Since the beef industry is so valuable, if water shortages start to occur, the allocation of water will go to the ranchers first and the crop farmers will be first to lose their water rights. This Aquifer will one day become depleted but better management, water conservation, and scientific innovation in irrigation could extend the economic gains in the region for another 100 years.
Entrepreneurs and Innovators:
As you have read above, agriculture, supplemented by municipal use, accounts for nearly all of the Ogallala Aquifer use and its ultimate depletion. This massive monoculture industry, that helps to feed millions of people, is in dire need of a revolution, and water conservation systems must evolve to be more efficient. In response to this increasing consciousness about the agriculture revolution and water conservation, innovators around the world are joining the fight whether in pursuit of money or their own ideals. Although these entrepreneurial stakeholders are not always directly using Ogallala water, they have, in large part, been inspired to create businesses in response to these significant water issues. Some of these new businesses are local to the High Plains while others are merely outsiders who seek potential business and investments from distressed communities in the High Plains. Whether their interests are in making money or improving the world, I feel that they are fulfilling an important niche in the issue.
Beginning with some of the start-ups tackling the municipal use, let’s look at two new companies hailing from the drought-prone state of California: WaterSmart Software and the Pasteurization Technology Group. WaterSmart Software, often working with utility companies, utilizes advanced computer software to help people better track the use of their water, find out how it compares to others’ use, and provide helpful hints on how to conserve water and save money. The founder, Peter Yolles, has dedicated most of his life to water management and recently started this business because he felt that municipal water organizations needed more efficient and up to date technology. The company has won numerous awards and has helped to save substantial amounts of water through customer feedback and incentives. Pasteurization Technology Group, on the other hand, is thinking up ways to simultaneously disinfect wastewater and create electricity in a “two for one” process. Targeting primarily agriculture, food and beverage processing facilities, PTG uses biogas or natural gas to power turbines and boil wastewaters for reuse. Their innovations have won awards as well, but the combustion process is certainly a concern. Through these municipal creations, the High Plains’ communities could begin to minimize their water footprints and decrease the stresses on the Aquifer.
In regard to the major aquifer transgressor, big agriculture, there are several clever entrepreneurs and non-profit organizations looking to make a difference. One such company, Bright Agrotech, is a Wyoming based company hoping to promote aquaponic agriculture in the region as a substitute for more water intensive monoculture techniques. Bright Agrotech, specifically, provides a diverse array of products and services aiming to educate and empower farmers to join the revolutionary aquaponic movement. The founder, Dr. Nate Storey, strives to protect our future and improve the overall health of our country. Through their own current operations, they have proven that aquaponic systems can cut heating costs for greenhouses by producing more food in a smaller space and that they can significantly reduce water consumption by utilizing the unique water cycling process. In addition to aquaponic research and development, there are numerous Permaculture Design Courses popping up throughout the country looking to educate future farmers. Permaculture is a developing agricultural practice that aims to work in concert with respective bioregional influences and ultimately cut down wasteful use of water and fossil fuels. One such inspirational permaculture initiative called “Greening the Desert” is attempting to prove permaculture’s pertinence in the inhospitable region of the Dead Sea Valley in Jordan. Geoff Lawton, the man behind the project, is dedicated to researching and developing agricultural solutions for the imminent water shortages of the near future. Between aquaponics, permaculture, and other agricultural innovations, farmers of the High Plains have increasing resources in the fight to lessen their water footprint
These aspiring organizations certainly have a stake in water issues such as the Ogallala Aquifer because their businesses have been specifically developed to respond to the increasing scarcity of water. From technical software development to the classic solution of better education, people are becoming invested and aware of these pressing issues. It seems that, for better or worse, great adversity often leads to great creativity and innovation. And interestingly, this dire water situation is, in fact, creating livelihoods for clever entrepreneurs.
To explore these initiatives further, please refer to the following URLs:
http://www.watersmartsoftware.com/
http://pastechgroup.com/
http://www.brightagrotech.com
http://permaculturenews.org/2009/12/11/greening-the-desert-ii-final/
As you have read above, agriculture, supplemented by municipal use, accounts for nearly all of the Ogallala Aquifer use and its ultimate depletion. This massive monoculture industry, that helps to feed millions of people, is in dire need of a revolution, and water conservation systems must evolve to be more efficient. In response to this increasing consciousness about the agriculture revolution and water conservation, innovators around the world are joining the fight whether in pursuit of money or their own ideals. Although these entrepreneurial stakeholders are not always directly using Ogallala water, they have, in large part, been inspired to create businesses in response to these significant water issues. Some of these new businesses are local to the High Plains while others are merely outsiders who seek potential business and investments from distressed communities in the High Plains. Whether their interests are in making money or improving the world, I feel that they are fulfilling an important niche in the issue.
Beginning with some of the start-ups tackling the municipal use, let’s look at two new companies hailing from the drought-prone state of California: WaterSmart Software and the Pasteurization Technology Group. WaterSmart Software, often working with utility companies, utilizes advanced computer software to help people better track the use of their water, find out how it compares to others’ use, and provide helpful hints on how to conserve water and save money. The founder, Peter Yolles, has dedicated most of his life to water management and recently started this business because he felt that municipal water organizations needed more efficient and up to date technology. The company has won numerous awards and has helped to save substantial amounts of water through customer feedback and incentives. Pasteurization Technology Group, on the other hand, is thinking up ways to simultaneously disinfect wastewater and create electricity in a “two for one” process. Targeting primarily agriculture, food and beverage processing facilities, PTG uses biogas or natural gas to power turbines and boil wastewaters for reuse. Their innovations have won awards as well, but the combustion process is certainly a concern. Through these municipal creations, the High Plains’ communities could begin to minimize their water footprints and decrease the stresses on the Aquifer.
In regard to the major aquifer transgressor, big agriculture, there are several clever entrepreneurs and non-profit organizations looking to make a difference. One such company, Bright Agrotech, is a Wyoming based company hoping to promote aquaponic agriculture in the region as a substitute for more water intensive monoculture techniques. Bright Agrotech, specifically, provides a diverse array of products and services aiming to educate and empower farmers to join the revolutionary aquaponic movement. The founder, Dr. Nate Storey, strives to protect our future and improve the overall health of our country. Through their own current operations, they have proven that aquaponic systems can cut heating costs for greenhouses by producing more food in a smaller space and that they can significantly reduce water consumption by utilizing the unique water cycling process. In addition to aquaponic research and development, there are numerous Permaculture Design Courses popping up throughout the country looking to educate future farmers. Permaculture is a developing agricultural practice that aims to work in concert with respective bioregional influences and ultimately cut down wasteful use of water and fossil fuels. One such inspirational permaculture initiative called “Greening the Desert” is attempting to prove permaculture’s pertinence in the inhospitable region of the Dead Sea Valley in Jordan. Geoff Lawton, the man behind the project, is dedicated to researching and developing agricultural solutions for the imminent water shortages of the near future. Between aquaponics, permaculture, and other agricultural innovations, farmers of the High Plains have increasing resources in the fight to lessen their water footprint
These aspiring organizations certainly have a stake in water issues such as the Ogallala Aquifer because their businesses have been specifically developed to respond to the increasing scarcity of water. From technical software development to the classic solution of better education, people are becoming invested and aware of these pressing issues. It seems that, for better or worse, great adversity often leads to great creativity and innovation. And interestingly, this dire water situation is, in fact, creating livelihoods for clever entrepreneurs.
To explore these initiatives further, please refer to the following URLs:
http://www.watersmartsoftware.com/
http://pastechgroup.com/
http://www.brightagrotech.com
http://permaculturenews.org/2009/12/11/greening-the-desert-ii-final/
Ecological and Environmental:
The Nebraska Sandhills make up a large portion of the northern section of the Ogallala Aquifer. In the sandhills are approximately 1.3 million acres of wetlands that both recharge and are recharged by the groundwater of the Ogallala Aquifer. The wetlands get most of their water from heavy precipitation; however, during times of drought, they rely on recharge from the groundwater of the aquifer. The two major uses of the Nebraska sandhills are wildlife and livestock. The sandhills are used for winter grazing for cattle herds (Nebraska Game and Parks Commission). The Sandhills are home to 314 animal species, 720 plant species, and 24-27 migratory birds which are of management concern (US Fish and Wildlife). Examples include mule deer, white-tail deer, coyotes, red fox, meadowlarks, wild turkeys, badgers, skunks, bats, many fish species, and the endangered species whooping crane and Penstemon haydenii.
The Whooping Crane is the largest North American bird, and one of the rarest. In 1941 there numbers were down to about 15 birds and after 70 years of conservation efforts, there are now about 570. There is only one self-sustaining wild flock, and it contains 280 birds. The other 290 are held captive. These birds migrate 2,500 miles on a narrow route every fall and spring between Canada and Texas through Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota. There are four major sites along their migration route that are considered critical for the conservation of the species. The northernmost site is located in the Nebraska Sandhills. The Whooping Cranes rest, feed, and roost in the wetlands and shallow Platte River. They may stay only a few days or more than a month on their migratory route (Crane Trust, 2014).
The Nebraska Sandhills make up a large portion of the northern section of the Ogallala Aquifer. In the sandhills are approximately 1.3 million acres of wetlands that both recharge and are recharged by the groundwater of the Ogallala Aquifer. The wetlands get most of their water from heavy precipitation; however, during times of drought, they rely on recharge from the groundwater of the aquifer. The two major uses of the Nebraska sandhills are wildlife and livestock. The sandhills are used for winter grazing for cattle herds (Nebraska Game and Parks Commission). The Sandhills are home to 314 animal species, 720 plant species, and 24-27 migratory birds which are of management concern (US Fish and Wildlife). Examples include mule deer, white-tail deer, coyotes, red fox, meadowlarks, wild turkeys, badgers, skunks, bats, many fish species, and the endangered species whooping crane and Penstemon haydenii.
The Whooping Crane is the largest North American bird, and one of the rarest. In 1941 there numbers were down to about 15 birds and after 70 years of conservation efforts, there are now about 570. There is only one self-sustaining wild flock, and it contains 280 birds. The other 290 are held captive. These birds migrate 2,500 miles on a narrow route every fall and spring between Canada and Texas through Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota. There are four major sites along their migration route that are considered critical for the conservation of the species. The northernmost site is located in the Nebraska Sandhills. The Whooping Cranes rest, feed, and roost in the wetlands and shallow Platte River. They may stay only a few days or more than a month on their migratory route (Crane Trust, 2014).